Why the trope of executions being public?

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AskAnAmerican-ModTeam@reddit

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TooManyDraculas@reddit

That's not public. It's private and you can't attend unless you're involved. Witnesses are allowed for transparency purposes. More or less to make sure executions go down properly and actually happen. Only the victim's family, the condemned's family, lawyers/officials from prosecution and defense, and press are allowed. And one has to request permission and approval. Camera's/recording outside of official evidentiary systems aren't allowed. Sometimes CCTV is used for witnesses, as some states require execution rooms to exclude any external view or access. And the time, location and other details aren't typically released publicly.

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Gladyskravitz99@reddit

As far as I know it's for reporters and law enforcement and government officials. Maybe sometimes family. But for sure the doors aren't thrown wide open for "the public".

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Alexandur@reddit

Some states require volunteer witnesses that aren't connected to the case. So, in a way, they are

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realnanoboy@reddit

Not that long ago, public executions were a thing. Depending on the person being executed, there would be crowds of people gathering to watch. It was often a celebration, and people would bring picnics and the like.

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shelwood46@reddit

It was one of the reasons Wisconsin banned the death penalty shortly after they became a state in 1848. And those public executions were something we learned in Europe where they certainly still had them as long as we did here.

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taz_78@reddit

4 official witnesses, 2 for the county attorney, and 2 for the county sheriff, offenders family, offenders counsel, and a clergy member.

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External-Presence204@reddit

Friends and family of the victim, if they want to, in Texas.

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Kooky_Possibility_43@reddit

There are four types of witnesses 1. Victim's family, for closure 2. Condemned man's family...it is his right 3. The press 4. A few people from outside any of those categories. They are there to state that they saw the punishment carried out as directed in the death warrant

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wikiwiki123@reddit

In the US we have the idea that everything the government does ought to be verifiable and able to be held to account. Especially with regards to law enforcement we have a significant concern that our government will simply dissappear people if we don't allow 3rd parties access to confirm things are being done correctly.

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The_Saddest_Boner@reddit

I always thought this, but I’m not so sure we still have this idea anymore.

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shammy_dammy@reddit

There are witnesses to executions. It's not a trope, it's a fact.

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The_Saddest_Boner@reddit

But it’s also not “public.” Random people can’t just buy tickets lol

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twothirtysevenam@reddit

That's how it's done here. They don't let just anybody in there to watch, though. Up into the late 1800's (and maybe later), we had public hangings. People would show up from all over, bringing their kids and picnic lunches, to watch. Execution days were social events. It was believed that it would deter future criminals from committing crimes and that it would show the public that "justice is taking place". An unintended consequence was that pickpockets had a lot of success stealing wallets from the pockets of people who were distracted by watching the hangings.

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Gyvon@reddit

Executions are not public, you don't buy tickets to an execution. This is not pre-Victorian England.

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heraus@reddit

In medieval times, you may recall that when executions, for whatever reason, weren’t public, it would lead to all sorts of conjecture and rumors to include notions that the individual was still alive or being hidden. Think War of the Roses. Same principle applies.

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Unsolven@reddit

In this whole process the witnesses are what you morally object to?

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XANDERtheSHEEPDOG@reddit

Executions are not "public" but they are witnessed. Public means anyone can attend. Usually, a small, select group of people are invited to witness the execution as a safeguard. It may include the victim (or family of the victim if the victim is deceased), members of the media, law enforcement and the person's attorney.

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frankiefrank1230@reddit

Because America is a sick society that enjoys watching executions. I mean thee federal police have excuted two people in broad daylight over the past month. They enjoy killing people in America.

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Hammer_of_Shawn@reddit

Are you a bot or an idiot?

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tn00bz@reddit

That's not a public execution. It's usually just witnesses and sometimes the victims family who watch. It also rarely happens.

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DragonKing0203@reddit

Not a trope. We have a group of witnesses in real life for the death penalty. Family and friends of the one being executed, family of friends of the victims, reporters, attorneys. It’s not just like anyone can watch, you do have to get clearance to be there. People tend to have reasons for it. Sometimes the executed want someone to be there for them in death, sometimes the family of the victim wants that closure, the press wants to report on it, attorneys are there to make sure everything is up to snuff.

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jessek@reddit

Executions like that are not open to the public. The gallery of witnesses are people with a need to be there, including family of the victim, sometimes the prisoner's family, members of law enforcement, government officials, sometimes reporters. Witnesses are required by law, along with the executed person is examined by a doctor before and after.

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Ill-Butterscotch1337@reddit

Why? If someone sentences them to death, they should have to watch. The State's attorney is usually there as they should be but honestly, they should be the one to do the injection or press the button.

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Hammer_of_Shawn@reddit

It’s not like they sell tickets… lol. It’s a very few certain people to witness that everything occurred according to plan, and potentially some family.

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02K30C1@reddit

They’re not really public, and It’s not like any wine who wants to can go and witness an execution. The people witnessing behind the glass are typically the offender’s immediate family, lawyers, and a spiritual advisor if they like; the victim’s family; law enforcement; and media.

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somecow@reddit

Transparency. And closure for the family. Can’t just do like osama and say you threw them off a boat without any proof.

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Constellation-88@reddit

These executions are not open to the public. There are usually witnesses such as religious clergy, the families of the person being executed, and the families of their victims. These are prearranged, and you can’t just get in for Funsies. That said, I am against the death penalty on the grounds that taking human lives is always immoral, if at all avoidable (not in actual self-defense).

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TheHolyFritz@reddit

Its mostly a holdover rule that I believe some areas are starting to change. But mostly, its to allow the family of the accused to be there in their final moments for support, and for those related to the victim to have some retribution and closure. It's a very controversial topic that has both good and bad arguments on both sides.

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LABELyourPHOTOS@reddit

Sometimes they have the family of the victim watch if they want. Press, too.

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Carinyosa99@reddit

It is usually people to act as official witnesses and they're with the press or law enforcement. But sometimes the family of the victim will also be there.

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Itsdanaozideshihou@reddit

That would be family members being allowed to view the death of the killer as a form of final closure.

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ngshafer@reddit

They are definitely not “public” anymore. A small number of witnesses are invited to watch the execution, such as family members of the victim. I’m not sure who else is invited, but it’s a very small group.

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Joliet-Jake@reddit

It's not public, but executions do typically have witnesses. Lawyers, relatives of the condemned and victims, clergy, and press are common.

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No-Function223@reddit

Because it’s a thing. It’s not “public” tho. Generally it’s family/victims and most if not all have a limited number of viewers.

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TheCloudForest@reddit

Standard procedure: the press, victims' representatives, and a few others. It's not like tickets are sold.

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Maleficent-Sir4824@reddit

There are usually a small number of people allowed to observe, including the victim's family and sometimes some journalists. This is common around the world in countries where the death penalty is legal.

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