Answer :
Option 4. The Supreme Court's ruling in Atkins v. Virginia states that the death penalty is an unconstitutional and excessive punishment due to evolving views of decency. This reflects contemporary standards that see capital punishment as disproportionate and unjust for certain offenders. Additionally, the death penalty does not effectively deter crime and shows racial biases in its application.
The death penalty is an unconstitutional and excessive punishment, given American society's evolving views of decency. This viewpoint is strongly supported by the Supreme Court in Atkins v. Virginia. In this case, the court ruled that executing individuals with intellectual disabilities violates the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishments. This decision reflects the belief that contemporary standards of decency have evolved to recognize that the death penalty is too severe and unjust for certain classes of offenders. This ruling also aligns with broader perspectives that the death penalty fails as a deterrent and is often applied in a racially discriminatory manner.
Complete question is:
According to the Supreme Court's ruling in Atkins v. Virginia, how does the death penalty promote public safety?
- The death penalty serves as retribution for the most heinous crimes.
- The death penalty demonstrates governmental authority as the most extreme punishment available.
- The possibility of receiving the death penalty deters criminals from committing the most heinous crimes.
- The death penalty is an unconstitutional and excessive punishment, given American society's evolving views of decency.
