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The death penalty, or capital punishment is the deliberate ending of the life of a sentient being by a government. The act of carrying out the death penalty is usually referred to as "execution" and the person being executed was often referred to as the condemned. Throughout the history of the galaxy, many different cultures have carried out the death penalty against individuals, for a wide variety of reasons—usually for punishment for crimes such as murder and treason.

History

Pre-Federation

Human cultures exercised capital punishment for millennia. It was gradually phased out, and largely eliminated as a penalty in civilian courts after the Bell Riots. (TLE novel: Well of Souls)

As late as the 22nd century, the Vulcan people still practiced capital punishment for serious crimes such as treason. Administrator V'Las told T'Pol that she would be executed for treason. It is unclear if the Vulcans continued the practice after the reforms of the 22nd century, and the disbanding of the Vulcan High Command. (ENT episode: "Kir'Shara")

Federation Starfleet

By the 23rd century, the United Federation of Planets itself had only one death penalty left. This was for visiting the planet Talos IV in violation of General Order 7. In 2267, Spock risked his life to take a crippled Christopher Pike to the planet, but Starfleet decided not to prosecute Spock for taking Pike to Talos IV. (TOS episode: "The Menagerie", Parts I & II). By 2320, the Federation government was discussing whether or not to abolish General Order 7 and do away with that last death penalty. (TOS novel: Burning Dreams)

The capital sentence for visiting Talos remained in effect as late as the year 2373 when Omega Squad of Starfleet Academy was sentenced to death after visiting Talos in response to a distress call. The cadets were cleared after their actions in this matter helped fend off a Jem'Hadar assault on the telepathic races of the Alpha Quadrant. (SA comics: #9 Return to the Forbidden Planet, and #10 A Prelude to War; Reality's End)

By 2380, this last capital offense on the Federation's books was finally rescinded. (TNG novel: Q & A)

Janice Lester, while in possession of Kirk's body, ordered the execution of Kirk (in Lester's body), as well as Spock, McCoy, and Scotty. Her insistence, despite the illegality of the order, caused the remainder of the Enterprise crew to turn against her. (TOS episode: "Turnabout Intruder")

During the voyage of USS Voyager, Tuvok (suffering from the effects of a mind meld) asked Captain Kathryn Janeway to consider having crewman and former Maquis member Lon Suder executed for the murder of another crewman. Janeway declined, opting to confine Suder to quarters. (VOY episode: "Meld")

Other worlds

In the 23rd century, some Federation-aligned worlds still maintained their own death penalty laws. On Deneb V, Harry Mudd was sentenced to death, and was offered a choice between being put to death either by gas or phaser. (TOS episode: "I, Mudd") When Montgomery Scott was suspected of several murders on Argelius II, the Prefect Jaris warned Kirk that if Scott was found guilty that according to Argelian law Scott would be executed by slow torture. (TOS episode: "Wolf in the Fold")

In the Klingon Empire, capital punishment was still a part of the Imperial justice system in the 24th century. Not only could an individual Klingon be executed for crimes, but so could other family members. Upon learning that Mogh had been judged guilty of treason, his oldest son Worf challenged the ruling, knowing that if he failed the Empire would have him executed. After learning of a conspiracy in the Klingon government, Worf backed down and accepted discommendation. (TNG] episode: "Sins of the Father")

The Cardassian Union also practiced execution into the 24th century. Individuals were often brought to trial, but the trial's outcome would be predetermined as guilty, and the sentence would usually be death. The Cardassians had captured Miles O'Brien in 2370, and intended to put him to death after a show trial. When it was revealed that the charges were part of a conspiracy to discredit the Federation, the Cardassian Central Command dropped the charges rather than risk exposure. (DS9 episode: "Tribunal") Commander Sisko once talked Gul Skrain Dukat into having the Maquis leader Thomas Riker being sentenced to life in prison rather than death so that Riker would be persuaded to surrender to the Cardassians. (DS9 episode: "Defiant")

Jem'Hadar who disobeyed orders were often executed almost immediately by the First - the highest ranking Jem'Hadar in a unit. Omet'iklan once killed a subordinate on board the USS Defiant (NX-74205) after the subordinate got into a fight with Worf in violation of his orders by breaking the neck of the other Jem'Hadar. Omet'iklan expected Captain Benjamin Sisko to execute Worf in turn, and was furious when Sisko refused to do so. (DS9 episode: "To the Death")

The natives of a planet in the Nabu system executed their criminals by sending them to asteroids which were doomed to explode. The fact that no one knew when the asteroids were to explode added mental torment to their punishment. (TOS comic: "The Devil's Isle of Space")

On Neesan, the Tol people executed those who defiled the sacred land of Unruho by decapitation. James T. Kirk almost suffered this fate in 2266. (TOS comic: "The Cosmic Cavemen")

Methods

The methods used for carrying out the death penalty have varied widely throughout history.

See Also