Capital Punishment Essay - We Need the Death Penalty

We Need the Death Penalty

For the past several years Americans have regularly listed crime

and violence as the number - one problem facing the nation, far surpassing

worries over the economy or health care.

Despite the many government and community initiatives launched

during recent years to reduce crime, most Americans see no improvement. In

a 1993 survey asking respondents if they felt crime was increasing or

decreasing in their areas, only 5 % felt that it was decreasing, a full 93

% felt that crime was either increasing or staying the same. And it is not

just statistics: I consider myself along with those 93 %. Because while

Guiliani administration is talking about crime rates in the New York City

going down, all I see and hear in the media are reports about horrible

crimes committed by New Yorkers.

As George Pettinico states in his article " Crime and punishment:

America changes it's mind ": The media's extensive coverage of crime,

especially the most brutal and horrific cases have heightened the public's

fear and anger over this issue to a near frenzy. When asked in January of

this year, " How often do you see reports of violent crime on television ?

" 68 % replied " almost every day ".

Although the media have played an important role in raising the

public's awareness of lawlessness, crime in America is far from a media -

created phenomenon. Government statistics support the image of a nation

which has overwhelmingly lost the war against crime. For instance, in 1960

there were 161 reported violent crimes per 100,000 people By 1992, the

figure had jumped to 758 per 100,000 -- a rise of over 350 %.

More and more people today are starting to think that something is

terribly wrong when a modern, civilized nation must confront statistics

like these. The American public is demanding an end to this violence, and

surveys show that they believe swift and harsh punishment is the most

appropriate and effective means to these ends.

The death penalty, or as it is sometimes being called " capital

punishment " is the hardest punishment that could be received when a person

is convicted of a capital offense. Until recently it did not exist in New

York State but after new governor, George Pataki was elected he managed to

bring it back. Since September 1, 1994 the death penalty law was in effect.

And even though, as far as I know, there is no strong statistical evidence

that the death penalty lowers the murder rate, many people were very happy