Should the Prisoner Be Treated to Face Execution, Essay Example

The justice system needed to carry out a sentence on a mentally unstable prisoner, Charles Laverne Singleton. The prisoner was unwell, and the courts ruled that he should be forced to take medication that will make him well for the purpose of carrying out the execution. The law prohibits the execution of anyone who has unstable mind; however, the decision to execute the prisoner was made when he was in a stable mental condition. Thus, the courts have to wait until he gets well to be in a position to carry out the execution on him. However, the system can perform its duty in a timely manner if the patient is forced to take medication that will make him well to face the execution.

The fact that the prisoner was well when the ruling was being made proves that he was guilty as charged. Consequently, I think the prisoner should be treated to face the execution. Additionally, there is no definite time that can be predicted for him to be well within. The justice system should do what is necessary to ensure justice is served. The fact that there is no time frame to work with makes it hard for the judiciary to carry out the sentence. For this reason, the system should administer treatment to the prisoner and carry out the execution. People look up to the justice system and delaying the execution for whatever reason will cause people to lose faith in the system. If the ruling had been carried out when the prisoner was unstable, it would be null and void and would need a review, but since the ruling was made when the prisoner was fit to stand trial makes it valid, and it can be carried at whenever the system is ready. It is not fair to those seeking justice to wait for an indefinite time for justice to be found. Justice systems are put in place to ensure timely and fair consequences to the parties involved.

Reference:

Primm, A. B., Osher, F. C., & Gomez, M. B. (2005). Race and ethnicity, mental health services and cultural competence in the criminal justice system: Are we ready to change? Community Mental Health Journal, 41(5), 557-69. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10597-005-6361-3

Nada Korac-Kakabadse, Phillip, R. K., & Kouzmin, A. (2001). Inequality of discourse: Problematic consumption of justice in the common law legal system. Women in Management Review,16(3),126141.Retrievedfromhttp://search.proquest.com/docview/213155069?accountid=45049.