Troy Davis Death Penalty Essay
More than 20 years ago, Troy Davis, an African-American man from Georgia, was convicted of shooting and killing an off-duty police officer and sentenced to death. Several years later, seven out of nine eyewitnesses altered or completely recanted their stories (Troy). There was an obvious lack of evidence linking Davis to the crime. His legal team argued that he was just in the “wrong place at the wrong time” (Troy). The U.S. Supreme Court repeatedly ruled against Davis’ appeals for a new trial. Davis was ultimately executed based on the original jury verdict. Troy Davis maintained his innocence until his death by lethal injection on September 21, 2011. His last words to the family of the murdered officer were, “All I can ask is that you look deep into this case so you can really find the truth” (Troy). There are a countless number of convicts like Troy Davis that are sentenced to death, but insist they are innocent. How do we know if they are truly guilty or not? Just because a jury finds a person guilty, does not mean they are. From 1976-2005, 119 people were released from death row with
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evidence of their innocence (Jost). This should push lawmakers to abolish capital punishment, also known as, the death penalty. There are several reasons why the U.S. should abolish the death penalty. First, and most obvious, the innocent may be wrongly executed. There is proof of wrongfully executed people. Yes, it is very rare but it has happened before. Secondly, some jurors are reluctant to convict if it means putting someone to death (Should). It is bad enough to convict someone of a crime they did not do, sentencing an innocent person to jail time. Sentencing an innocent person to death, is an even more guilt-bearing act. Meaning, some jurors will not convict at all if they know they will have anything to do with putting a person to death. It may be because of their religious beliefs, uncertainty, or anything of that nature. Lastly, capital punishment is much more expensive than life in prison. It costs around $500,000 to keep a person in prison (Reasons). Executions cost approximately $2 million per person (Reasons). A large amount of this money comes from the taxpayers! Many people are for capital punishment and have strong beliefs on why it should stay in the U.S.
First, the death penalty gives closure to the families of slain victims (Should). They feel like justice has been served. Secondly, it contributes to the problem of overpopulation in the prison system (Should). It is true all U.S. and state federal prisons are overpopulated, some as much as 33% (U.S.). Another reason people are pro-capital punishment, is because DNA testing is now available and can now effectively eliminate almost all uncertainty as to a person 's guilt or innocence (Should). Many people who opposed the death penalty are now for it, all because of the availability of DNA testing. They think if DNA proves a person is guilty, then they are guilty. However, what if there is not any DNA evidence, but other evidence linking a person to a crime such as, an
eyewitness? Executing the murderer of a victim will give closure to the victim’s family. What if the executed convict was wrongfully convicted and is not the actual murderer? That simply means the real murderer is out on the street and able to take more lives. Pro capital punishment activists believe executing death row inmates will help solve the overpopulation problem in the U.S prisons. Obviously, yes it would but why would you want to think of a person as a waste of space? That person could actually be innocent and ultimately executed to help with the overpopulation just because he was wrongfully convicted. Pro capital punishment activists also believe since DNA evidence is available now, there is almost no way a person can be wrongfully convicted. However, like Troy Davis’ trial, some cases have no DNA evidence linking to them to a crime. Would you still execute them? The United States is ranked fifth in the world behind China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, among the number of executions (Death). Although most Americans still favor the death penalty, support has declined in the past five years (Rethinking). Critics claim too many death sentences are reversed on appeal and there are many flaws in the system that create a risk of executing an innocent person (Rethinking). Whether or not the United States should ban the death penalty is one of our governments most talked about issues.
Works Cited
(2010, November 19). Death penalty debates. CQ Researcher, 20, 965-988.
(2001, November 16). Rethinking the death penalty. CQ Researcher, 11, 945-968.
Jost, K. (2005, September 23). Death penalty controversies. CQ Researcher, 15, 785-808.
“Reasons to Be Against the Death Penalty." Anti-Death Penalty Information. Web. 22 Feb. 2012.
“Pros & Cons of the Death Penalty." About.com US Liberal Politics. Web. 22 Feb. 2012.
“Troy Davis Executed: Controversially Convicted Inmate Maintains Innocence Until The End." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 21 Sept. 2011. Web. 22 Feb. 2012.
"Should the Death Penalty Be Banned as a Form of Punishment?" BalancedPolitics.org. Web. 22 Feb. 2012.
"U.S. Prisons: How Crowded Are They?" About.com Crime / Punishment. Web. 23 Feb. 2012.
evidence of their innocence (Jost). This should push lawmakers to abolish capital punishment, also known as, the death penalty. There are several reasons why the U.S. should abolish the death penalty. First, and most obvious, the innocent may be wrongly executed. There is proof of wrongfully executed people. Yes, it is very rare but it has happened before. Secondly, some jurors are reluctant to convict if it means putting someone to death (Should). It is bad enough to convict someone of a crime they did not do, sentencing an innocent person to jail time. Sentencing an innocent person to death, is an even more guilt-bearing act. Meaning, some jurors will not convict at all if they know they will have anything to do with putting a person to death. It may be because of their religious beliefs, uncertainty, or anything of that nature. Lastly, capital punishment is much more expensive than life in prison. It costs around $500,000 to keep a person in prison (Reasons). Executions cost approximately $2 million per person (Reasons). A large amount of this money comes from the taxpayers! Many people are for capital punishment and have strong beliefs on why it should stay in the U.S.
First, the death penalty gives closure to the families of slain victims (Should). They feel like justice has been served. Secondly, it contributes to the problem of overpopulation in the prison system (Should). It is true all U.S. and state federal prisons are overpopulated, some as much as 33% (U.S.). Another reason people are pro-capital punishment, is because DNA testing is now available and can now effectively eliminate almost all uncertainty as to a person 's guilt or innocence (Should). Many people who opposed the death penalty are now for it, all because of the availability of DNA testing. They think if DNA proves a person is guilty, then they are guilty. However, what if there is not any DNA evidence, but other evidence linking a person to a crime such as, an
eyewitness? Executing the murderer of a victim will give closure to the victim’s family. What if the executed convict was wrongfully convicted and is not the actual murderer? That simply means the real murderer is out on the street and able to take more lives. Pro capital punishment activists believe executing death row inmates will help solve the overpopulation problem in the U.S prisons. Obviously, yes it would but why would you want to think of a person as a waste of space? That person could actually be innocent and ultimately executed to help with the overpopulation just because he was wrongfully convicted. Pro capital punishment activists also believe since DNA evidence is available now, there is almost no way a person can be wrongfully convicted. However, like Troy Davis’ trial, some cases have no DNA evidence linking to them to a crime. Would you still execute them? The United States is ranked fifth in the world behind China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, among the number of executions (Death). Although most Americans still favor the death penalty, support has declined in the past five years (Rethinking). Critics claim too many death sentences are reversed on appeal and there are many flaws in the system that create a risk of executing an innocent person (Rethinking). Whether or not the United States should ban the death penalty is one of our governments most talked about issues.
Works Cited
(2010, November 19). Death penalty debates. CQ Researcher, 20, 965-988.
(2001, November 16). Rethinking the death penalty. CQ Researcher, 11, 945-968.
Jost, K. (2005, September 23). Death penalty controversies. CQ Researcher, 15, 785-808.
“Reasons to Be Against the Death Penalty." Anti-Death Penalty Information. Web. 22 Feb. 2012.
“Pros & Cons of the Death Penalty." About.com US Liberal Politics. Web. 22 Feb. 2012.
“Troy Davis Executed: Controversially Convicted Inmate Maintains Innocence Until The End." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 21 Sept. 2011. Web. 22 Feb. 2012.
"Should the Death Penalty Be Banned as a Form of Punishment?" BalancedPolitics.org. Web. 22 Feb. 2012.
"U.S. Prisons: How Crowded Are They?" About.com Crime / Punishment. Web. 23 Feb. 2012.