Capital Punishment : The Death Penalty

Capital punishment, otherwise known as the death penalty, is a controversial subject which has been argued for decades due to the ethical decisions involved. People believe the death penalty is the right thing to do and that it is the perfect example of ‘justice’ while others believe that it is immoral and overly expensive. The death penalty is not a logical sentence for criminals, it doesn’t give them the right type of justice and it is immoral.

The death penalty is supposed to deter murder and bring the justice that the murder families of the victims should be rewarded (Hyden). Although many scientific researches can conclude that it does not deter murder and the members of the murder victims’ family have rejected/rejecting the program because it retraumatizes them with long process of trials, appeals, and of course the media (Hyden). In contrast, a sentence of life in prison is certain and instant, allowing the families to move on knowing that the justice of the crime is being served. Comparing whether or not the death penalty should be legalized, the reasons as to why it shouldn’t be, are strong enough to change one person’s mind. The death penalty still should be illegal in the United States.

The justice system is filled with opposition. Those who support the use of Supermax, the death penalty and the execution of those who are mentally retarded and juveniles, and those who oppose the above mentioned. The following essay will discuss all mentioned topics.

The death penalty was first introduced into the criminal justice system in 1622. Since then, this capital offense has taken many strides in the system. The first execution, done in 1622, was given to a man on an offense of a theft. Now, the death penalty is only imposed on certain cases of murder, treason and in just a

There are many pros and cons to the death penalty. Some find it hard to believe that the United States would command a person executed for killing another human being. According to the article The Impact of Information on Death Penalty Support, Revisited, “Deterrence is a common reason provided by death penalty proponents of why they support

The death penalty does not deter criminals from committing crime. Most criminals who commit crimes do not have intentions of being caught and believe that they are invincible from the repercussions of their actions. Because of this, the death penalty really does not deter criminals from committing a crime. In fact, the death penalty could be considered an “easy way out” because the criminal does not have to spend several months, years, or even the rest of his or her life behind bars with little contact with the outside world. The criminal can just die and no longer have to suffer with knowing what he or she did, how it has affected others, and how it will continue to affect his or her life. Also, many criminals end up committing suicide in prison because they do not want to have to spend every day locked in a jail cell for extended periods of time.

Capital punishment began in the mid-twentieth century and was intended for all crimes committed. Capital punishment is still practice in the United States in 38 states but used in today’s intent for more horrific crimes. Fourteen of the states have abolished capital punishment for many reasons from being unlawful to being inhumane.

The death penalty saves lives because it is safe for the community and it lowers the crime rate. In the article “How the Death Penalty Saves Lives”, Gary S. Becker 's states, “How capital punishment affects murder rates can be explained through general deterrence theory, which supposes that increasing the risk of apprehension and punishment for crime deters individuals from committing crime.” (Becker 2). The author is telling other people that they need to understand that the death penalty is the right method to prevent crime. A person who has committed a crime like killing or raping someone else deserves capital punishment. The death penalty allows us to show individuals that there is justice in the world. If a person they know is murdered, they can definitely

The death penalty is proven to not deter criminals from committing a crime punishable by death. There are many arguments on whether the death penalty should be legal, but the debate boils down to personal morals. The death penalty is immoral. Criminals will act on their drive, with no thoughts about future consequences. The death penalty not only hurts the criminal, but it affects the criminal's family. The family already had to experience what it felt like to see a loved one take an innocent person's life. This causes emotional unnecessary emotional distress for the family and those close to the person on death row. Murdering the criminal will only put the family through even more unnecessary trauma. Furthermore, humans are not pets. The human race should not be able to put others down in the sense of death. It is dehumanizing for the person sentenced to death and the executioner. There should not be a job in the United States where, in the job description, it states that you will kill someone.

The death penalty is one of the oldest sentences in the books. This penalty can help deter crime, but not if it’s abolished at state levels. As of April 2011. 34 states had the death penalty legislation in place (Parks). Stated in the article by Parks, “In an October 2012 Gallup poll, 64 percent of participants said they were in favor of the death penalty for a convicted murder.” (Parks). Keeping the death penalty in place gives justice to the victims and families, prevents crime, and allows more space in prisons.

The death penalty or capital punishment is a type of sentence that carries an outcome of death. This type of punishment has been a heated topic and gets voted on around the country. The death penalty has been a form of punishment throughout human history and across societies, most commonly used for the

The death penalty has been in practice for a very long time, but murders and other capital crimes have not been stopped, and neither have the perpetrators been deterred from the act. Every year several people are murdered with almost the same frequency and brutality as ever. No proof exists that the death penalty is a better deterrence than life imprisonment. Why not settle for a punishment that is effectively deterrent yet humane enough (Michigan State University,

The death penalty is something that has been around for a very long time and is a big part of our history. The death penalty began in the seventeenth century, specifically, in the 1600’s. Crimes that were committed to receive the death penalty in this early time of America involved anything having to do with state, people, and property. Hangings were generally the most common type of execution in colonial times and these hangings were held in public places for all to see(PURPLE). In the year 1791, the 8th amendment was written stating that “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines

Capital punishment, which is also called the death penalty, is the execution of an offender who is sentenced to death after being convicted of a criminal offense. We mostly hear about capital punishment for someone who is convicted of a murder or of multiple murders.

We could just as easily sentence someone to life in prison without putting them to death and have the same result without killing a person. Many people who are sentenced to death spend decades on death row, so people who think about committing a crime don’t equate capital punishment with the crime they are thinking committing. If the death penalty doesn’t deter people from committing violent crimes then there is very little reason to keep it in place.