Death Penalty: Zero Tolerance

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Just the very mentioning of the “death penalty” can bring out a fury in most people. Those for the death penalty argue that it creates deterrence, punishment, and justice. While those that oppose the death penalty argue about the risk of executing an innocent person or life in prison is a worst punishment. Crime is an obvious element of society and something needs to deter people from committing criminal acts. The question lies in the methods and actions in which to deal with each crime. As a nation, we must have zero tolerance for horrific crimes such as murder and we must have a just punishment for a crime to insure some control over criminals.

“The test for deterrence is not whether executions produce lower murder rates, but that executions produce fewer murders than if the death penalty did not exist.” (By Dudley Sharp) The problem is that criminals know they are not going to die for their crimes for several years. “These 28 procedures represent the broad categories of defendant and inmate protections. Within these 28 procedures, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of additional procedures and protections.” (By Dudley Sharp) Prisoners wait in prison for as many as 20 years or more as they go through the appeals process. If the fear of actually getting and receiving the death penalty was real and received in a timely manner, then it would be a great deterrent against crimes. People will steal, take advantage of others, and commit crimes as long as it is in their best interest to do so. The death penalty assures that he or she will not kill again.

The purpose of the criminal justice system is to judge suspects' guilt or innocence and determine punishment when someone is guilty of a crime. Punishment gives justice to the ...

... middle of paper ...

...s that commit crimes. The death penalty assures that he or she will not be a repeat offender. This punishment truly fits the crime, and stops the criminal from repeating it. Others would think before committing a crime that is punishable by death. Stand with me and together we will change the laws so to put a stop to the horrific crimes on our loved ones. We must fight for zero tolerance of these crimes, just as we have done in our school and take back control over the criminals.

Works Cited

12 March 2011 .

"The Death Penalty in America." Bedau, Hugo Adam. 1997.

By Dudley Sharp, Death Penalty Resources Director, Justice For All. (10/1/97).

Jacoby, Jeff. When Murderers Die, Innocents Live. 28 September 1993. 11 March 2011 .

Resonable Doubt. 12 March 2011 .

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