The Death Penalty on Trial - 562 Words

I am against the death penalty because it has not lead to reduced crime rates, it is vulnerable to wrongful executions, and the costs are too high. It has not lead to reduced crime rates. Contrary to popular belief, the death penalty has not done as much for society as its advocates tout. From the outset, the death penalty seems like a rather fantastic idea, and the answer to our problem. Scaring some sense into the perpetrator by threatening to kill them in-turn for their misdeeds may seem cogent, but studies prove otherwise. We must re-evaluate the purpose of the death penalty to see if it is fulfilling that purpose effectively. For obvious reasons the death penalty is a plausible option for many victimized families, as it satisfies both religious convictions and vendettas. The death penalty for many families is a way to make the hosting state do what the state will not allow them to do personally. However, our thirst for revenge may be keeping us from finding a better alternative to the death penalty. Perhaps the act of revenge is worth additional consideration at this point. To begin with, we must acknowledge, â€Å"considering revenge is a very human response to feeling slighted† (Prince), thus it is normal to react according to how we feel. Even so, our situation often requires us to control how many times we let these emotions get the best of us. Throughout the course of life, we repeatedly act on impulse in which revenge is no different. In spite of that, it isShow MoreRelatedCapital Punishment On Trial : Furman V. Georgia And The Death Penalty985 Words   |  4 PagesIn David M. Oshinsky’s book, Capital Punishment on Trial: Furman v. Georgia and the Death Penalty in Modern America, he discussed the case of Furman v. Georgia. He explores the controversy that capital punishment holds in the United States of America. The death penalty has been in practice for many centuries. For example, â€Å"In Massachusetts, where religion had played a key role in settlement, crimes like blasphemy, witchcraft, sodomy, adultery, and incest became capital offenses, through juries sometimesRead MoreDeath Penalty for Murders1634 Words   |  6 PagesIs it justifiable and effective to murder a murderer? The death penalty is one form of severe punishment in the United States. People who have performed heinous crimes can be sentenced to capital punishment in some states; however, this type of chastisement is rarely performed. Capital punishment has more negative aspects than it has positive. The states that have legalized the death penalty face the excessive costs associated with it, which can be damaging to their economies. In addition, thereRead MoreDeath Penalty Essay1155 Words   |  5 PagesDeath Penalty Virtually every major program designed to address the underlying causes of violence and to support the poor, vulnerable, powerless victims of crime is being cut even further to the bone†¦ In this context, the proposition that the death penalty is a needed addition to our arsenal of weapons lacks credibility†¦ Scott Harshbarge, Attorney General of Massachusetts Across the United States, police officers are losing their jobs, prisoners are obtaining parole early, courts areRead MoreThe Cost Of Capital Punishment1664 Words   |  7 Pagesdollars into the death penalty with no resultant reduction in crime. The exorbitant costs of capital punishment are actually making America less safe because badly needed financial and legal resources are being diverted from effective crime fighting strategies. Before the Los Angeles riots, for example, California had little money for innovations like community policing, but was managing to spend an extra $90 million per year on capital punishment. Texas, with over 300 people on death row, is spendingRead MoreCapital Punishment- Informative Essay1272 Words   |  6 Pagesdaughter spends the rest of his life with three meals a day and cable television. Which of these is the bigger injustice? The use of the death penalty to punish serious crimes is a very controversial topic and there is much debate surrounding the issue. This paper will briefly discuss arguments supporting and against the use of the death penalty. The death penalty which is also known as capital punishment is the punishment of a crime by execution. (Washington Post 2008: e.data) Such extreme sentencesRead MoreThe Costs of the Death Penalty in the United States Essay1518 Words   |  7 PagesThe Costs of the Death Penalty in the United States Capital punishment has existed in the US since colonial times. Since then, more than 13,000 people have been legally executed. Today, there are only twelve states which do not have the death penalty: Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as Washington D.C. The locations of these states are importantRead MoreShould The Death Penalty Be Abolished?1226 Words   |  5 PagesHistorically, the death penalty was created to punish a crime, to prevent it from repeating, and to deter further crimes. The United States’ use of the death penalty can be traced back as early as 1608, when early European settlers executed Captain George Kendall for being a spy from Spain (â€Å"Part I: History of the Death Penalty†, n.d.). As time progressed the amount of money to sustain such a punishment slowly became a burden to States. As 32 States currently have the death penalty, taxpayers an d politiciansRead MorePros And Cons Of The Death Penalty889 Words   |  4 PagesThe death penalty is an effective yet dying way of punishing murderers in today’s society. According to the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) the most murders executed since they year 1976 was 18 years ago now, in 1999, with 98 murderers executed that year. Regardless of the human ability to change one’s life, we should be increasing the amount of executions per year. If the amount of executions per year is increased the financially, the death penalty would be a smart way to save taxpayers’Read MoreThe Death Penalty: Killing Taxpayer’s Wallets...Not Criminals1733 Words   |  7 Pagessentenced to death, after being found guilty of a capital offense, by a court of law. The death penalty and capital punishment are synonymous in terms of the law (â€Å"Capital Punishment†). Capital offenses are often serious, major crimes that usually involve either the murder or harming of another individual. The death penalty process has become a long and arduous process that can last a decade or more. This process can entail innumerable appeals, public defenders stalling time and dozens of trials and retrialsRead MoreDisparities of the Death Penalty850 Words   |  3 Pagesdisparity of application (gender, race) 1. Disparity of application of the death penalty is a researched and heavily discussed topic. There is no disparity applied to the death penalty due to race. Many individuals believe that discrimination against minorities directly contributes to the amount of offenders on death row that are African American, Hispanic, or part of a different minority group. These trends exist for a reason, however I believe the reason is due to the fact that individuals strive