Barbarity

The latest mode of inflicting the death penalty, enacted into law by nearly two dozen American states, is lethal injection, first used in Texas in 1982. It is easy to overstate the humaneness and efficacy of this method. There is no way of knowing that it is really painless. As the U.S. Court of Appeals observed, there is "substantial and uncontroverted evidence ... that execution by lethal injection poses a serious risk of cruel, protracted death.... Even a slight error in dosage or administration can leave a prisoner conscious but paralyzed while dying, a sentient witness of his or her own asphyxiation."

Futility

Gangland killings, air piracy, drive-by shootings, and kidnapping for ransom are among the graver felonies that continue to be committed because some individuals think they are too clever to get caught. Political terrorism is usually committed in the name of an ideology that honors its martyrs; trying to cope with it by threatening terrorists with death penalty is futile.

Grammar exercises

I. Translate the following sentences, paying attention to the form of the Gerund and its function.

1. A British police officer is subject to the law and may be sued or prosecuted for any wrongful act, committed in carrying out duties.

2. The Government’s strategy or dealing with crime is also concerned with ensuring that public confidence in the criminal justice system is maintained and that proper balance between the rights of the citizen and the needs of the community as a whole is maintained.

3. With continuing concern in Britain over rising crime rates, public expenditure on the law and order programme reflects the special priority, by the Government to these services.

4. He was fined for being drunk in charge of a car.

5. You should be ashamed of yourself for behaving so badly.

6. He put off making a decision till he had more information.

7. It’s no good/use arguing.

8. He was accused of having deserted his ship.

9. The safe showed no signs of having been touched.

10. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 requires arrangements to be made for obtaining the views of people in the area about the policing of it and for obtaining their co-operation with the police in preventing crime.

11. The number of civilian support Staff has been growing as forces secure economics by replacing police officers with civilians where posts do not require police power and training.

12. The defendant cannot be questioned without consenting to swear as a witness in his or her own defence.

13. The Court of Appeal issues guidance to the lower courts on sentencing issues when points of principle have arisen on individual cases, which are the subject of appeal.

14. The police must caution a person whom there are grounds to suspect of an offence before any questions are put for the purpose of obtaining evidence.

15. Police may issue cautions, and in Scotland the procurator fiscal may warn, instead of prosecuting.

II. Fill in the blanks with prepositions where necessary.

1. Much depends ___ getting him to listen to us. 2. She was engaged ___ persuading them that the part was too difficult for her. 3. We suspected her ___ not telling us all she knew but we could not well accuse her ___ hiding facts. 4. Nothing could prevent her ___ buying it on the spot. 5. I thanked him again ___ lending me the car. 6. I don’t like his habit ___ making people wait. 7. He has come to apologise ___ causing all that troubles.