Twenty-six percent of individuals responded with a ten when asked if the victim’s family gained more attention. Seventeen percent said the victim’s family did not. However, the remaining results varied from four to nine, with nine meaning the victim’s family gained more attention from the criminal justice system. Question seven asked individuals to describe the death penalty using one word. The word that was used the most was “cruel.” The use of that word by participants was not surprising at all. The next common used word was “justice.” The use of these two words were simply interesting. This is simply because with they can almost act as antonyms. This indicates there were definitely mixed beliefs about the death penalty. A few negative words that were used to describe the death penalty were tragic, inhumane, abomination, unlawful, judgmental, wrong, and flawed. In comparison, words such as deserving, karma, complicated, and irrevocable were also used to describe the death penalty. The last question included in the survey was a short response question. Participants were asked to discuss the different ways that the families of the accused could cope with death penalty. I was very pleased with the responses. One-fourth of participants indicated that prayer was the answer. They insisted that religion and faith were the appropriate approaches to dealing with the tragedies experienced during the death penalty. Some individual even suggested something as simple
The death penalty is a controversial topic in the United States today and has been for a number of years. The death penalty was overturned and then reinstated in the United States during the 1970's due to questions concerning its fairness. The death penalty began to be reinstated slowly, but the rate of executions has increased during the 1990's. There are a number of arguments for and against the death penalty. Many death penalty supporters feel that the death penalty reduces crime because it deters people from committing murder if they know that they will receive the death penalty if they are caught. Others in favor of the death penalty feel that even if it doesn't deter others from committing crimes, it will eliminate
There are many reasons to both support and oppose the death penalty. Many people can feel very strongly about whether or not they approve of this method of punishment. I feel that the death penalty is wrong, and I believe that there is much support to back this up. I believe that the death penalty is wrong because it is not an effective deterrent, racially and economically bias, unreliable, expensive, and morally wrong of society.
Why is the death penalty used as a means of punishment for crime? Is this just a way to solve the nations growing problem of overcrowded prisons, or is justice really being served? Why do some view the taking of a life morally correct? These questions are discussed and debated upon in every state and national legislature throughout the country. Advantages and disadvantages for the death penalty exist, and many members of the United States, and individual State governments, have differing opinions. Yet it seems that the stronger arguments, and evidence such as cost effectiveness, should lead the common citizen to the opposition of Capital Punishment.
In view of these safeguards, proponents of capital punishment believe that state executions are justified sentences for those convicted of willful first-degree murder. They do not think sentencing murderers to prison is a harsh enough sentence, especially if there is the possibility of parole for the perpetrator. A final argument posed by proponents of the death penalty is that execution is an effective deterrence. They are convinced that potential murderers will likely think twice before they commit murder. Despite the rhetoric of politicians for the increased use of the death penalty, a number of prominent individuals and organizations have emerged to express their opposition to capital punishment. Along with families of death row prisoners, the International Court of The Hague, the United Nations, Amnesty International, the Texas Conference of Churches, Pope John Paul II, Nobel Peace recipient, Bishop Tutu, numerous judges and former prosecutors, former Attorney General, Ramsey Clark, actors, and writers are waging a determined struggle against the death penalty. They invariably argue that capital punishment is wrong and inhumane. Religious folk generally evoke the nature of an “ideal spiritual community” (Cauthen, 1). Within this perspective, a moral and ethical community does not insist on a life for a life. While a community must act to protect law- abiding citizens, an ethical response would be to
Thousands of people will attack the death penalty. They will give emotional speeches about the one innocent man or woman who might accidentally get an execution sentence. However, all of these people are forgetting one crucial element. They are forgetting the thousands of victims who die every year by the hands of heartless murderers. There are more murderers out there than people who are wrongly convicted, and that is what we must remember.
The Death Penalty Discussion In today’s world terrible crimes are being committed daily. Many people believe that these criminals deserve one fate; death. Death penalty is the maximum sentence used in punishing people who kill another human being and is a very controversial method of punishment. Capital punishment is a legal infliction of death penalty and since ancient times it has bee used to punish a large variety of offences.
There are many problems facing our criminal justice system today. Some of the more important ones are overcrowded jails, the increasing murder rate, and keeping tax payers content. In light of these problems, I think the death penalty is our best and most reasonable solution because it is a highly effective deterrent to murder. And, tax payers would be pleased to know that their hard-earned tax dollars are not being wasted on supporting incorrigible criminals who are menaces to society. In addition, they would not be forced to fund the development of new penitentiaries in order to make room for the growing number of inmates in our already overcrowded jails. Moreover, the death penalty would
“Murder is wrong” (“Capital Punishment”). We’ve been taught this indisputable truth since childhood. The death penalty is defined as one human taking the life of another. Coincidentally, that is a classification of murder. There are as many as thirty-six states with the death penalty, and it’s essential that they change it. The United States needs the death penalty abolished because it is filled with flaws, cruel and immoral, and is an ineffective means of deterrent for crime.
In a cold room of an unmarked building, a man awaits his death. The man lies on a metal table, strapped down like a wild animal. The straps cut into his wrists and legs, but no one cares. He is not scared—not anymore. He has no time for fear now. He vows to think only of the things that matter most—his daughters, his wife, his mother, the sunsets he will never see again, the ice cream he will never again enjoy. He knows he does not deserve to die. Yet nobody in the room cares; not the doctor who prepares the IV, the state official who stays busy scribbling away on meaningless paperwork, or the guards who avoid eye contact in the corner. A man will die soon for something he did not do, and nobody cares. This is the precise reason that he
Back in the 1600’s, British settlers were just beginning to arrive in North America and were exploring the vast lands. They began constructing permanent settlements such as Plymouth and Jamestown. With them, they brought along many customs from Britain; one of them being the way with which they dealt with prisoners: the death penalty. Britain was one of the biggest influence for the use of death sentence in the United States, though various places in Europe also used it. In the settlements and towns, they dealt with criminals by executing them in various ways, including hanging, drowning, shooting, and burning at stake. Some of the most common reasons that led to a person being executed were treason, murder, theft, religious matters and sexuality. (Part I History of the Death Penalty). Nowadays, death penalty is a theme of controversy, not only in the United States, but also in the rest of the world. Death penalty is highly controversial because it puts into question the causes of morality, capital costs, ethnicity, constitutionality, discouragement, motives, professionality, and justice.
My overall experience taking ENGL 1100 has a wonderful. I have learned allot about my writing skills. I can say that my greatest weakness always have been writing essays. When I was reading the Syllabus I was overwhelmed with the amount of work the class had, and a little scared. Every week discussion, assignments, and 4 essays had to be completed during the semester. I am going to write on my reflection what were weak and my area of strengths.
The death penalty seems to be a very debatable subject. There are arguments and support for both sides of the debate, but which side is right? That is a tough question to ask. After reading the article in the textbook, two other articles, and looking at statistics, I seem to feel that the death penalty may not be the right answer.
“I don’t think you should support the death penalty to seek revenge. I don’t think that’s right. I think the reason to support the death penalty is because it saves other people’s lives.” -- President George Bush
A teenage girl, Paula Cooper, from Gary, Indiana, and her three friends wanted some money to play video games. For them, Ruth Pelke, a 78-year-old Bible teacher, was an easy target. By taking Bible lessons from her, the four teens gained entry to her house. Then, with a 12-inch butcher knife, Paula Cooper stabbed the elderly lady 33 times to death. It is not a wonder that few had little sympathy for Paula Cooper, who was sentenced to death in 1986. Throughout ages, the death penalty has been used to punish criminals for severe crimes. All countries should enforce the use of death penalty for severe crimes since it serves to deter crime rates, acknowledges the value of human life, administers justice and gives closure to
The issue of the death penalty is widely disputed. So disputed that maybe I shouldn’t have picked this topic. But nevertheless, the death penalty is an issue that needs to be addressed. Should the death penalty be abolished from our criminal justice system? Well, that depends on whom you ask. If you ask me… no. I personally don’t see anything wrong with the death penalty because there are a lot of criminals that are just too dangerous to society and death is the only punishment they deserve.