A death penalty or "Capital Punishment" is one of the toughest decisions a judge can make. Those sentences have been issued to the extremely anti-social persons whose acts were so gruesome that their lives (or deaths) had to serve as a reminder and a warning to others.
Crimes that are punishable by death are known as capital crimes and capital offenses.
They include offenses such as murder, treason, espionage, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
Not all countries kept this kind of a punishment. In fact, most nations abolished capital punishment, however over 60% of people live in countries that still have this practice like China, United States, India, and Indonesia.
This is an old custom
The custom of breaking the tip of the pen after signing a death sentence and giving an order for the execution has been followed by judges since the time of British Rule. There are a couple of possible reasons for that, although it has already become a custom so nobody really knows the true reason.
Tainted By Blood
Judges believe that the pen which has been used for sentencing someone to death, must not be used again because it is tainted and spoiled with the blood of that person. That is why breaking the tip of the pen, actually, has a symbolic meaning.
What Is Signed Can't Be Undone
The second possible reason is the impossibility of revoking such a sentence. If a judge makes his decision and sentence someone to death there are no second or third opinions. Again, a symbolic act.
The Cleansing of The Conscience
By breaking the tip (nib) of the pen, judges are trying to wash all the guilt they fill because of sentencing a death penalty to a human being. That is a very hard decision and no one wants that kind of a burden on their shoulders.
It Is a Difficult Decision
Since there is no sentence that is more extreme than the death sentence, judges have to be completely sure that there is no other way to punish an individual. They have to consider the age, a number of dependents, family income, complete background, chances of rehabilitation and improvement, the weight of the crime, and dangers that the accused might impose to the general population (others).
What do you think about the death sentence?