Literature Review On Capital Punishment

Opponents of the death penalty believe capital punishment is unnecessary and inappropriate in our modern

Capital Punishment is an issue that has been argued over from the dinner table in

Those who believe that deterrence justifies the execution of certain offenders bear the burden of proving that the death penalty is a deterrent. The overwhelming conclusion from years of deterrence studies is that the death penalty is, at best, no more of a deterrent than a sentence of life in prison. The Ehrlich studies – which took

Not only does the death penalty not deter crime but it is also very expensive. The death penalty costs so much because of the appeal process. The appeal process is a very long and expensive process that can go on forever and costs the government millions. Many assume that abolishing the death penalty is wrong because it becomes unfair to the taxpayers because they think the cost is less than that of life in prison without parole. However life in prison is less expensive than the death penalty (Bedau). The death penalty is actually three times more than keeping a prisoner in prison for life without parole (Messerli). Death penalty trials are costly as well. “[S]tudies estimate that death penalty trials cost $1

In 1772 B.C., The Code of Hammurabi, a comprehensive and ancient set of Babylonian laws, was introduced. The code lists punishments for dozens of transgressions and is noted for its use of the “eye for an eye” reciprocity theory of justice. The Code of Hammurabi could certainly be considered harsh and despotic by today’s standards, but it introduced the death penalty, which still exists today. The capital punishment that is the death penalty, ignites an argument among people from two different sides of the spectrum, whenever it is mentioned. One side supports the death penalty, claiming it is a means of deterrence, while the opponents say that it is inhumane.

One of the many things that has been highly controversial and still is to this very day is how to properly punish and treat criminals. Here in America we now have the Eighth Amendment to protect us from cruel and unusual punishment. This was based off of a Parliament Act of 1689 that created England’s Bill of Rights. Before England had come up with the idea that humans should have guaranteed basic rights, it wasn’t a matter of whether or not a criminal would die, as much as it was a matter of how they would die. Torture devices such as the guillotine, the stake, the brazen bull, and the rack were used to spread the idea of fear and punishment that was ineffectually used by leaders to try and control their people throughout the history of Europe.

Over time attitudes have changed in regards to punishment. Essentially punishments that took place in the past centuries are now seen as a violation of the 5th amendment deeming them as inhumane and harsh. Although there are punishments still in effect today one for example is the death penalty. Although public opinion is up for debate on whether or not it should still be allowed it is still an option. A factor that also dictates to how people respond to this method is on the situation that it is used. For instant if they committed murder, society would deem the death penalty as a more acceptable punishment for taking a life of another human being. On the other hand, certain people see all harsh punishments like the death penalty morally

Capital punishment has existed in the US since colonial times. Since then, more than 13,000 people have been legally executed. Today, there are only twelve states which do not have the death penalty: Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as Washington D.C. The locations of these states are important because they illustrate the lack of ideological homogeneity usually associated with geographical regions of the US. The methods of execution are as varied as their locations. The word “capital” in capital punishment refers to a person’s head,

The death penalty is a controversial issue because it involves a dispute between sides which hold opposing views. Those who support the death penalty believe that it deters criminals and makes them think twice. Some supporters claim that it is morally right and gives victims justice. Furthermore, supporters of the death penalty think that it is the only way to fully protect society.According to “Solid Majority Continue to Support Death Penalty” ”About six in ten americans favor the use of death penalty for a person convicted of murder”(Solid 2016). On the other hand those who oppose death penalty think that the cost outweighs the benefits. They also argue that the death penalty can be faulty at times. Opponents argue that the death penalty

16; in others, only those who committed murder at age 18 or older are eligible for the death penalty. This essay will demonstrate that such inconsistencies and many other factors cause a situation where the poor are consistently targeted by the death penalty.

Also “offenders aged fifteen and younger at the time of their crimes was unconstitutional” (“introduction to the death penalty”). This shows that there are many factors that prevent a person from getting the death penalty and these limitations protects them from it. In recent years, “the United States numbers of death sentences are steadily declining from 300 in 1998 to 106 in 2009” (“introduction to the death penalty”). This shows that the usage of the death penalty is declining and many people are not being punished with the death penalty. This also shows that the death penalty is still being used in certain crimes in the United States. This is showing that the death penalty might not be used as much in the future.

Many are not planned thought out crimes, therefore detterence through the death penalty has minimal

There are many controversial points of view on the death penalty in America’s society. Is the death penalty socially correct? Is it just? The death penalty is an execution sentence that a person convicted of a capital crime must face. A person can only be sentenced to death in 33 states (deathpenatly.org). There have been as of April 1, 2012, 3,170 death row inmates in the Unites States history, with an exception of the two inmates in New Mexico and eleven in Connecticut that remain on the death row due to the law not being made retrospective to these inmates. The controversy whether the death penalty is just or unjust has been a debate in America for many years. There have

People who oppose capital punishment claim that its use is ineffective in deterring other violent crimes. Statistics shows that in the United States the death penalty isn’t effective in deterring murder. However, in countries where the death penalty is used more efficiently, than in the United States, the death penalty is effective. Crimes such as murder and treason are nearly non-existent in countries that effectively use the death penalty as punishment for those crimes. Another argument why capital punishment is not needed is the cost associated with it. Objectors claim that the cost of execution is too high, and that it is more cost effective to keep criminals in prisons. A third argument is that

Some people appose the death penalty because they believe it cost more to kill the person than to keep them in prison for life. If you put any thought into this at all, you will see that it is entirely wrong. If you put someone in jail for life, you have to feed them every single day, keep them sheltered, and take up the space in the jails. If you put someone to death, you don't have to worry about any of that. The cost of executions is far less than life in jail. Death penalty cases have alot of appeals, that cost alot of money, but life without parole cases have just about the same amount of appeals and cost just the same. When it comes down to it, putting the murderers in our country to death saves money, time, and space in our jails.