Preview

Pro Death Penalty

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1907 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Pro Death Penalty
The death penalty has been in place in the United States since its foundation, however in the last few decades it has become increasingly controversial. In recent years, many people have begun to question whether it is an effective method of punishment, or if the death penalty should remain. In a perfect world capital punishment, would be an acceptable punishment, however in our society there are many outside factors that have influenced and challenged the efficacy and efficiency of the death penalty. From execution methods to wrongful convictions, there are numerous issues that plague capital punishment. Opponents of the death penalty claim that life in prison should be the alternative punishment for crimes such as murder. While many murderers …show more content…
Capital punishment is a well-known form of punishment in America, therefore if one is to kill, then it should be assumed that they also likely know of the inherent risks of doing so. There would be no need for a death penalty if people did no kill others. To seek retribution or revenge for those who have been killed is a logical form of punishment. Killing a murderer not only sends a message to future potential murderers, but it may bring some peace to the family of the decedent. If the family of decedent wishes for the death penalty, then it is only fair to attempt to sentence the murderer in that fashion. By knowing that is the families wish, the jury and judge and assume that is also likely the same position the victim would have held. Thus, the murderer will not only be punished fairly, but also in a means in which the victim likely would have agreed with. When victims of crimes are alive, they have a say in the punishment process and pressing charges, however if the victim is dead they have lost all say in how the offender is punished. If the victim has family, it is essential to include them in the debate of what is a fair punishment, without their knowledge of the victim the form of punishment administered may not reflect the ideals of the deceased victim. If the murderer is left in prison for life the …show more content…
Capital punishment has been a part of American society since before the constitution, however in todays’ climate it has become a much more contentious topic. All things being equal and fair, the death penalty is a suitable punishment for a select number of crimes. It is a very complex issue, and context on the crime is essential. If the murder was a crime of passion versus a premeditated killing, changes the entire reason for killing and will also change the outcome in trial. Even in the twenty-first century, America is plagued by racial issues and divide. These issues become extremely apparent when confronting the death penalty. Based upon the disproportionate targeting of African Americans for the death penalty, and slow speed in which it can be carried out, the death penalty is currently not and adequate form of punishment. If inmates can be incarcerated without definitive proof, and executed upon falsities, or held nearly indefinitely until it is finally carried out, then it is not an effective form of punishment. Killing a murderer or traitor, if proven guilty, is acceptable; but in America it is never that

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Capital Punishment is regarded as one of the United States' hottest topics. Those for and against it constantly debate over the various issues that capital punishment brings forth. This essay explains just a few of these topics and my view on the death penalty.…

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Apart from a short time in the mid-to-late 20th century when a freeze on capital punishment was ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court, this system of punishment has been in constant use in the United States for most of its history. Proponents and opponents have always been at odds over whether the practice should be continued or abolished completely. Lining up on one side are those who believe that the practice deters crime and is cheaper than warehousing a criminal for life in a maximum-security prison and lining up on the other side are those that believe the practice is inhumane and fraught with inconsistencies which make it antiquated and a barbaric form of punishment. Even though the United States…

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    pre ap reasearch paper

    • 1120 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In our country’s justice system the death penalty is good for many things, such as, serving as a deterrent for violent crimes all over the nation. We as humans have the ability to decide for ourselves whether an idea is good or bad. Often times to do this we look at the actions of others to earthier strengthen our confidence in our idea or to deter the idea that we have. This is the same concept that the death penalty brings to our society. the death penalty according to Richard Worsnop a writer for the CQ Researcher, “…is traditionally justifiyed in society for two reasons, retribution and detturance(Williams). The Latter of the two in retrospect is the most important. In our justice system the main crimes that are punishable by the death penalty are felony murder or murder in the first degree(Mitchell). Felony murder is defined as, “a killing treated as a murder because, though…

    • 1120 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In his essay Death and Justice, Edward Koch argues in support of capital punishment, he believes it is just and it saves lives. He successfully delivers an argument laced with true and vivid examples of unforgettable murderous events. His intended audience consists of the opposing voters and readers of the New Republic, the political magazine that published his essay. Prior to reading Edward Koch’s essay I was sure that I would disagree but it became clear to me that he is right. There are seven commonly held views against the death penalty that Koch argues against in his essay. In what follows I discuss a few of his arguments and show that the death penalty is the most viable approach to deal with convicted murderers.…

    • 1282 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The death penalty has been an ongoing debate on whether it should be allowed or whether it violates our constitutional right. While most developed Western nations have stopped executing the United States continues to execute offenders (Zimring 2004). From 1977 through 2008 1,136 people have been executed, which consisted of people who committed murder (Procon 2010). Those who are in favor of the death penalty believe it is an important tool to help deter crime and it cost less than life imprisonment (Procon 2010). They believe retribution helps console the grieving family and it also ensures that the offender will never be able to commit another heinous crime (Procon 2010). According to Grant (2004) some people believe that some offenders should face the death penalty because of vengeance and retribution for violent crimes. During the…

    • 1847 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Pro to Death Penalty

    • 921 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Many people who are against capital punishment are only thinking of the criminal and how cruel it is for them. But, shouldn’t we think of the families that are broken apart now because of the merciless acts of these criminals. Think of Susan Smith, how she knowingly drove her car off into a lake with her two children strapped to the seats. Think of how they must have felt as the cold water started to fill the cabin of the car, and then ultimately drown them. Barbaric is exactly the word I would use to describe her actions. But yet, the jury rejected the death penalty and chose a life sentence instead. Mr. Smith, the father of the two children, broken up from the ruling said "Me and my family are disappointed that the death penalty was not the verdict, but it wasn’t our choice. They returned a verdict they thought was justice" (Bragg, pg. 1+).…

    • 921 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Considering the death penalty is difficult for many people to do but would one consider it if it was their family that was victimized? Capital punishment has been a way to punish people for ages, and many countries still use this form of punishment on some of the worse criminals. Some of the main arguments for capital punishment include: keeping criminals off the street, reducing the crime rate, cost reduction for taxpaying citizens, and one of the most important closer for the family. One of the main reasons that people object to the death penalty in because of the fear that the wrong person could be convicted and put to death. Even though an innocent person could be wrongfully convicted, certain criminals should face the death penalty because it ensures the murderer can commit no more crime in the future and it installs fear in other potential criminals.…

    • 2062 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout the years, the death penalty has continued to be an ongoing controversial issue in the United States. While there are many supporters of the death penalty, there is also a great amount of objection. This type of punishment has been around since the eighteenth century in order to assist in a form of a consequence. It continues to be used to discipline those who break the laws and standards that are expected of them, by sentencing them to death. Ever since, it has become the highest level of punishment that can be handed down to someone in the criminal justice system; however, it has also raised many concerns. The process of getting off death…

    • 1025 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The death penalty has been a criminal sentence imposed in America for hundreds of years, but it have been extremely controversial as Evan Mandery illustrates in “A Wild Justice: The Death and Resurrection of Capital Punishment in America.” Today, the death sentence is strictly used in murder cases and in thirty-two out of the fifty states in America. In these states, it is completely legal to use the ultimate punishment of death to incapacitate a criminal from committing any further harm to society. Throughout American history, many individuals have supported the death penalty because they believe it is an effective way to deter crime and is a form of retribution. Others have strongly advocated against capital punishment because it is not morally correct and it not applied fairly. Also, some argue that it is unconstitutional to use the death penalty because it violates the cruel and unusual punishment provision of the Eight Amendment written in the United States Constitution.…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Death Penalty

    • 4048 Words
    • 17 Pages

    Thesis: Capital punishment is useless as a deterrent, morally indefensible, discriminatory in practice, and prone to errors that may have led to the execution of wrongfully convicted people. Its continuing legality in the United States is critically undermining American moral stature around the world. The Supreme Court should bring the United States in line with the rest of the civilized world and hold that death is a cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. Summary: The death penalty process consumes tremendous amounts of money and resources and fails to deter criminal activity. It is not uniformly applied geographically, and where it is allowed, it is used in an often arbitrary and racist manner. As a result, states have been curtailing the use of the death penalty, the Supreme Court has limited its application, and both death sentences and executions are down sharply. This is at odds with the recent efforts of some states to expand the range of capital crimes, and with national polls which still reflect a clear majority of Americans favor capital punishment. Meanwhile, momentum has been accelerating in the international community to abolish the death penalty, and the United States is increasingly criticized for failing to keep in step with other civilized nations in this area. Capital Punishment in the United States Since the 1977 resumption of capital punishment in the United States, nearly 1,100 convicted prisoners have been put to death in the thirty-eight US states where the practice remains legal. As of the beginning of 2007, approximately 3,350 people remain on death row in American prisons. In recent years, the evidence has shown that the death penalty process consumes tremendous amounts of money and resources and fails to deter criminals. FBI Uniform Crime…

    • 4048 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Capital Punishment has been a topic of debate in America since the 17th century. Although many abiding citizens oppose the death penalty, there are many ways for them to feel this way. However, there are also various supporting reasons for 38 states to consider Capital Punishment as very effective. Some of the pros involved in this long-fought debate are justice, closure for victims’ families, cost of inmates, deterrence, and punishment that is equal to the crime which was committed. In opposition, some of the cons are cost of execution, humanity, morality, religion, and unnecessary pain for the family of the executed prisoner.…

    • 1139 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Capital punishment has been a topic that has been talked about for ages. It has been an issue in the adjudication process since the first execution took place in the United States of America in 1608 (Schneider & Smykia, 1991). Today, cases are being brought before the courts constantly, and they are forced to decide what exactly is “cruel and unusual punishment” in accordance with the eighth amendment. This paper will be looking at how the death penalty has evolved and developed in the United States. It will also be evaluating the effects of the death penalty and looking at the issues that are being faced today in regards to capital punishment. Also, does the death penalty have a place in the future for America?…

    • 1629 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The death penalty is used universally, in developed countries, as well as, in undeveloped countries. The death penalty is used more for retribution and retaliation than it is for justice. The death penalty does not deter crime effectively, it is incompatible with human rights and human dignity, used against minorities and the poor, and there is always the risk of executing innocent people. Its easy to agree to the death penalty when the accused is not someone you know...bu what if the accused was your son, daughter, father, mother, brother, or sister? Would you still be for the death penalty?…

    • 100 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The death penalty is a major topic for debate Shannon Rafferty defends in her portfolio published by Penn State entitled “Death Penalty Persuasive Essay.” She believes the penalty should be allowed because it functions as a deterrent, it provides society retribution and it is morally just. Olivia H. disagrees with use of the death penalty in her essay “Capital Punishment Is Dead wrong.” She tells about the risk of punishing the innocent, and how the states are doing irreversible acts of crime. As the authors disagree about whether the death penalty should be allowed, they have some common ground when it comes to admitting the potential for human error and in both disagreeing to the use of barbaric punishments by the government.…

    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Pro Death Penalty

    • 1326 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Pro Death PenaltyBy, Valon MelaThe death penalty should be kept as a punishment in our court systems. It should be kept because it helps crime rates drop, helps give closure, serves justice, and more. Even though it gives a great outcome to the system there are people who argue against it. People against say that capital punishment is not rite, innocent people get killed, and its cruel and unusual punishment; yet none of those facts are proven, in fact, there is prove against them. Ultimately the death penalty helps society feel better and be a better place.…

    • 1326 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics