Below you will find two controversial issues, you can participate in both, but are only required to respond to all the prompts for one and submit your response as per the 'Note on discussions' outlined below.

Option #1

Determinate Sentencing Verses Indeterminate Sentencing For this discussion you will need to research the sentencing structure for Utah and compare it to a state that differs, then respond to the following prompts:

• What are the pros and cons of a Determinate and Indeterminate Sentencing structures?
• Would you support Determinate Sentencing if you were a Judge?
• Find two recent cases, one for Determinate Sentencing and the second for Indeterminate Sentencing, then briefly share if you support the sentencing for each.
• Is race, gender, religion, and etc. a factor? Why or why not?

Option #2

Capital Punishment: Death Penalty Capital punishment (lethal physical punishment) is a popular topic, and much has been written about the death penalty. One excellent resource for learning about the death penalty is the death penalty information center (DPIC), a nonprofit organization that publishes studies and analyzes trends in death penalty law and application.

Death Penalty Information CenterLinks to an external site.

Death Penalty Information Center Fact Sheet Download Death Penalty Information Center Fact Sheet

See Death Penalty Fast FactsLinks to an external site.

The use of the death penalty as a response to crime in industrialized nations raises many questions, respond to the following prompts:

• Is the death penalty a deterrent?
• Is the death penalty justified by principles of retribution?
• Is the death penalty morally or ethically justified?
• Does it cost more to impose a death sentence or to impose a true-life sentence?
• Are factually innocent individuals erroneously executed (and if so, how often)?
• Is any particular manner of execution cruel and unusual?
• Is the death penalty, in itself, cruel and unusual punishment?
• Is race a factor in death penalty sentences? Why or why not?

Note on discussions: Discussions are to be thoughtful, insightful, and respectful. Initial postings should be 300+ words. Once you have made a substantial posting yourself, you ARE REQUIRED to respond to two other students' postings; those postings should be between 50-75 words.