The Process Of Abolish Of The Death Penalty In England

As the oldest and harshest criminal penalty, death penalty began to be criticizedfrom the middle of the18th century. Since Beccaria has been rising calls to abolishcapital punishment, death penalty abolition, the struggle for a hundred years. Thoughit is still disputed, abolish of the death penalty has been a International Tendency.Hence it is necessary for us to pay close attention to this dispute.European is the precursor of abolish of the death penalty and has achieved “Nodeath penalty of the European”. The process of abolish of the death penalty inEngland is long and tortuous. The thoughts of abolish of the death penalty was arisedin16century and England began to abolish the death penalty from19th century.Through almost two centuries, England finally abolished the death penalty in the1960s.It is known for its harsh criminal penalty in England before19th century, theaccusation which could be sentenced the death penalty is as plentiful as black berries.As the thoughts of abolish of the death penalty arose, there is the voice of abolish ofthe death penalty and claim for abolish in the form of the proposal. But the peoplesupport for the death penalty are dominant in domestic society. So it is failed toabolish of the death penalty.Abolitionists domestic still tried all their best to abolish the death penalty andalways attempted to abolish the death penalty in the form of bill in20th century.Labour government was always support for abolish of the death penalty and applieditself to abolish the death penalty. During this period, the crime rate became to decline and stay at low level. Meantimes the attitudes to the death penalty of citizens and thedirection of public opinion have changed to support for abolish of the death penalty.However the attempts to abolish of the death penalty still failed in the first half periodof20th century. Until 《The Homicide Act1957》 provided the rule of accusationwhich was able to be sentenced to death penalty. Finally 《Murder Act1965》waspassed,which totally abolish the death penalty of murder. So England abolished thedeath penalty in legislation. Then 《European Convention on Human Rights the SixedProtocal》and 《International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights》were passed.England abolished the death penalty in the form of international treaty. Since abolishof the death penalty, there were proposals for recovery the death penalty. And theywere all failed to be passed.When reviewing the historical process of abolish of the death penalty, it iscircuitous and unique. The experience of success cannot be copied. England finallysucceed to abolish the death penalty under the effects of different factors. During thewhole process, according to itself national situation、real society condition, followingthe popular opinion, England seized the opportunity and succeed to abolish of thedeath penalty.