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Capital Punishment is Barbaric Essay

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Capital Punishment is Barbaric

Capitol punishment has not always been a controversial issue. For most of history, most governments have punished numerous crimes by way of death. However, in the mid-18th century critics of this form of punishment began to emphasize the worth of the individual. They considered these practices unjust. The controversy and debate continue today. The first significant movement to the abolishment of the death penalty occurred during an era known as the Age of Enlightenment. Critics of capitol punishment protest that it is brutal and degrading. They also contend that it is a violation of human rights and goes beyond the limits of governmental power. Early critics of the death penalty objected to its …show more content…

They have stressed the importance of governments to recognize the significance and importance of each individual. Another argument stressed the fact that death was not an effective way to control crime and properly punish wrongdoers. A FBI study shows that states that have abolished the death penalty averaged lower murder rates than states that have not. Critics argue that alternative punishment could successfully accomplish the goals that effective punishment wishes to accomplish. These goals include; isolation of criminals from the community, deterrence of other potential offenders from committing crimes. It was expressed that the certainty of punishment was a more effective deterrence, rather than its severity. In a 1995 Hart Research Poll of 386 US police chiefs, implementing tougher death-penalty laws was cited by only 1% as way to reduce violent crime. Most police chiefs said other methods were more effective. Such as reducing drug abuse (31%), creating a better economy (17%), simplifying court rules (16%), or imposing longer prison sentences (15%). In addition, some corrections officers feel that the death penalty laws could increase murder rates. They argue that criminals who face prospect of capital punishment have no incentive to abstain from killing again. Thus, death row inmates have nothing to lose by attacking or killing prison guards or other inmates. Opponents also argue that many innocent

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