Introduction

I am currently a Justice Studies senior. I chose Justice Studies as my major because the majority of the classes sounded really exciting. I am also considering law school and felt that this major would help me decide what area of law I would like to go into, as well as provide further insight and perspective into our justice system. So far, I have very much enjoyed my ASU experience. The classes offered are informative, practical, and interesting and it is really nice to be able to develop and express your own opinion about issues discussed. That is one of the reasons I think that this class should be a beneficial learning experience because I will learn about a specific social movement of my choice over the course of this class. Which leads me to the social movement I decided to follow...

I am going to study the death penalty for a variety of reasons. For one, I recently discovered that this is an issue that I found deeply interesting when I took JUS200, Serial Killers, with John Johnson. Professor Johnson briefly discussed the death penalty and his experience in witnessing an execution. Professor Johnson provided facts and opinions about the death penalty, which is a topic that I thought about only briefly prior to the class. I found myself wondering if I was for or against the death penalty, and having thought about it for quite some time, I discovered that I am against the death penalty. I do not believe that the death penalty is a productive solution for punishing criminals of heinous crimes. There are many explanations offered to why the death penalty is unneeded. For me, some of the most important explanations are that the death penalty is costly, does not serve as a deterrent for future crimes, and it does not actually give any "piece of mind" to victims and their families or friends. The death penalty is an inhumane act that most countries do not even practice anymore.

The second main reason that I am going to follow the death penalty issue is because I would like to become more knowledgeable on the topic. Discovering facts and researching the issue further will help to support my position on the death penalty will further my ability to argue my side in a credible and diplomatic manner. I have only really ever discussed the issue on a very basic level and it would be helpful to know about certain cases, facts, organizations, etc. that have a hand in the progression of the death penalty in the United States.

Overall, I am excited to begin this course (and a little nervous since it's so short!) because it should be fun to explore a topic of my choice as well as learning the required materials.