death penalty
Death Penalty: Wrong or Right?
Introduction
Over several years, the death penalty has existed among various countries, and used to eliminate killers who are considered extremely dangerous in the society. According to various sources, the fear associated with the death penalty discourages individuals with the propensity of conducting such inhumane crimes. Application of the death penalty, however, comes with mixed reactions from the society since some people support it while others are against it due to various reasons. Therefore, this essay seeks to justify the rightfulness of the death penalty since it is associated with a significant level of reduction in malicious murders.
Arguments against Death Penalty In a number of cases, the death penalty has resulted in various disputes; for example, where innocent individuals have been convicted despite the fact that they were not involved in such crimes. Unfortunately, some of these victims were executed, or put on the death row just before the truth was established, and their innocence proven (Harris, 2012). From 1973, 11 Texans and 128 others across the United States have been set free and cleared from the death penalty as a result of proof of their wrongful conviction (All Voices, 2012). Generally, the death penalty is considered as the harshest sentence for any known felony. More so, it is the only punishment that will remain irreversible after the sentence has been made. When an inmate is found not guilty of committing the crime that led to his imprisonment, they can always be set free and have their names cleared. However, where the convict had already been put to death, the punishment can never be reversed: In no circumstance will saying - sorry, we had the wrong person - help the family of the victim, but will only increase their pain. Several people are usually against the idea of the death penalty due to the possibility of executing innocent people. Such people would never want to imagine the risk of
Introduction
Over several years, the death penalty has existed among various countries, and used to eliminate killers who are considered extremely dangerous in the society. According to various sources, the fear associated with the death penalty discourages individuals with the propensity of conducting such inhumane crimes. Application of the death penalty, however, comes with mixed reactions from the society since some people support it while others are against it due to various reasons. Therefore, this essay seeks to justify the rightfulness of the death penalty since it is associated with a significant level of reduction in malicious murders.
Arguments against Death Penalty In a number of cases, the death penalty has resulted in various disputes; for example, where innocent individuals have been convicted despite the fact that they were not involved in such crimes. Unfortunately, some of these victims were executed, or put on the death row just before the truth was established, and their innocence proven (Harris, 2012). From 1973, 11 Texans and 128 others across the United States have been set free and cleared from the death penalty as a result of proof of their wrongful conviction (All Voices, 2012). Generally, the death penalty is considered as the harshest sentence for any known felony. More so, it is the only punishment that will remain irreversible after the sentence has been made. When an inmate is found not guilty of committing the crime that led to his imprisonment, they can always be set free and have their names cleared. However, where the convict had already been put to death, the punishment can never be reversed: In no circumstance will saying - sorry, we had the wrong person - help the family of the victim, but will only increase their pain. Several people are usually against the idea of the death penalty due to the possibility of executing innocent people. Such people would never want to imagine the risk of
References: All Voices: Innocent Man Released After 17 Years on Death Row 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2012, from http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6867743-innocent-man-released-after-17-years-on-death-row Aronson, J., & Simon, C. (2009). Science and the Death Penalty: DNA, Innocence, and the Debate over Capital Punishment in the United States. Law & Social Inquiry, 34(3), 603-633. Boys, D. (2012). Death Penalty: Right or Wrong, Good or Bad? Retrieved July 7, 2012, from http://www.cstnews.com/Code/trymfrym.html Harris, A. (2012). Death Penalty: Right or Wrong? Retrieved July 7, 2012, from http://jagnewsonline.com/2011/12/death-penalty-right-or-wrong/