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.

Historically, capital punishment has been used in almost every part of the world. Now, there are thirty six countries that have retained the death penalty in active use. That means that a lot of people, like Fein, agree that capital punishment is the right answer for the horrible crimes. Anything less than penalty of death will just trivialize the value of someone’s life. If someone’s did some horrible crime, like rape or murder, only way of stopping for something like that happens again is death for murderer or rapist. Yet, according to the N.C. Department of Justice, the the crime has declined in the years since executions stopped. Given this fact, there is no credible argument that the death penalty deters crime. It is hard to talk about this topic when you are not in position that you have someone that is murdered or raped. On the other hand, there are people that believe that no one is allowed to take someone’s life, no matter of any circumstances. Still, people like Fain have their arguments, and because of people like him we now have over 1300 executions that have occured in the U.S since

Many people who are supporters of the death penalty say that it’s a successful deterrent. But this isn’t true because the death penalty is administered very inconsistently and arbitrarily. “Only a small proportion of first-degree murders is sentenced to death, and even fewer are executed” (Bedau). There are also several states that have a lower criminal rate without using capital punishment. For example Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan all get along just fine without the use of the death penalty. Also “…all other Western industrial countries get along quite well without killing their citizens” (Ryan). There are many judges that are against the use of capital punishment as well.

2008 murder rate in death penalty states was 41% higher than the non-death penalty states, 2009 the murder rate was 35% higher than the non-death penalty states (Cooper, 2011). As you can see capital punishment had no influence on preventing criminals from doing illegal acts. Therefore, all of the work and energy that goes into executing a criminal in the name of justice is illogical and ineffective.

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, 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

Capital punishment, otherwise known as the death penalty, has been effective tool in our country’s justice system since its inception. When an inmate is given this, the harshest sentence available, it is always with just cause. Capital Punishment is an important tool in our criminal justice system today and there are several reasons it should remain in effect.

Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, has been used in our country since we first landed on its shores. Brought overseas by the colonists, the death penalty was first used in the colony of Jamestown. It was cited that the man had committed the capital offence of treason. Capital punishment has evolved in many ways since this time. In the sixteen hundreds, you could be put to death for stealing, heresy, murder etc. Since then, many states have abolished the death penalty, describing it as cruel and unusual punishment. Michigan was the first state to abolish it in 1864. Through the years, there have been many opposers of the practice. Many say that the system has flaws. Studies have shown that there are connections between race and the death penalty. In recent years, it has been revealed that a good number of convicts sent to death were wrongfully convicted. The use of DNA evidence has brought to light many of the injustices that the death penalty has brought about.

Paul H. Rubin, PhD, Professor of Economics at Emory University wrote in his testimony, “The modern refereed studies have consistently shown that capital punishment has a strong deterrent effect, with each execution deterring between 3 and 18 murders” (Dezhbakhsh).

Capital punishment has been a part of public debate in the United States for as long as I can remember. Proponents say it prevents crime; opponents claim it is cruel and unusual punishment. Social science has been unable to either conclusively support or disprove the theory that capital punishment deters crime (Schonebaum, 2002), mirroring the mixed emotions of many Americans on the subject. Historically, execution has been a significant form of punishment for deviance from social norms and for criminal behavior. (Schaefer, 2009, p. 175) The most powerful argument for the deterrent effect of the death penalty comes from the commonsense notion that people fear death more than life in prison.

Furthermore, on top of not reducing criminal activities, Capital punishment is a waste of money. Dieter state that Over two-thirds of the states and the federal government have installed an exorbitantly expensive system of capital punishment which has been a failure by any measure of effectiveness. Literally, hundreds of millions of dollars have already been spent on a response to crime which is calculated to be carried out on a few people each year and which has done nothing to stem the rise in violent crime (Dieter n.d.)When in fact there is another way to go about it. The death penalty is much more expensive than its closest alternative -- life imprisonment with no parole. Capital trials are longer and more expensive at every step than other murder trials. (Dieter n.d.)Over the past three decades, there has been a downward trend in the number of murders that lead to arrest and conviction to the point that only

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

Capital punishment has been around for many years as a way of executing criminals. Despite what most believe, capital punishment is not functional in the American society. Defenders of the death penalty often claim that the execution of criminals will teach others not to do bad, initially decreasing crime rates. Unfortunately, statistics prove that thought to be wrong. Capital punishment also has great flaws. For example, many innocent people have been put to death because of capital punishment. There also is no consistency. Two of the same crimes can be convicted in two different states and the consequences with be different for both offenders. The death penalty shows to be

Is the foreboding practice of capital punishment humane and ethical to use? The first recorded usage of this practice was back in the Eighteenth century where it would be used when people are found guilty in murder cases (Reggio). Since then 1,436 people have been executed in the United States, mostly through lethal injections, that are a common use today (Rethinking). Not only murder calls for capital punishment, but so does treason and espionage, which is collecting political and/or government information. Though as more people throughout the centuries have begun to develop different beliefs, more people are also questioning the use of the death penalty. Capital punishment should be banned because it condemns the innocent, it is expensive, and there are other methods that can be used instead.

“Thou shall not kill” is a commandment that many know but also that many do not follow. Killings are happening every day all over the world in many forms regardless of moral beliefs or lack of them. Abortions, euthanasia, war, and senseless acts of violence are some major ways that killing is occurring and causing moral conflicts. Another major moral conflict of killing is over capital punishment. Killing is wrong and most people would agree but many people recognize certain exceptions in which killing is acceptable. Those who agree with the philosophical theory, Consequentialism, would think that it is beneficial to have capital punishment. Although, many argue that killing is wrong, yet, capital punishment is being still being used. The question arises, to what extent is an act of killing wrong or right. The answer varies between many with their own opinions.