The Death Penalty

The debate on capital punishment dates back for centuries and civil rights activists argue on whether or not to abolish it completely. By definition, capital punishment or death penalty is the just execution of a person guilty of a crime and has been used for heinous crimes such as murder, treason, and torture; and should be enforced more often within the United States. The debate on capital punishment relies mostly on whether or not to abolish it all together. The question is asked how one would feel if their loved one was kidnapped, tortured, raped and beaten to death. It is hard to imagine that ever happening, but there are some parents that it was a reality. Some argue that it is okay for a person to be sentenced to death; however they would not want their own family member to be the defendant. While sentencing a person to death will not bring a loved one back, it can guarantee 100% that the perpetrator will not be able to kill again. Life in prison gets a criminal three meals a day, heat and air conditioning, television with cable, and a roof over their head. Between 1998 and 2008 there were 775 criminals executed. These 775 people had a combined total of 1591 people that were murdered. These criminals averaged at least two victims per person (Hall, July). In deliberation of a case, a jury must decide if the death penalty is a just punishment. In these cases they must weigh any aggravating and or mitigating circumstances. Aggravating circumstances are any acts that can justify the harshest penalty possible (Montaldo, Aggravating and Mitigating Factors: Jurors must weigh the circumstances, 2010). Aggravating circumstances can include rape, robbery, murder for hire, and torture. Faith Hathaway was 17 when she was abducted, raped, stabbed repeatedly and then raped again after she had died. Her case was the basis for the movie Dead Man Walking (Hall, July). Mitigating circumstances must also be weighed when deciding a capital punishment trial. These

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