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Justification for capital punishment
Death penalty reduces crime
Justification for capital punishment
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The death penalty is punishment for criminals who violate the life, liberty, or safety of others and show no sign of remorse or chance of redemption. The death penalty is justified and should be endorsed. It is just and needed because capital offense criminals are a danger to others, it is shown to deter crime, and it helps support victims and citizens. As John McAdam of Harvard said, “...it is likely that executions deter murderers… if we execute murderers… we have only killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to execute murderers… we have allowed the killing of a bunch of innocent people”. It is evident that criminals of capital crimes are a danger to all people. At leoxqin.me, it was determined that the average person walks past 10.76 killers …show more content…
Radford university found that for 4,737 serial killers, there are 13,105 found victims. Not all of these killers were put to death, some were released and some escaped prison. The ones in jail for life will live in shelter, get three meals daily, and some even get television and books. “67.8% of criminals get arrested three years after being released,” says the Bureau of Justice. In the three years, they can cause pain to a plethora of people. Though not all of the 67.8% percent are killers, there are multiple killers who killed again. Some killers who escaped just to murder again include John Miller, John McRae, Jimmy Lee Gray, Corey Barton, Howard Allen, Dwaine Little, and more. The capital punishment is needed to protect the innocent. In argument against the penalty, people have said that innocent people have been executed before. This is true, however you cannot be charged for a capital offence unless the judge is sure, above a reasonable doubt, that the killer is guilty. Also, now with cameras everywhere and forensic evidence constantly improving, it can be more clear as to whether or not someone is guilty. …show more content…
John McAdams, as quoted earlier, predicted that the death penalty discourages crimes and there is proof that it does. The following statistics are from the FBI National Crime Report. In 1960, when the death penalty was abolished, crimes went up by 7%. In 2012, states with the capital punishment had 3.7 murders annually. In states without the death penalty, there were 4.7 murders annual. The death penalty is shown to prevent crime, and therefore is effective. The U.S is no utopia, but there is a way to make it safer with the capital punishment. There is, however, the fact that lethal injection costs more than housing a criminal for a lifetime, but this could be fixed by putting cyanide in the criminal’s final meal. Cyanide is cost effective, abundant, quick, and mostly painless. Some people also suggest using bullets, and while this is cost effective, it brings up the question of morality with how painful it is. If the penalty is used more, it could lower the crime rate and lower the cost of taxes going to criminals to keep them
The death penalty, as administered by states based on their individual laws, is considered capital punishment, the purpose of which is to penalize criminals convicted of murder or other heinous crimes (Fabian). The death penalty issue has been the focus of much controversy in recent years, even though capital punishment has been a part of our country's history since the beginning. Crimes in colonial times, such as murder and theft of livestock were dealt with swiftly and decisively ("The Death Penalty..."). Criminals were hanged shortly after their trial, in public executions. This practice was then considered just punishment for those crimes. Recently though, the focus of the death penalty debate has been on moral and legal issues. The murderers of today's society can be assured of a much longer life even after conviction, with the constraints of the appeals process slowing the implementation of their death sentence. In most cases, the appeal process lasts several years, during which time criminals enjoy comfortable lives. They have television, gym facilities, and the leisure time to attend free college-level classes that most American citizens must struggle to afford. Foremost, these murderers have the luxury of time, something their victims ran out of the moment their paths crossed. It is time this country realized the only true justice for these criminals is in the form of the death penalty. The death penalty should be administered for particularly heinous crimes.
In recent years, more and more people have become aware of crime and murder. It is something that has affected them, their families, and their neighborhoods. Just about everyone in the world knows someone who has become a victim of murder, rape, or robbery. In most cases, the suspects are heartless and have no remorse in regards to the crime they committed. Some individuals are repeat offenders who have received a slap on the wrist from the justice system or only faced small jail time.
Proponents of capital punishment believe that killing criminals is a moral and ethical way of punishing them. They feel there is justification in taking the life of a certain criminal, when in fact that justification is nothing more than revenge. They also feel that the death penalty deters crime, although there have been no conclusive studies confirming that viewpoint (Bedau).
The capital punishment has been cited as a reasonable sentence by those who advocate for retribution. This is essentially when it comes to justice so that people take full responsibility for their individual actions. Studies have proved that the decision to take away life of a person because they committed a certain crime serves to perpetuate the crime in question. It also serves to enhance the progress of organized and violent crime. It has been noted that various flaws in the justice system has led to the wrong conviction of innocent people. On the other hand, the guilty have also been set free, and a plethora of several cases has come up when a critical look at the capital punishment has been undertaken. Killers hardly kill their victims deliberately, but they probably act on anger, passion, or impulsively. In this regard, it is not proper to convict them exclusively without
Those who are for the death penalty argue that without it the murderers would be released back into society, only to kill again. They believe in the saying “an eye for an eye”; and that life in prison is not a cruel enough punishment, but that the only way to stop further murders is death. In fact, there have been cases that show legitimacy to this belief. In one occurrence, author Mike Royko exemplifies that “at the time of his [the murderer] trial it was mentioned that this was his second murder.” This murderer had been tried twice, for two different murders, while this is true some murderers have come back to society to kill again, that does not mean all criminals will follow that path. There are many cases in which men are sent to life in prison without the chance of parole; in which case the criminal cannot kill again and does not have to be killed. Legalizing the death penalty is allowing “one person to judge another incapable of rehabilitation” (King).
While one person lays with their wrists circumscribed to the worn leather of the gurney, another person holds two skin-piercing needles. The individual holding the needles is an inexperienced technician who obtains permission from the United States federal government to murder people. One needle is held as a precaution in case the pain is too visible to the viewers. Another dagger filled with a lethal dosage of chemicals is inserted into the vein that causes the person to stop breathing. When the cry of the heart rate monitor becomes monotone, the corrupt procedure is complete. Lying in the chair is a corpse when moments ago it was an individual who made one fatal mistake that will never get the chance to redeem (Ecenbarger). Although some people believe that the death
------There have been many studies that have come to the conclusion that the death penalty deters crime and actually saves lives. In the article, “The Death Penalty Deters Crime and Saves Lives” by David B. Muhlhausen, the author explains why the death penalty deters crime by explaining the deterrence theory which states that criminals think like regular citizens in that they will not act against their own
One of the most repetitive and controversial topics discussed in the criminal justice system, is the death penalty. Capital punishment has been a part of our nation’s history since the creation of our constitution. In fact, as of January 1st, 2016, 2,943 inmates were awaiting their fate on death row (Death Penalty Information Center). Throughout my life, I have always been a strong advocate for the death penalty. During the majority of my undergraduate degree, I was a fierce supporter of capital punishment when discussing the topic in classes. However, throughout many criminal justice courses, I found myself in the minority, regarding the abolishment of the death penalty. While debating this topic, I would always find myself sympathetic to the victims and their families, as one should be, wanting those who were responsible for heinous crimes to
While we may all want murders off the street, the problem we come to face is that capital punishment is being used for vengeance or as a deterrent. Capital punishment has been used worldwide, not only by the governments to instill fear, but to show that there are repercussions to ones actions. From the time we are born, we are taught to learn the difference between right and wrong. It is ingrained in our brains, what happens to people that do bad things? Capital punishment is renowned for being the worst thing that could be brought amongst ones life.
Death penalty supporters believe that capital punishment is the only sure way to deter murderers from committing murders again. “The argument that murderers are the least likely of all criminals to repeat their crimes is not only irrelevant, but also increasingly false. Six percent of young adults paroled in 1978 after having been convicted of murder were arrested for murder again with six years of release” (Death Penalty Paper).
Inmates are six times more likely to get off death row by appeal than by execution. The argument that murderer’s are the least likely of all criminals to repeat their crime is not only irrelevant, but also increasingly false. Six percent of young adults paroled in 1978 after having been convicted of murder were arrested for murder again within six years of release (“Recidivism of Young Parolees”).
Capital punishment has been a controversial topic in association to any person condemned to a serious committed crime. Capital punishment has been a historical punishment for any cruel crime. Issues associated to things such as the different methods used for execution in most states, waste of taxpayers’ money by performing execution, and how it does not serve as any form of justice have been a big argument that raise many eyebrows. Capital punishment is still an active form of deterrence in the United States. The history of the death penalty explains the different statistics about capital punishment and provides credible information as to why the form of punishment should be abolished by every state. It is believed
Thus burdening taxpayers with the cost of their incarceration, some people feel that it is ok and others feel that criminals live in prison off of other people's hard money. In the end, criminals must think about consequences before they kill someone. Giving a killer the death penalty would reassure the family of victims as well as the problems.
The death penalty has been an ongoing debate for many years. Each side of the issue presents valid arguments to explain why someone should be either for or against the subject. One side of the argument says deterrence, the other side says there’s a likelihood of putting to death an innocent man; one says justice, retribution, and punishment; the other side says execution is murder itself. Crime is an unmistakable part of our society, and it is safe to say that everyone would concur that something must be done about it. The majority of people know the risk of crime to their lives, but the subject lies in the techniques and actions in which it should be dealt with.
The death penalty has been enforced for as long as recorded history, but is it morally acceptable? Capital punishment may deter crime, but at the same time, it may also be considered a cruel and unusual punishment. Questions of the constitutionality of the death penalty have reduced executions, but have crowded the death row with inmates. Many people support the death penalty, although it is an extremely controversial issue. Capital punishment creates debate over racial biases, and does not deter crime; it kills many innocent people as well.