Death Penalty Dbq

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Recommended: Social impact of the death penalty on society

Life, no matter whose life it is, is invaluable. The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, is the licit authorization to execute someone for committing a heinous crime. It is unfortunately approved by the government. Despite the fact that the death penalty has been so controversial, the death penalty should be annihilated because life is priceless. The death penalty is incredibly costly. Under the cruelty of the circumstance, the cost of the penalty is obscene. Why should people spend “million more on this fatally flawed system, wouldn’t it make more sense to spend (America’s) dollars on programs that will reduce violent crimes?” (Source B par. 8) Capital punishment costs thousands for each trial. Consider the following factors: …show more content…

Milada Horakova was a politician who was framed for planning to overthrow the government. Although officials had a “ lack of evidence, she was found guilty of treason. Horakova was hanged on June 27, 1950” (Source A line 7). Convicts, just like Horakova, are sometimes innocent. If a virtuous convict is executed, they can not be brought back for a new trial if new evidence found. However, if they are sentenced to life without parole, they can be freed. The action that needs to be taken is lifelong imprisonment because a “sentence of life imprisonment incapacitates a prisoner just as well as the death penalty” (Source A line 102). As previously stated, the innocent can be freed from life imprisonment. For those who are guilty, life without parole removes the dangers from society without committing the equally heinous act that put them in their situation. The _________ of capital punishment is decided by humans, and humans make …show more content…

They argue that with the penalty, the people on death row can quickly and peacefully end their lives while keeping the community safe. These critics have a valid argument, especially since the people serving life without parole often wonder if “ 15 or 20 minutes of terror found to be cruel and unusual wouldn’t be a better option” (Source E par. 11). However, these skeptics fail to comprehend that new evidence can be discovered at any time. If an irreproachable person is sentenced to death, and new evidence can be discovered proving their innocence, they can not be brought back from the dead. This is not uncommon. In fact,”innocent people have been found on death row, like Carlos DeLuna and Johnny Garrett, both wrongfully convicted and executed for murder before new evidence surfaced proving them innocent”(Source C par.6). If capital punishment is annihilated altogether, the critics can’t argue that a quick death is suitable for all of the

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