Persuasive Essay On Capital Punishment

Capital punishment is one of the most controversial topics in today’s world. Many people believe that it is morally wrong to have capital punishment as a sentence to a crime. People also do believe that it is morally permissible for a severe crime. Capital punishment is also known as the death penalty. It can be given as a sentence when somebody is convicted of an extremely violent crime. The biggest issue that can be seen with this is that somebody could be innocent and sentenced with the death penalty because of the nature of the crime that they have been accused of even if they didn’t commit it. I believe that there is a moral line between using the death penalty and using other forms of punishment.

If someone committed a crime so harsh, and inhumane do you believe that they should be put to death? The death penalty, also known as capital punishment is defined as “punishment by death for a crime; death penalty.” (Dictionary.com). The first recorded execution in the United States English American colonies was in 1608 (Reggio). There are multiple execution methods such as; beheading, crucifixion, poisoning, hanging, and electrocuting. Currently, as of 2017 capital punishment is legal in 32 out of 50 States in the United States (CNN). This paper will be discussing the benefits and disadvantages of the death penalty currently in the United States.

Since the beginning of time there has always been the question of what to do with someone that has committed a serious offense that has resulted in serious injury or even death to a person. The death penalty has always been a topic of whether it is humane or inhumane to put someone to death over their crimes against another human being. The death penalty to some is either acceptable to where a person should be put t death for their crimes or is not doing anything to deter people from committing crimes. the death penalty is starting to become less of a punishment and more of a costly expense to taxpayers whom for “Each death penalty case in Texas costs taxpayers about $2.3 million.” The death penalty for some think it should be abolished while others would rather see it extended.

Capital punishment is a form of taking someone 's life in order to repay for the crime that they have committed. Almost all capital punishment sentences in the United States of America have been imposed for homicide since the 1970 's. Ever since the reinstatement after 38 years of being banned, there has been intense debate among Americans regarding the constitutionality of capital punishment. Critics say that executions are violations of the “cruel and unusual punishment” provision of the Eighth Amendment (cite?). Some capital punishment cases require a separate penalty trial to be made, at which time the jury reviews if there is the need for capital punishment. In 1982, the first lethal injection execution was performed in Texas. Some other common methods of execution used are electrocution, a firing squad, and lethal gas. In recent years, the US Supreme Court has made it more difficult for death row prisoners to file appeals. Nearly 75 percent of Americans support the death sentence as an acceptable form of punishment. The other fourth have condemned it. Some major disagreements between supporters and non-supporters include issues of deterrence, economics, fallibility, and rehabilitation. Their indifference to capital punishment is founded on moral grounds and the constitution. In society’s best interest and for the safety of individuals, capital punishment is a respectable form of vengeance for a crime that was committed.

Capital punishment, which is also known as the death penalty, is the punishment of a crime by execution. This extreme retribution is reserved for those who have committed heinous, or capital crimes against society, therefore considered an ongoing threat. Capital punishment was abolished from the Canadian Criminal Code in 1976. It was substituted with a compulsory life sentence without possibility of parole for 25 years for all first-degree murders. However capital punishment is still practiced in over 30 of the 50 states in the USA. Some say that Capital Punishment is an unjust solution to crime, and others say that it isn’t a solution at all, as it is subject to flaws just as any system can be flawed. Dating back, before the Eighteenth Century B.C., Capital Punishment has been an integral part of the judicial system in the majority of countries. Considered to be the ultimate punishment, few criminal offenders will receive this ultimate form of retribution. The State of Texas has the highest record of executions at 300 since the 1970’s. Those executed are murderers and those who have committed serious offenses. The idea is "an eye for an eye", but as Gandhi wisely stated, “An eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind”. Shockingly, there have been convicted criminals executed only to be proven innocent later, this is far too late after they have long been

In an effort to make sure that innocent men and women are not wrongly convicted in capital punishments cases, they are given a wide range of appeals procedures. Immediately following sentencing an automatic appeals process called Direct Review begins. It is during this process that appellate courts review the lower trial court’s decision, checking for errors and making sure the case was tried on sound judgment. If any errors are found

People on death row are not really dying. “In 2010, a death row inmate waited an average of 178 months (roughly 15 years) between sentencing and execution. Nearly a quarter of deaths on death row in the U.S. are due to natural causes.” (Wikipedia, 2015). We are paying tax dollars to have people sit in prison for up to 15 years, and to have three quarters of them executed. Should we even have capital punishment?

Andrew was only twenty three years old when he robbed the liquor store on South Lincoln Avenue. He was a high school dropout and didn’t know where his life was headed at that time. If he could go back, he would not have let his friends talk him into doing it. Yes, they needed the money for rent but looking back at the event, it just was not worth it. He’s always had good intentions, but never a drive to discover his potential, which resulted in this. He is now serving his eighth month in prison so far and has put a lot of thought into the lifelong impact this will have on him. “How long will it take him to find a job?, Where will he stay?,Will his mom and sister, take him back after what he did?” He never explained why he did what he did

Cantu was age 17 when he was accused of committing capital murder in 1993. The teen was found guilty and executed. 12 years after his death, Texas investigators found that there was no way possible that Cantu could have committed the murder. The worst part is the police had little evidence to go by and there were only a few eye witnesses that convicted and executed this innocent minor. Debates over capital punishment have been around since its first use in the U.S. in 1608. With the increase of controversies regarding the topic, the need for the right information and facts is prominent. Due to the death penalty’s many detrimental effects on society such as innocent lives taken, ineffectiveness, and the resources being sucked up, we should consider banning it in all 50 states.

Murder, rape, robbery, and assault all reflect the influence of evil from media, family, friends, but ultimately fed by greed from inside. The rise and fall of these violent crimes will continue, but in the hopes of creating a positive society, efforts must be made by society and law enforcement to support a peaceful and good society. 1

The death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment because it is a vivid reminder of slavery, branding, and various corporal pains were common. It is an inhuman tradition that should not have any part in a civilized society. Nonetheless, only the United States in the whole western industrialized nations still holds the Capital punishment. The prosecutors who are 98% white choose randomly a sampling of convicted criminals would receive a sentence of death, where the prosecutor does not have to consider any constitutional laws or criteria. Simply, the discretions of the narrowly minded persecutors whose concerns might solely be their personal and political gains.

Perhaps we should give the judge a knife and tell her that if she has

The United States will not conform to the amendments as provided in the United States Constitution or provide the process for all of its citizens when they are in trial. The harsh penalizations through the use of Capital Punishment should not be utilized in our judicial system. For the past 50-years, there have been questions asked about one issue that we just cannot get on board with. The idea of killing citizens had started to weigh heavily on the conscience of humans. The debate on whether capital punishment should be a penalty or not for those convicted of capital offenses remains one of the most controversial issues in our country. This debate has stemmed from whether capital punishment is a violation of the eighth amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Eighth amendment states “excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted (amend. XIII, sec.3).” This amendment entails that no inhumane, excessive, or unusual punishments should be inflicted upon a person as a penalty of the violation of law (amend. XIII, sec. 3). This amendment questions the issues of The Death Penalty; it is used less over the years, so why do we keep it around as a safety net, and so-called “Deterrent,” or to satisfy our own the idea of justice for the people (Alfano). Another factor that has stimulated around the debate about capital punishment is the number of wrongful convictions of those subjected to capital punishment. According to

Sitting in the cell, surrounded by guards, and knowing that this was it, Phillip walks to his demise. He flashes back to his family, and how much he regrets his only crime of drug possession. While he was cruising to work, he got pulled over for a broken taillight, and the encounter ended with the cop finding a block of cocaine in the trunk. Phillip intended to sell it for some extra cash, as his factory job wasn’t paying enough to support him and his family in their small apartment. As Phillip got laid out on the table to be injected with chemicals to end his life, he started to shake and whimper as he witnessed the machine flow chemicals into his bloodstream, and dies with seeing disappointed faces staring at him. Stories of criminals that commit petty crimes who are given the death sentence are not unheard of in the American Justice System, and will keep happening if the death penalty is kept in place. Therefore, capital punishment should be banned in America.

Capital punishment is reserved for the most severe and horrendous crimes. Since 1976, 1,463 people have died by death penalty in the United States. Lethal injection is the most common method in the U.S. since it replaced the electric chair in 1995. For the past few years, there has been a large debate over whether or not capital punishment should continue to be used. Capital punishment should not be used in the American legal system to deter criminals from committing crimes because of the botched executions, risk of executing the innocent, and the support is falling.