Capital punishment, better known as the death penalty, has existed for centuries. Like all elements of modern society, the death penalty has evolved over many years. Initially, the death penalty was administered by a royal court or monarchy through brutal stoning. Since then, the guillotine, the noose, the electric chair, and [currently] lethal injection have all been tools created to administer the death penalty here in the United States. Before the act that effectively ends the criminal's life is performed, he or she waits on death row during any judicial proceedings. In America, death row is the term given to the section of a prison reserved for prisoners awaiting trial involving the death penalty. The term “death row” is figurative. Due to extensive court proceedings, people on death row may wait months or years for trial or sentencing. There is no way to determine how long an inmate will remain on death row. However, research has shown that long periods of time on death row reduce inmates' mental abilities and capabilities and deteriorate their physical health at alarming rates. Death row inmates have no one to comfort them, care for them or visit them. Jack Alderman is the longest-serving American death row prisoner with over thirty-three years before his execution. In the state of Georgia on September 16, 2008, Alderman was executed by lethal injection. He was convicted for his role in the murder of his wife Barbara Alderman. Although the “Supreme Court of the United States declared the death penalty unconstitutional” (Swarns 1 of 3), the issue has been brought up for debate and reinstated. The death penalty is a legal rhetoric based on the intensification of emotions and revenge. The “justice” system that determines...... middle of paper...... Works Cited Hawkins, Steven W. “It Is Immoral and Ineffective.” World and I September 2002: 247 General OneFile. Network. 1 November 2011. “The death penalty is a violation of human rights: the laws are not intended to punish anyone but to bring about change”. DNA (daily news and analysis). October 11, 2009. OneFile General. Network. November 1, 2011 Lafevere, Patricia. “The group urges the legislature to abolish the death penalty. (Nation)." National Catholic Reporter December 28, 2001 General OneFile. Network. November 1, 2011. Swarns, Christina. "The Unequal Scale of Capital Justice: How Race and Class Affect Who Ends Up on Death Row." The American Perspective . 15.7 (2004): A14+. Gale Opposing Views in Context. November 1, 2011 “Top 10 Pros and Cons: Should the Death Penalty Be Allowed?” deathpenalty.procon.org Np nd Web. November 3. 2011