Persuasive Essay On The Death Penalty

The death penalty disproportionately targets minorities especially African Americans. In the United States of America there is an unequal and unfair burden against African Americans in the criminal justice system. In 2011, African Americans were only 13.6% of the American population (Rastogi, Johnson, Hoeffel, & Drewery, 2011). However, African Americans in 2011 made up 42% of the total death row population (Snell, 2011). Although a minority of the total population in the United States, African Americans make the majority of inmates on death row facing execution. Furthermore, the death penalty in many states is used as tool that following the racial legacy of Jim Crow laws. Sentences resulting in death are higher in states with a history of lynching (Schweizer 92). States with a history of lynching are predominately found in the Southern United states. The Southern United states has the highest population of death row inmates. In 2009 alone there were 1,630 inmates currently on death row in the South compared to 226 in the North and only 988 in the West (Schweizer 92). In addition, the race of the victim often will determine the sentence. Results from the Baldus Study suggested evidence of racial disparity in the state of Georgia based on the victims race (Schweizer 92). The Baldus study argued African American defendants who committed murdered white individuals had much higher probability of receiving the death penalty. Prosecutors in Georgia pursued a verdict of death in 80% of their cases if the defendant was African American and the victim was white (Schweizer 92). This is purely racial discrimination and prejudice. Finally, “Since 1977, the overwhelming majority (77%) off death row defendants have been executed for killing white victims, even though African Americans make up about half of all homicide victims (Amnesty International).”The race of the both the victim and perpetrator in criminal is irrelevant.

The death penalty, by definition, is the punishment of execution, administered to someone legally convicted of a capital crime. Each state has their own determinates of why someone would be given the death penalty, for example, in Missouri, it is first degree murder, but for Alabama it is intentional murder with 18 aggravating factors.

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.

The death penalty was created to punish people for crimes that far exceeded the average punishment of prison time. Many people argue that the penalty is too “harsh”, however I believe that the crime fits the punishment. The death penalty is only applicable to heinous crimes such as murder or terrorism. The penalty has been used to end the lives of some of the cruel criminals to ever live. Criminals that have been sentenced to the death penalty include; Timothy McVeigh (the Oklahoma bomber), Ted Bundy (notorious serial killer/ rapist), Saddam Hussein (notorious terrorist leader). It is obvious that the penalty has been put to good use over the years.

Advocates for the death penalty are for it for many; they believe it has a strong deterrent effect, it gives closure to the families and more tolerable someone perceives imprisonment to be, the less deterrent effect life in prison will

There are diverse capital punishment, the death penalty is one of them. Considered as a deviant and barbaric act, the use of this method reflects the opposite view or the wrong message of what the society teaches us. Encouraging the death penalty is not different from encouraging a murder and by operating in such a way actually violates a fundamental law set forth by the federal government which is “ Murder is an illegal crime”.

Do you ever wonder what should happen to dangerous criminals? Watching the news just thinking “huh?” Well what do you think should happen to the dangerous criminals? There are many opinions. Some people think the only option is the death penalty. I honestly agree and disagree with that because there are some death penalties are justified and some are not .Listen to these two cases.

The Death Penalty has been a long standing part of the American justice system. For many years, the death penalty went without opposition, but as of recently it has gained it’s long overdue mass opposition. The Death Penalty is barbaric, and is costing our nation obscene amounts of money. While one would think that modern-day American citizens would have done away with this method, a good portion of Americans reason that it lowers the crime rate and it provides closure (or rather vengeance) to families of victims.

Death Penalty should have been only for people who don’t care about life, People, Mother Nature, Etc.

There are people in the world who have done things that are so severe and heartbreaking they cannot be forgiven. People that harass society and put fear in the minds of our citizens such as rapists, mass murderers, and terrorists deserve the punishment that they gave to the innocent victims. The United States is still a part of the minority of countries that still use the death penalty, also known as capital punishment. The death penalty should be used because it gives closure the victim’s family, acts as a deterrent for any other people wanting to attempt a crime of the same extent, and permanently prevents any further horrendous crime from that person.

The death penalty is one of the most controversial topics in the United States and is a topic that will continue to be debated for many years to come. It is the most severe and harsh punishments for a crime. Currently, the death penalty is legal in thirty two states. In my opinion the death penalty is unconstitutional, and should be illegal in all states who still practice it. No state has the right to put its worst criminals to death.

It is not often that we hear about the use of the death penalty in the United States. In fact, it is so rare that when it does occur, it becomes a part of nationwide headlines and updates about the particular case will become worldwide news. The death penalty is often used as a punishment for severe crimes such as “rape, treason, espionage, murder, large-scale drug trafficking, or attempting to kill a witness, juror, or court officer in certain cases” (Tirschell & Hertzburg). However, what doesn’t occur to modern, everyday people are the consequences about the use of the death penalty such as psychological effects and being wrongfully convicted. The possible execution of innocent people and the disproportion of races among the victims on death row are a few issues that have us all blindsided but Americans are ones that should take it very seriously. In my opinion the justice system is flawed, the obvious racial inequality and its own outdated strategy, the death penalty should be abolished and no longer be intact within the United States.

Up until recently, I felt that the Death Penalty is not necessary as a form of punishment. I felt that if an individual committed a horrendous enough crime to get the worst form of punishment available; the death penalty would be letting them off easy. I believed that having to spend the remainder of their lives in prison was the most extreme form of punishment for criminals. After speaking to a person close to me, I feel differently. As of now, I think that the death penalty results in retribution, closure for families, and is the most extreme, last resort, form of punishment, which we require in some cases. The death penalty is humane and cost-effective, and should not be going anywhere in the future.

According to Deathpenaltyinfo.org, as of July 1st, 2017 there were approximately 2,817 prisoners on death row. CNN.com says that, as of now, the death penalty is only legal in 31 out of the 50 states. Did you know that the average death row inmate will spend roughly 15 years in prison before they meet their final day; nearly a quarter of death row inmates die of natural causes while waiting for execution, and exhausting all of their appeals? How about that in Virginia death row inmates are now able to play games, watch TV, send emails, and have physical contact with visitors along with much more? Death row is for criminals that have committed heinous crimes and have been convicted by 12 unanimous jurors to death. So, why give them that many privileges?

The death penalty is a prosecute that is used to kill criminals that have committed crimes that are so bad they should not be left alive. The idea of putting another human to death is hard to completely fathom. The physical mechanics involved in the act of execution are easy to grasp, but the emotions involved in carrying out a death sentence on another person, regardless of how much they deserve it, is beyond my understanding. Knowing that it must be painful, dehumanizing, and sickening. The Eight Amendment says” Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted” (Constitutions). And for the article Changing Views on\\e rate has gone down at a steady from the 1990 to now and that they death penalty is sometimes necessary, and it is our responsibility as a society to see that it is done.