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- Introduction
- Historical considerations

Moral arguments
Utilitarian arguments, practical arguments, the abolition movement.
- Capital punishment in the early 21st century
- capital punishment summary
- Facts & Related Content
- Cruel and Unusual Punishments: 15 Types of Torture
- More Articles On This Topic
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- Article History
Arguments for and against capital punishment

Capital punishment has long engendered considerable debate about both its morality and its effect on criminal behaviour. Contemporary arguments for and against capital punishment fall under three general headings: moral , utilitarian, and practical.
Supporters of the death penalty believe that those who commit murder , because they have taken the life of another, have forfeited their own right to life. Furthermore, they believe, capital punishment is a just form of retribution , expressing and reinforcing the moral indignation not only of the victim’s relatives but of law-abiding citizens in general. By contrast, opponents of capital punishment, following the writings of Cesare Beccaria (in particular On Crimes and Punishments [1764]), argue that, by legitimizing the very behaviour that the law seeks to repress—killing—capital punishment is counterproductive in the moral message it conveys. Moreover, they urge, when it is used for lesser crimes, capital punishment is immoral because it is wholly disproportionate to the harm done. Abolitionists also claim that capital punishment violates the condemned person’s right to life and is fundamentally inhuman and degrading.
Although death was prescribed for crimes in many sacred religious documents and historically was practiced widely with the support of religious hierarchies , today there is no agreement among religious faiths, or among denominations or sects within them, on the morality of capital punishment. Beginning in the last half of the 20th century, increasing numbers of religious leaders—particularly within Judaism and Roman Catholicism—campaigned against it. Capital punishment was abolished by the state of Israel for all offenses except treason and crimes against humanity, and Pope John Paul II condemned it as “cruel and unnecessary.”
Supporters of capital punishment also claim that it has a uniquely potent deterrent effect on potentially violent offenders for whom the threat of imprisonment is not a sufficient restraint. Opponents, however, point to research that generally has demonstrated that the death penalty is not a more effective deterrent than the alternative sanction of life or long-term imprisonment.
There also are disputes about whether capital punishment can be administered in a manner consistent with justice . Those who support capital punishment believe that it is possible to fashion laws and procedures that ensure that only those who are really deserving of death are executed. By contrast, opponents maintain that the historical application of capital punishment shows that any attempt to single out certain kinds of crime as deserving of death will inevitably be arbitrary and discriminatory. They also point to other factors that they think preclude the possibility that capital punishment can be fairly applied, arguing that the poor and ethnic and religious minorities often do not have access to good legal assistance, that racial prejudice motivates predominantly white juries in capital cases to convict black and other nonwhite defendants in disproportionate numbers, and that, because errors are inevitable even in a well-run criminal justice system, some people will be executed for crimes they did not commit. Finally, they argue that, because the appeals process for death sentences is protracted, those condemned to death are often cruelly forced to endure long periods of uncertainty about their fate.
Under the influence of the European Enlightenment , in the latter part of the 18th century there began a movement to limit the scope of capital punishment. Until that time a very wide range of offenses, including even common theft, were punishable by death—though the punishment was not always enforced , in part because juries tended to acquit defendants against the evidence in minor cases. In 1794 the U.S. state of Pennsylvania became the first jurisdiction to restrict the death penalty to first-degree murder, and in 1846 the state of Michigan abolished capital punishment for all murders and other common crimes. In 1863 Venezuela became the first country to abolish capital punishment for all crimes, including serious offenses against the state (e.g., treason and military offenses in time of war). San Marino was the first European country to abolish the death penalty, doing so in 1865; by the early 20th century several other countries, including the Netherlands, Norway , Sweden , Denmark , and Italy , had followed suit (though it was reintroduced in Italy under the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini ). By the mid-1960s some 25 countries had abolished the death penalty for murder, though only about half of them also had abolished it for offenses against the state or the military code. For example, Britain abolished capital punishment for murder in 1965, but treason, piracy, and military crimes remained capital offenses until 1998.
During the last third of the 20th century, the number of abolitionist countries increased more than threefold. These countries, together with those that are “de facto” abolitionist—i.e., those in which capital punishment is legal but not exercised—now represent more than half the countries of the world. One reason for the significant increase in the number of abolitionist states was that the abolition movement was successful in making capital punishment an international human rights issue, whereas formerly it had been regarded as solely an internal matter for the countries concerned.
In 1971 the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that, “in order fully to guarantee the right to life, provided for in…the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” called for restricting the number of offenses for which the death penalty could be imposed, with a view toward abolishing it altogether. This resolution was reaffirmed by the General Assembly in 1977. Optional protocols to the European Convention on Human Rights (1983) and to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1989) have been established, under which countries party to the convention and the covenant undertake not to carry out executions. The Council of Europe (1994) and the EU (1998) established as a condition of membership in their organizations the requirement that prospective member countries suspend executions and commit themselves to abolition. This decision had a remarkable impact on the countries of central and eastern Europe , prompting several of them—e.g., the Czech Republic , Hungary , Romania , Slovakia , and Slovenia—to abolish capital punishment.
In the 1990s many African countries—including Angola, Djibouti, Mozambique, and Namibia—abolished capital punishment, though most African countries retained it. In South Africa , which formerly had one of the world’s highest execution rates, capital punishment was outlawed in 1995 by the Constitutional Court, which declared that it was incompatible with the prohibition against cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment and with “a human rights culture.”
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Argumentative Essay on Death Penalty
Essay details.
Social Issues , Law, Crime & Punishment
Human Rights , Crime Prevention & Criminal Justice , Judiciary
Death Penalty , Punishment , Types of Human Rights
- Words: 1992 (4 pages)

Please note! This essay has been submitted by a student.
- Death Penalty Curriculum “A just society requires the death penalty for the taking of a life: Agree”, Michigan State University http://deathpenaltycurriculum.org/node/10
- Death Penalty Information Center, “Discussion of Recent Deterrence Studies”, Berkeley Electronic Press http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/discussion-recent-deterrence-studies
- Death Penalty Information Center, “Discussion of Recent Deterrence Studies”, Ohio State Journal http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/discussion-recent-deterrence-studies
- George E. Pataki, “Death penalty is a deterrent”, USA Today http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/Articles/Pataki.htm
- Unknown Author, “RALPH BAZE AND THOMAS C. BOWLING, Petitionersv. JOHN D. REES, COMMISSIONER, KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, ET AL”. United States Supreme Court. 2008, 1
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Death Penalty Essays
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Can the death penalty effectively deter severe crimes like murders? Is this measure against human life just? Or should it get abolished? These and other dilemmas have made the death penalty controversial for years. And while public opinion often changes depending on the current affairs in the country, many firmly believe that capital punishment is righteous and prisons should continue to perform it. Overall, the United States has divided attitudes on this subject. Figures are in favor of this claim. More specifically, the measure is legal in 24 states, 24 have abolished the death penalty, and three have signed moratoriums. The penalty by decapitalization has been around since ancient times. Many inscriptions witness the practice which continues in civilized countries today. The debate is ongoing about how such an advanced democracy like the US hasn’t prohibited the death penalty. Many believe this punishment method is barbaric, so the subject opens the way for various essay examples on death penalty. The research paper or speech presentation can highlight the effectiveness of the measure, the reasons for its abolition, or the pros and cons of pronouncing the death penalty. One may also decide to outline the timeline of the punishment by execution or its effects on society. A summary of the worst executions ever is a plausible idea, too. Naturally, your work will start with an introduction, whereas the conclusion will wrap up your views. Depending on the crime committed, thesis statements can include a thought-provoking question. Undoubtedly, the controversy provides rich land for papers that college teachers prefer to assign to students. At PapersOwl, you will find many argumentative essays about the death penalty. These samples can help you grasp the structure, layout, and literary techniques that persuade the reader to adopt your position. You will also draw inspiration for arguments and counterarguments on essay topics about executing criminals. Ultimately, you can get practical help and research assistance if you’re new to academic writing. Experts at PapersOwl will compose a custom-made model piece tailored to your requirements.
Essays on Death Penalty Capital punishment has existed ever since humans started to form the first communities. What is surprising is that it has not yet been abolished in many parts of the world, and it is a matter of heated debate even in the most developed nations. More than one hundred countries have completely abolished the death penalty for all crimes, while very few of them apply it to special circumstances of national security such as war crimes. To write a research paper about death penalty, it’s important to consider that the public opinion about this issue is heavily related to the religious, cultural, political, and ideological climate. In the Western World, for example, the United States is the only country that has allowed capital punishment for decades, even though the 8th amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits the federal government from imposing cruel punishments on its citizens. Death penalty laws are present in the legislation of nations as different as China, India, Nigeria, Egypt, Taiwan, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, and several others. The best way to explore the pros and cons of death penalty laws is to read an argumentative essay on this issue. Since the countries that retain this punishment are home to over 60% of the world’s population, an essay on death penalty should outline how national laws treat this topic. One of the most challenging topics to cover in an essay is the morality of the death penalty, so refer to these examples if you want to understand how to write a persuasive essay for or against capital punishment.
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Death Penalty Essay: Argumentative Essay Sample
Can the Death Penalty Be Effective?
There are numerous debates about the death penalty, as the opinions on this topic differ in different countries of the world. Most countries have abolished the death penalty, but there are still countries where it is used. The effectiveness of the death penalty can be measured by the rates of crimes that demonstrate that this method of punishment does not reduce the number of criminal acts.
The main goal of the death penalty is to decrease the numbers of abhorrent crimes in the world. However, the statistics show that it does not have as many positive effects as expected. For instance, among the 25 states of the US with the highest crime rates, the death penalty is legal in 20 of them (Tures). If the death penalty was an effective method for the prevention and decrease of crime, the statistics would demonstrate that states with the death penalty would have lower crime rates. Conversely, the statistics show the opposite result, which means that it does not have high effectiveness. Today, capital punishment most likely has other goals, such as revenge. It violates human rights, which is why a growing number of people are against this type of punishment.
There is no evidence that the death penalty is effective for the prevention of criminal acts. However, it is proven that there are numerous disadvantages when it comes to this type of punishment. For instance, there is always a possibility that the person who is punished by death penalty is innocent. The statistics demonstrate that in 2017 there were 137 prison inmates released because of their innocence (Sampathkumar). There is no statistical data about the number of people killed as a result of their criminal acts, but there is the possibility that an innocent person can become the victim of the death penalty. There is information that 4% of people executed by death penalty are innocent, and therefore, it is essential to abolish this type of punishment in all countries of the world in order to prevent the cases of killing innocent people (Goodman). Also, the death penalty is a problem which costs money for the country. For example, the average cost of this case is almost $2.5 million (Goodman). The money spent on the death penalty could have been used for more important goals, such as saving the lives of other people and helping homeless and disabled children. Also, the death penalty has a negative effect on African American culture. For instance, African Americans make up around 13% of the population in the US, but the percentage of death row prisoners who are black is around 50 (Goodman). It demonstrates that there is a higher possibility for a black person to be executed than for a white person. These disadvantages should be the motivation for governments of all countries to make the death penalty illegal.
The death penalty is one of the cruelest types of criminal punishment, which is performed with the help of different methods such as hanging, electrocution, and lethal injections. It would be possible to say that the death penalty is an effective method of prevention of abhorrent crimes if the statistics showed that it decreased the number of criminal acts. However, there is no evidence of the effectiveness of this type of punishment, and yet there are numerous disadvantages to this process.
Works Cited
Goodman, Paul. “The Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty.” Soapboxie , 2018, https://soapboxie.com/government/Death-Penalty-Pros-and-Cons. Sampathkumar, Mythili. “Record Number of Innocent Prison Inmates Released Last Year Over Misconduct by Police, Prosecutors or Government Officials.” The Independent , 2018, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/prison-innocent-police-misconduct-prosecutors-inmates-released-exonerations-2017-a8256521.html. Tures, John. “Does the Death Penalty Reduce the Murder Rate?” Huffpost , 2017, https://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-a-tures/does-the-death-penalty-re_b_13362760.html.
Death Penalty Essay Writing Assistance from Pro Writers
As you can see, the author of the argumentative essay about the death penalty above considers capital punishment to be an irrational and useless tool of the justice system. The death penalty doesn’t have any impact on the number of crimes and causes serious legal and moral issues. And what do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments and express your opinion on this important topic.
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The Death Penalty Essay, with Outline
Published by gudwriter on May 24, 2018 May 24, 2018
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Death Penalty Essay Outline
Introduction.
Thesis: The death penalty should be abolished because it is not one of the best methods of punishing criminals and addressing crime.
Paragraph 1:
Capital punishment is not an effective way of deterring crime contrary to arguments of those who support it.
- It lacks the deterrent effect to which its advocates commonly refer.
- “There is no conclusive evidence of the deterrent value of the death penalty”
- An increasing number of law professionals are seriously questioning the effectiveness of the penalty in preventing crime.
Paragraph 2:
The penalty is not in order because there is no humane way to kill.
- In 2006, a lethal injection was used to execute Angel Nieves Diaz.
- It took a whopping 34 minutes and was administered in two doses.
- According to doctors’ opinion, it is likely that Diaz underwent a painful death.
Paragraph 3:
The penalty makes a public spectacle out of the death of an individual.
- Victims are often executed in a manner that is extremely public.
- There is no legitimate purpose served by public executions which only increases the punishment’s degrading, inhuman, and cruel nature.
- Executions “carried out publicly are a gross affront to human dignity which cannot be tolerated.”
Paragraph 4:
The penalty does not apply fairly to all criminals as some people are left sentenced to death due to poor quality defense.
- Ineffective assistance of counsel is one of the factors that frequently cause reversals in death penalty cases.
- Whether or not one gets the death sentence largely lies in their ability to afford high quality defense.
Paragraph 5:
The death penalty cannot be taken back once it is executed.
- People may end up paying for crimes they never committed are a result of absolute judgments.
- A Texas man was found innocent after being executed.
- Criminal justice systems should apply punishment methods that allow for the setting free of individuals should further evidence prove them innocent after they are punished.
Paragraph 6:
Capital punishment is also overly controversial in terms of its ethicality and morality, in light of the Consequentialist Ethical Framework.
- As per this framework, an action passes the ethical test only if it yields the best consequences for everyone.
- In capital punishment, a person is killed with the apparent hope that his or her death will serve justice to the offended.
- From the Consequentialist Ethical Framework angle, this may not be the case.
The death penalty does not address crime effectively as it is purported to. Instead, it tramples upon the human right of undergoing a dignified death and dying peacefully and out of public’s attention.
The Death Penalty Essay Example
The death penalty is one criminal justice area that has attracted a serious debate about whether or not it should be abolished. The penalty enjoys a strong support from the public as people believe that it serves to deter crime as criminals are afraid of dying just like other humans. However, those opposed to it believe that there are enough reasons to warrant its abolishment. For instance, they argue that it does not deter crime as it does not address what motivates people to act criminally. This paper argues that the death penalty should be abolished because it is not one of the best methods of punishing criminals and addressing crime.
Capital punishment is not an effective way of deterring crime contrary to arguments of those who support it. This is because it lacks the deterrent effect to which its advocates commonly refer. “As recently stated by the General Assembly of the United Nations, “there is no conclusive evidence of the deterrent value of the death penalty”” (International Commission against Death Penalty, 2013). This is why a continuously increasing number of law professionals are seriously questioning the effectiveness of the penalty in preventing crime. It is wrongly assumed that one would not want to commit crime since it would possibly land them into the capital punishment. There is however no evidence to support this assumption. Even if one was to fear dying as is assumed here, they might choose to engage in crime that does not attract the death penalty.
The penalty is also not in order because there is no humane way to kill. In 2006 for instance, a lethal injection that was used to execute Angel Nieves Diaz and was deemed ‘humane’ took a whopping 34 minutes and was administered in two doses (Amnesty International Australia, 2018). According to doctors’ opinion on the case, it is likely that Diaz underwent a painful death and thus the procedure could not have been humane in any way. Other brutal execution methods used across the globe include beheading, shooting, and hanging. The nature of these deaths is such that they only continue to perpetuate the violence cycle. In addition, they add onto the pain the victims’ family would have already suffered upon a member of theirs being taken into custody.
Further, the penalty makes a public spectacle out of the death of an individual. Victims are often executed in a manner that is extremely public, with lethal injections live broadcasts in the United States or public hangings in Iran. UN human rights experts hold that there is no legitimate purpose served by public executions which according them, only increase the punishment’s degrading, inhuman, and cruel nature. According to Hadj Sahraoui, an Amnesty International official , executions “carried out publicly are a gross affront to human dignity which cannot be tolerated” (Amnesty International Australia, 2018). Normally, a human being should be allowed the right to die in a dignified manner and ‘privately’ so they may have peace during the transition. It is a right that not even law should take away.
Contrary to the death penalty proponents’ argument that it applies fairly to all criminals, this is not the case as some people are left sentenced to death due to poor quality defense. As observed by OADP (2018), ineffective assistance of counsel is one of the factors that frequently cause reversals in death penalty cases. “Columbia University found that 68% of all death penalty cases were reversed on appeal, with inadequate defense as one of the main reasons requiring reversal” (OADP, 2018). Thus, it follows that whether or not one gets the death sentence largely lies in their ability to afford high quality defense. This makes this punishment method unfair.
Further, the death penalty cannot be taken back once it is executed. People may end up paying for crimes they never committed are a result of absolute judgments. “Texas man Cameron Todd Willingham was executed in Texas in 2004 for allegedly setting a fire that killed his three daughters” (Amnesty International Australia, 2018). However, it would later be revealed through evidence that he was not the one who set that fire. Mr. Willingham, an innocent citizen, had paid with his life a crime he never knew anything about nor committed. As is clear here, being declared innocent was of no use for him since it could not bring him back to life. As such, criminal justice systems should apply punishment methods that allow for the setting free of individuals should further evidence prove them innocent after they are punished.
Capital punishment is also overly controversial in terms of its ethicality and morality, in light of the Consequentialist Ethical Framework. As per this framework, an action passes the ethical test only if it yields the best consequences for everyone (Bonde, et al., 2013). The results of such an action should be such that those involved get the most good out of it. From the onset, it is the intent of any person using this framework to achieve results that would benefit all the people entangled in an ethical dilemma or issue. The framework is advantageous in the sense that it pragmatically focuses on the results of an action before the action is performed. It ensures nobody is treated unfairly in the aftermath of the action. In capital punishment, a person is killed with the apparent hope that his or her death will serve justice to the offended. From the Consequentialist Ethical Framework angle, this may not be the case.
The death penalty does not address crime effectively as it is purported to, and is also unethical. Instead, it tramples upon the human right of undergoing a dignified death and dying peacefully and out of public’s attention. There can never be a humane way to kill and no matter the crime one has committed, they should not be subjected to this painful process of dying. The punishment is also not fair as some people might while others might not afford to hire quality lawyers to defend them. Moreover, it cannot be taken back and this means once persecuted, one can never regain their innocence as well as their life.
Amnesty International Australia. (2018). “Five reasons to abolish the death penalty”. Amnesty International Australia . Retrieved May 20, 2018 from https://www.amnesty.org.au/5-reasons-abolish-death-penalty/#
Bonde, S., et al. (2013). “A framework for making ethical decisions”. Brow University . Retrieved July 3, 2020 from https://www.brown.edu/academics/science-and-technology-studies/framework-making-ethical-decisions .
International Commission against death penalty. (2013). “Why the death penalty should be abolished”. International Commission against Death Penalty . Retrieved May 20, 2018 from http://www.icomdp.org/arguments-against-the-death-penalty/
OADP. (2018). “The facts: 13 reasons to oppose the death penalty”. Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty . Retrieved May 20, 2018 from https://oadp.org/facts/13-reasons
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Essay ‘Agree or Disagree with the Death Penalty?’
“Essay ‘Agree or Disagree with the Death Penalty?’”
When watching the video of Todd Willingham, I feel that I am for the death penalty if murder was the reason for it. I feel that a death penalty should be placed on a person if they took the lives of innocent people/person for no reason. The reason I am for the death penalty is because if someone murders someone else, they have given up their human rights, including the one to stay alive themselves. Another reason is that the punishment should ‘fit the crime’ because if you have killed someone, you should be killed too. Lastly, giving a killer the death sentence will stop them and others from doing it again. However, evidence should always come into place because the court doesn’t want to mistakenly execute an innocent person for the crime he/she didn’t commit.
Political debates about the death penalty in Texas has become an ongoing issue for quite sometime now. My opinion on capital punishment is of course going to be different from others and that’s alright. The short film about Todd Willingham’s execution has changed my opinion on the death penalty because at first I was against it. I felt that an execution of someone sometimes causes a painful death because it’s either they are being killed by a lethal injection, or being electrocuted. I also felt that no one has ever proven with numbers that the death penalty stopped other people from committing similar crimes. I later realized while watching the short film that if you do the crime, punishment will come into place no matter what. It is always a person’s decision if they want to kill or harm others for no reason at all. Murderers put this upon themselves and it’s too easy to avoid. Intentionally deciding to kill and harm others is a choice, therefore, legal actions will happen. Nonetheless, watching the video about Todd Willingham really changed my perspective of the death penalty in Texas, and it really opened my eyes about the law on capital punishment.
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Argumentative Essay on Against the Death Penalty
In the United States criminal justice system when a human being takes the life of another human being there are roughly two options for consequences; Life in prison with no possibility of parole or the death penalty. So, in regard to the death penalty, morality can define what justice may to be in a criminal punishment. Individuals who believe it is morally right to put an individual to death over a horrendous crime support the retentionist argument for the death penalty. Individuals who believe it is morally wrong to kill an individual, despite the crime committed are in support of the abolitionist argument of the death penalty. In the United States, there are thirty-one states in support of the death penalty and remaining nineteen states are against the death penalty law. As the death penalty can be a controversial topic is it important to consider all possible factors. The best approach to the death penalty is the principle of human dignity.
The principle of human dignity is an argument in abolishing the death penalty. The principle of human dignity presents an argument that gives all individuals equal rights regardless of decisions made in a criminal act. The principle of human dignity is an argument that a human being, in virtue of just being a human or person has intrinsic worth. This argument means that a human being is a human being and should always be treated as one. No matter the crime committed, one does not forfeit their right to life even if they have taken one. This argument in abolishing the death penalty can agree with tortures should not be tortured, drunk drivers not being hit with a vehicle, and individuals who are accused of arson should not be set on fire. The consequences for those crimes are excessive; the same thing occurs when in regards of the death penalty. When placing the idea of an eye for an eye on various crimes is seems extreme and unnecessary. A life for a life is excessive. Criminals do forfeit some rights to life, but not all rights to life. Punishments will happen for individuals committing these crimes, but there are punishments that fit the crimes being committed. For example, life in prison with no possibility of parole fits the punishment of first degree murder.
The principle of human dignity directly goes directly against the element of reciprocity. The element of reciprocity explains that we can forfeit our rights by our own actions. If a person violates someone’s right to life, this murderer forfeits his or her right to life. The argument claims the state is not taking anyone’s right away because if one took a life of someone else, they do not have a right themselves. The human dignity argument has the idea that human dignity should always be reserved. Human rights are given to an individual when born should be modified when committing crimes but never forfeited.
The principle of human dignity attempts to portray a message to lead individuals to believe that ending someone’s life says, a person doesn’t have any worth or value left. Individuals should never lose their respect for human dignity. Good or bad actions, all humans have emotions and can feel pain; at somewhat the same level. Individuals who do not agree with the principle of human dignity are in support of the death penalty. There are many factors that morality support the death penalty. Supports are in favor of taking the life of someone who committed a horrendous crime; a life for a life. Individuals who do not agree with the human dignity argument may attempt to argue that the death penalty is an effective consequence because it deters other criminals from committing the crimes. Continuing, it may be argued that the death penalty can show society its moral outrage at unpleasant crimes. Resulting in a decrease in the crime rates. Although this seems efficient, an individual who commits a crime already knowing the consequences. Life in prison with no possible chance of parole is enough to deter an individual of a crime who does not want to seek punishment.
Other supporters of the death penalty derive more from government than society. The government is considerably more in favor of the death penalty because of the costs. It is much cheaper in today’s economy to eliminate the criminals with the death penalty rather than to pay for them to live their entire life in prison. This argument is important to the government because it saves the government more money. Rather than having an inmate in prison and maintain the funds to support these prisoner’s lives, the government would rather choose to execute the criminals. Morally, this is the most incorrect argument regarding the death penalty. No amount of money is equivalent to the life of a human being. Not only is the death penalty decreasing the value of a human being’s life, it is putting the cost and expenses of keeping individuals alive, above their rights to life.
The death penalty is the wrong consequence more many reasons. Although, individuals are rarely put to death for crimes they did not commit, it does happen. To avoid wrongfully killing an individual for a crime they did not commit, the death penalty should not be used a punishment. Technology continues to advance every day. Scientist are figuring out new technology and experiments as we speak. If new advances in technology (regarding the criminal justice system) were to be discovered and the death penalty was not implemented, an individual would gain their rights and freedom back. A wrongfully committed individual can be released from prison, not brought back to life. Not all, but some crimes can be justified.
Although the death penalty has been used for thousands of years to punish criminals, in today’s society it is not as effective. The death penalty is such a controversial topic there will never be a correct answer. The arguments are all based on morals and views. Although there is no correct answer, there is a better answer. The human dignity argument gives all humans, equal rights; regardless is one made a criminal mistake or not. All humans have human dignity.
Capital Punishment Essay
J.R.R Tolkien once said, “many that live deserves death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.” The death penalty should be repealed because it’s very stressful for those involved, it is extremely expensive, and it has convicted innocent people.
One reason why the death penalty should be illegal is because it’s very stressful for those who are involved. According to Berman there were several officials begging for them to change the pace of executions because it imposes stress and trauma (Berman). This proves that carrying out several executions can take a severe toll on correction officers wellbeing. Berman states, “In a state review, authorities wrote that the execution team placed the IV incorrectly and that the officers involved described a feeling of extra stress and urgency because a second execution was scheduled for the same night” (Berman). This also proves that when there’s back to back executions scheduled it can stress the correction officers out and they can get nervous and mess up on something. In “With Lethal Injection Drugs Expiring” Berman states, “‘How can you expect them to do something of this magnitude? It’s rough,’ Givens who executed 62 people and now opposes the death penalty, said Friday. ‘I know the effect it can have on you when you participate in execution… It takes a while to really come out of that” (Berman). This proves that when working as a correction officer and you have to execute people it can be very traumatic and hard to get over which causes stress.
Another reason why the death penalty should be repealed is because it is extremely expensive. According to Jones and Eder, California had spent more than $8 billion on capital punishment since it was reinstated in 1928 (Jones and Eder). This proves that the states are spending billions of dollars just to execute people when that money could be going towards something more beneficial. Jones and Eder states, “The cost of housing a death row inmate outpaces the cost of housing a general-population prisoner by $100,000 a year, primarily because death- row inmates are housed alone instead of two-a-cell, and they require a higher level of security” (Jones and Eder). This proves that the cost of housing just one single death row inmate is very expensive. If housing just one is millions of dollars, than imagine how much money it is when housing multiple. In “Costs Test Backing For Death Penalty” Jones and Eder states, “The Alarcon study concluded jury selection alone in capital cases cost more than $200,000 above the amount for life without parole an that the death penalty prosecutors can cost 20 times as much as life-without parole” (Jones and Eder). This shows that capital cases cost a lot of money and is very expensive. It cost way more than it would cost if it was just life without parole.
Another reason why the death penalty should be repealed is because it kills innocent people. In the article “Time to Question Sanity of Death Penalty” Phillip Holloway states, “A study last year found that, at a conservative estimate, ‘more than 4% of inmates sentenced to death in the united states are probably innocent.’ indeed, there have been 330 executions based on DNA alone” (holloway). This quote proves that over 100 people has been put on death that are innocent. According to Holloway there was this man name Henry McCollum, who was in prison for 30 years on death row for the murder of an 11 year old girl which evidence showed that he did not do. This case proves that some death row cases are unfair and they convict innocent people. His whole life is thrown away over something he didn’t do which is unfair. Holloway states, “Some of the inmates appear to suffer from intellectual impairment and outlining qualms about the legal representation the men have had” (Holloway). People who don’t know better are put to death row, and many of them suffers disabilities and intellectual impairment. Why would you want to kill someone who suffer mental illnesses and doesn’t know better?
Even though many people feel that the death penalty should be abolished, there are many people who support it. People who support the death penalty says it saves lives. According to David Muhlhausen, “Professors Hashem Dezhbakhsh, Paul R. Rubin, and Joanna M. Shepherd of Emory University found that each execution, on average, results in fewer murders” (Muhlhausen). This can be proven wrong because according to Kyle Gibson, prison homicides have increased in the past year from 39 to 55, or a 44% increase (Gibson). People who support the death penalty also argue that it brings justice and closure to the victim’s family. In the article “Death Penalty Brings Relief to Victims’ Family” John Futty states, “She felt comforted to know that he will be put to death” (Futty). Even though many think it will bring closure, it can also bring stress and trauma on others such as those involved. Berman stated, “correction officers described a feeling of extra stress and urgency” (Berman).
Simply by repealing and/or making the death penalty illegal would make America way better. It doesn’t help or do anything to resolve the crime rate. The death penalty is senseless and discriminatory. There’s still crimes going on with the death penalty being legal. It brings nothing but stress, debt, and innocent lives lost.
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Do you agree or disagree. There is never a reason for death penalty to be used. Both points of view find in argumentative essay examples .
In some countries, serious criminals such as serial murderers and terrorist bomber hardly escape death sentence. While many complement on such tough justice, others condemn it mainly for religious reasons. It appears to me that those who are against the death penalty have failed to notice the more humane aspects behind this seemingly inhumane charge. My essay will look at those humane aspects as against those to the opposite.
First of all, death penalty proves to be an effective ‘kill one to warn all’ approach I law enforcement. Crime rates in China have reportedly been fallen to a certain level since the implementation of death penalty. By nature, whether it has to do with the fear caused by uncertainty of afterlife or not, human beings would be afraid of death. Death sentence, in as sense, is kind of psychological approach to put off the evil flame in mankind.

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Secondly, some people do deserve this harsh punishment for their wicked act against humanity. A serial murderer who slaughtered dozens of innocent children, a terrorist who launched an attack that killed hundreds—can you figure out a better penalty to resort to for paying the blood these beasts have spilled? Even relatively lighter crime like corruption might result in life long imprisonment, what then, the crime a degree higher like mass murder should be punished with other than ‘an early road to hell’? I just wonder how many people in the world would be willing to spare a terrorist who blasted off 3200 lives in 9.
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Thirdly, death sentence can serve as a means of psychological therapy and mental compensation for the victims and their loved ones. For instance, the Tokyo Trial, which ended up sentencing to death a group of Japanese chief war criminals, is said to provide an efficient psychological relief for those victimized Asian nations during the war.
Death sentence, apparently, is not aimed against morals and ethics, it is, on the contrary, put up to preserve humanitarian codes by assuring the security of the society and the safety of each individual as it can intimidate potential criminals. Considering the matter this way, it becomes evident that death penalty is more of help than harm. Be it psychologically or politically beneficial, it contributes to the maintenance of social order. I, therefore, suggest we be for it.
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Example Of Death Penalty Essay
Type of paper: Essay
Topic: Punishment , Criminal Justice , Death , Death Penalty , Crime , Finance , Prison , Life
Words: 1800
Published: 03/25/2020
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Death penalty
The death penalty, or capital punishment as it is commonly known, is one of the issues that have raised controversy not only in the United States, but all over the globe. Undoubted, this subject remains a thorny issue in the world entirely. The United States remains one of the few countries in the world, where the capital punishment is still executed. Whereas some individuals are of the view that this kind of punishment is barbaric in nature and contravenes moral values, others argue that it is a crucial instrument and deterrent in dealing with intended and often violent murder (Berry, 2011). From the legal perspective, death penalty is described as the killing of an individual through a judicial process for vengeance or incapacitation. Ideally, capital punishment is applicable on capital offenses. It is imperative to note that what is considered capital offenses differs from one country to another. There are a number of facts that have been identified challenging death penalty and therefore the reasons as to why it should be abolished. To begin with, execution is an expensive exercise (Scherer, 2006).. According to various studies that have been carried out with regard to the issue of death penalties, research has it that the cost involved in carrying out execution exceeds the cost that could be incurred to keep the person alive in prison. Facts have it that the cost incurred during death penalty trials compared to those of life imprisonment is 20 times more expensive (Scherer, 2006).. With this in mind, every right minded person will be of a similar opinion that death sentences should be abolished in the community since they are very expensive at the cost of the citizens. Families who unfortunately lost their loved ones to murder have confessed that death penalty does not heal their wounds nor do they ease the pain in their hearts. In fact, they confess that the process that has to be undergone before the death penalty is given only prolongs the pains and agony to their families (Scherer, 2006). These families have even suggested that the amount of money the government uses on execution should be used on them to ensure they get proper counselling and restitution which would help them get back to their normal lives. Besides, the perception that the death penalty deters crime is controversial. With regard to the various scientific studies that have been carried out for many years, there have never had any researched that demonstrated that people are deterred to commit crime by executions compared to long life imprisonment. It is worth noting that the rate of murder in countries that do not exercise death penalty have been established to be much lower compared to states that carry out executions (Berry, 2011). There are better ways through which the felon can be dealt with. For instance a sensible alternative is life without Parole. This is because the jurors have an alternative where they are empowered to send the capital murders to prison for life and the possibility of them obtaining a parole is eliminated. It has been established that this kind of a sentence is very much cheap to the tax payer compared to execution and have been proved to keep other intending to be violent offenders away compared to execution. It is worth noting unlike death penalties, life sentences gives room for correction of any mistakes that could have been done along the way (Scherer, 2006). For instance, there are people who are able to prove their innocence after a number of years when more evidence is obtained. These are some of the reasons as to why everyone should consider this society change where death penalties are abolished. Moreover, there are high chances that innocent people will be executed. When an innocent person is convicted and executed bearing in mind that the justice system could not establish his or her innocence, this is one wrong thing that at no one time it will be rectified (Scherer, 2006). In the recent years, there are studies that show men and women have been executed wrongfully within the past two year four people being victims. Such errors are appalling and are unacceptable completely especially where an issue of life and death is being addressed. In addition to that, it have been established that in capital cases there are factor that determine who is to be jailed or not. Among the factors is the race of both the complainant and that of the defendant. A report from a study that was carried out in the recent past in the United States of America has it that the race from which the victim of capital cases comes from greatly influenced the kind of judgement that was reached. That is if someone committed murder to a white the chance of being sentenced to death was 82% high compared to the persons who murdered black. With regard to this, it is apparent that the time for this change in the society has actually come since it makes no sense and has no respect to the basic human rights (Cromie, 2013). Another thing that is worth consideration is the fact that when death penalty is being reached, it is done randomly. Rather than considering the facts that have been presented about the crime, the jurisdiction with regard to where the crime took place as well as the legal counsel quality and not forgetting some politics of the day are the things that determine the final verdict of the bench. This are among the things that make issues with regard to death sentence become a lethal lottery. The facts are clear showing that for around 22,000 cases of homicide reported to have been committed by the end of every year, death penalty is given to 100 or less people (Cromie, 2013). The trends of how the death penalty is implemented show how unfairness is common on the way it is implemented. According to the statistics collected on the date penalty cases, it has been shown that more blacks and Hispanics have been either put on a death sentence or executed, as compared to the whites. For instance, in Indiana, out of the 21 inmates who have been sentenced to death, 17 of them are both Hispanics and Blacks (Isikoff, 2000). It is argued that this is one of the highest percentages of death rows at the state level. Furthermore, during the Clinton era, out of the 175 death penalty cases that were approved, more than three quarters were against minority defendants (Isikoff, 2000). Besides, President Clinton also signed an antiterrorism bill that comprised of a measure that restricted the ability of inmates on state death-row to produce new evidence. This was seen as part of the injustice on death-row inmates, given that there is need for the society to know if the ruling is likely to cost an innocent person his/her life However, various arguments have been put forth in favour of the death penalty. For instance, it is argued that for the society to function effectively, people have to be controlled such that they cannot commit anarchy at will. In addition, there are high chances that murder convicts are likely to commit the same crime in future. As such, such a person who commits murder by extension has shown that he or she does not respect his or her own right to life. Therefore death penalty should not be viewed from a perspective of revenging for the dead it should be viewed from a closure perspective where such a situation is not welcomed again. In addition to that, it should not be viewed from the fairness perspective rather it should be approached from a perspective that we are preventing any future occurrence of a similar event. Felons being supported by tax payer’s money It is important to note that people who escape death sentence are, as a matter of fact, sent for life imprisonment to jail. With this in mind, while in the jail, the felon requires to be supplied with the basic necessities for instance food, clothing among many others for which the government is under an obligation to provide. It is worth considering that the government does not give these necessities to the inmate for free. The government have to get the money from the taxpayers so that they can be in a position to provide the basic necessities (Cromie, 2013). Viewing it from another angle it would be right to say that we are taxed by the government so highly so that the felons who killed our loved ones can be well maintained. It simply sounds as an abuse to the ears of families of such death victims since this is absolutely wrong and this should not happen. If the justice system was fair enough to sentence some of the felon death penalty, the government would save a lot of resources that could be used for the good of the law abiding citizen’s for instance building libraries or other social amenities. Another school of thought is of the opinion that death penalty simply an institutionalised revenge. This is because the justice system turns death penalty to what it is initially meant to be that is a controlled force mechanism with the aim of violence elimination. Unfortunately what the justice system does is that it becomes by itself the system of violence by excising death penalty (Scherer, 2006). Apparently, rather than enabling the society to move from the culture of eye to eye kind of justice, we find that through death penalty it is actually encouraged. In conclusion, it is evident that a time for societal change has come where death penalties are no more. In the paper, an evaluation has been done where both argument for and against has been evaluated and a position that is firmly guided by reasons and fact have been obtained. With all said and done a time for abolishing death penalty has come since they have no advantage that can be attached to it.
Cromie, J., & Zott, L. M. (2013). The death penalty. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven Press. Scherer, L. S. (2006). The death penalty. Detroit: Thomson/Gale. Isikoff, M. (2000). Race, Death, and the Feds. Capital Punishment, Resource Counsel Project. Berry, W.W. (2011) Repudiating Death. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Vol. 101, No.2, 441-492.
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The Benefits of the Death Penalty in America
Abolishing the death penalty allows criminals to receive an easy way out without recompensing their victim. Thirty one out of the fifty states in America obtain the death penalty (“States with and without the Death Penalty,” 2016). An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth displays the biblical morality in allowing the death penalty for those deserving. Thus translating into the greater meaning of why the death penalty should be used.
In America, civilians are protected by ....for their rights to be protected. Americans live in a country where they should feel safe and the death penalty adheres to the protection of each American. Criminals are more likely to commit crimes if there is no severe punishment for doing so. However, if these murderers were sentenced to an execution or a death sentence they would have more fear and potentially avoid doing any harm to anyone. Ernest van den Haag, a professor at Fordham University, wrote about the issue of deterrence:
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“...capital punishment is likely to deter more than other punishments because people fear death more than anything else. They fear most death deliberately inflicted by law and scheduled by the courts....Hence, the threat of the death penalty may deter some murderers who otherwise might not have been deterred. And surely the death penalty is the only penalty that could deter prisoners already serving a life sentence and tempted to kill a guard, or offenders about to be arrested and facing a life sentence” (Death Penalty Curricula).
A person who has committed a crime is much more likely to have a relapse and become a repeat offender. According to the National Institute of Justice, “Within three years of release, about two-thirds (67.8 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. Within five years of release, about three-quarters (76.6 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. Of those prisoners who were rearrested, more than half (56.7 percent) were arrested by the end of the first year (“Recidivism,” 2014). Therefore, the death penalty act as a deterrent to potential criminals. It greatly influences those who are ready to commit crimes. Capital punishment is a deterrent for future criminals because the only thing that would keep a criminal from committing a crime would be to execute them, in other words the death penalty. Ultimately, the death penalty is effect and should be abolished in any of the states.
In California, there's one ballot initiative to get rid of the death penalty, and one to speed up the process of executions. Due to the seven hundred and forty one individuals on the list awaiting for execution, eliminating the death penalty would give these criminals freedom and nothing to fear. It is important for the death penalty to be there because it will make America a safer place. Speeding up the process of those on the death row would be more beneficial to Americans due to the fact that their death will be faster than they expect. According to the New York Times, “If Proposition 62 is passed, the strongest punishment available under California law would be life without the possibility of parole. Those on death row would see their sentences commuted to life without parole. Attempts to pass a similar measure in 2012 failed.
Proposition 66 takes a different approach by trying to eliminate the obstacles to carrying out the death penalty and shorten the time between conviction and execution. The provisions of the initiative include a five-year limit on the appeals process. If both measures pass, the one receiving the most votes would prevail” (What Else Is on the Ballot? Minimum Wage, Death Penalty and Guns, 2016). California is facing this debate and speeding up the process of the death row would benefit America the most.
The death penalty is not for a teenager who decided to steal a pack of gum, it is for those who commit serious crimes. A serial killer is in fact a deserving candidate for the death penalty. Serial killers generally murder more than two people and enjoy killing these innocent individuals. People like serial killers deserve to be executed and obtain the fear of going through the death penalty. One of the main purposes of the death penalty is to eliminate those who are worthless to America’s “great” society. Eliminating people who have no value in the country and those who only bring harm is important for the United States to succeed as a whole.
There are people who believe that the death penalty kills innocent people. The Grand Jury does not allow this to happen. It is extremely unusual for an innocent person to be sent for the death penalty. The attorneys find ways to provide proper evidence for that person not to be pleaded guilty. A myriad of trials occur before sentencing anyone to the death penalty, it does not occur the next day that person is accused of their crime. In Texas prisoners have spent close to 25 years on death row before being executed. It takes time because there are multiple steps in the appeals process in death penalty cases. And there are multiple steps because it's the ultimate punishment and there's no room for error (Lewis, 2016). The death penalty is a serious topic that can not endure any sort of mistake. With the precautions that the officials have, the death penalty is not dangerous to any innocent individuals.
In conclusion, there are many factors as to why the death penalty is beneficial to America. There are many pros and cons to the death penalty. However, being able to save the life of innocent people who may be victims of a repeat offender outweighs the cons in this debate that takes place within the Criminal Justice System. Eliminating those who have a purpose in America and who could potentially hurt and kill lives of innocent people should endure the death penalty. They have time to reflect on their crimes while being on the death row and will receive the punishment they are deserving of. Ultimately saving lives is what should be valued most.
Works Cited
- "States With and Without the Death Penalty." States With and Without the Death Penalty | Death Penalty Information Center. N.p., 9 Nov. 2016. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.
- “The Death Penalty Prevents Future Murders: Agree.” Death Penalty Curricula for High School. Michigan State University Comm Tech Lab & Death Penalty Information Center. Web. 15 December 2016.
- "Recidivism." National Institute of Justice. N.p., 17 June 2014. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.
- Times, New York. "What Else Is on the Ballot? Minimum Wage, Death Penalty and Guns." The New York Times. The New York Times, 26 Oct. 2016. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.
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Death Penalty Persuasive Essay Example
Death penalty persuasive essay introduction.
In the present time, the death penalty is rarely used in society. One supposes that it is an inhuman, immoral, unethical and barbaric way of punishment. However, earlier, when the death penalty had been widespread there were not so many murders. People were afraid to kill, steal or do other illegal actions. It means that the death penalty helped prevent killing. Religion forbids depriving another person of life. When it comes to capital punishment, people's opinions do not coincide. There are those who think that the death penalty is immoral and unethical. They suppose that people cannot decide who should live or die. However, the problems in the criminal justice system of America can be solved through the implementation of capital punishment. It can root out violence and decrease crime rates.
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Arguments Pros the Death Penalty
People support the death penalty due to an increase in violence and cruelty in the society. There are many cases when murderers kill many individuals intentionally. They are serial maniacs. As a result, they deserve the capital punishment as they commit other violent actions as well. Speaking about the forms of execution in ancient times, one should mention the following fact. They were extremely torturing and violent. One can distinguish such forms of execution: lethal injection, the firing squad, gas chamber, electrocution, and hanging (Anckar, 2014, p. 9).
Serial maniacs and murderers are eligible to receive the death penalty as they kill other people intentionally. They do not regret about their violent actions as cruelty brings pleasure to them. Even after the imprisonment such people if they deserve to be called so continue their criminal activity. The capital punishment can be applied fairly to those whose crime is intentional, shocking and outrageous (Anckar, 2014).
Criminals Deserve Capital Punishment
It is evident that morality is not an argument against capital punishment. The death penalty is justified and moral when it comes to the crimes of larceny, murder, kidnapping, treason, torture, and rape. Such criminals deserve capital punishment as even life imprisonment will not make them follow moral principles. The pardoning of murderers can lead to anarchy and degradation of society. One cannot find moral assumptions in criminal activities. It means that criminal justice should use capital punishment as a way of decreasing violence and promoting some ethical principles (Anckar, 2014). One should analyze the problem of capital punishment from philosophical, cultural, social and political perspectives.
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Political Perspective
Political perspective presupposes constitutionality that defines whether a state should or should not apply the death penalty. It is subjective to think that constitutionality condemns capital punishment. On the contrary, it justifies it as murdering and violent actions being not less cruel than execution. In ancient times, the ways of execution were more torturing and outrageous. Modernization has originated new forms of execution that may not result in pain and suffering. For example, Kentucky offers new methods of the death penalty that are shared by 35 other states. Capital punishment uses innovative and more human ways of punishment (Banner, 2002).
“91% of respondents said politicians support the death penalty in order to appear tough on crime – and 75% said that it distracts legislatures on the state and national level from focusing on real solutions to crime problems” (Death Penalty Information Center, 2015). Old preventive measures (like community works and imprisonment) do not work. That is why the criminal justice system of America seeks innovation and programs that will help decrease the crime rate. The incarcerated population can be divided into lifers (3, 7%) and death row (96%) (Death Penalty Information Center, 2015). If to analyze the data in one prison the percent of incarcerated black people is higher than white ones. 37, 447 is a total number of incarcerated persons; 28, 280 inmates are black people; 9, 094 inmates are white people; and 70 inmates are of other races and ethnicity (Death Penalty Information Center, 2015). The average sentence for adults is the term of 21 years. These statistics prove the racial issue in the criminal justice system of Louisiana (Baze v. Rees, 2008).
The Deterrence Effect of Capital Punishment
One should not generalize speaking about the deterrence effect of capital punishment. The death penalty deters murders and statistics together with the common sense proving this. Firstly, one should say that people are afraid of death. Therefore, fear of death can deter them from murdering or raping. Life imprisonment has less evident influence. The execution brings sufferings and pain and results in death. Consequently, life imprisonment can be a paradise for serial maniacs. One should execute murderers to protect citizens from new murders and guarantee safety to society (Radelet, 1996).
Philosophical Perspective of Capital Punishment
Philosophical perspective refers to feelings and thoughts of people about retribution.
Retribution is inevitable when it comes to criminal justice. As a result, the death penalty is justified to a full extent. Capital punishment is only a way of punishing those who spread cruelty and do not want to follow legislation. It is difficult to build just order in the community. However, capital punishment is one of the ways of improvement (Kayser, 2011). The government cannot constantly feed criminals who have been sentenced to imprisonment. It is unfair when murderers deprive people of their liberties, peace, lives, and worldly good as well as receive the only imprisonment as a punishment. After amnesty, they can continue their illegal activities. One should say that deserved punishment is a way of moral protection of the community. It should be done by means of making an offender pay a price for the crime and restoring the just order. One should not confuse retribution and revenge as they have different motives. Retribution presupposes a just punishment (Soss, Langbein, & Metelko, 2003).
One should say that such irrevocable mistakes in criminal justice are rare. As a result, capital punishment can be justified. It is evident that criminal justice cannot be 100% perfect. Human testimony for proof can cause mistakes that will serve as a way of improvement. Besides, criminal justice should be vigilant to avoid and uncover possible errors. Death penalty cases demand a higher standard to achieve perfection in the system of justice. Small percent in death penalty cases cannot be credible evidence for refusing from it. A risk of making mistakes exists in any sphere (Banner, 2002).
One should not rely on the thoughts of opponents. The cost of the death penalty is high ($2 million per case). However, the life of the criminal who murdered many people cannot be valuable even when it comes to the cost of $1 million for 50 years. Evaluating capital punishment one should take into account the costs spent on imprisonment. Life in prison presupposes costs for food and clothes (Baze v. Rees, 2002).
Cultural Perspective
Race cannot be crucial when one decides upon capital punishment. Indeed, African Americans and Hispanics are charged with capital punishment, according to the committed crimes. The probability of the punishment of innocent African American people is the same as among the whites. The statistics show that African Americans are more likely to commit crimes and offenses. People can be criminals despite their race, social class or ethnicity (Lambert, Clarke, & Lambert, 2004).
Social Perspective
Income level is not the indicator of innocence. For example, in the present time, Louisiana is one of the most dangerous states in the USA. It is evident that problems in the criminal justice system are inevitable. This state occupies the first place, according to the prison incarceration rate. 74.4% are black state prisoners; and 48.3% are white state prisoners (Death Penalty Information Center, 2015). These statistics are alarming and provokes taking juveniles in custody, execution and death sentences. 102, 275 persons are imprisoned on probation and parole (Death Penalty Information Center, 2015). It is the population of Los Angeles. Adults are imprisoned for violent crimes (37.6%), drug crimes (31.8%), and property-related crimes (20.6%) (Death Penalty Information Center, 2015).
Arguments Cons the Death Penalty
Taking into consideration morality, many researchers of law condemn the death penalty as an unethical way of preventing crimes. They suppose that the state and federal governments should not decide whether criminals deserve to die. Capital punishment cannot be an example of moralism and ethical principles of criminal justice (Gudorf, 2013). The legislation concerning the death penalty in America relies on ethnic and racial discrimination. Those who are against capital punishment insist that such a decision is applied more often to poor and innocent rather than guilty and rich. They also suggest that the death penalty is an immoral condition that deprives the person of self-improvement and defense (Eren, 2015).
Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the USA
According to constitutionality, death is a severe punishment for any crime. It is characterized by enormity, finality, pain, and severity. Capital punishment treats people as objects and non-humans who deserve discarding. Persons who are against capital punishment indicate the fatal constitutional infirmity of the death penalty and deprival of common human dignity. The Clause should not regard humans as those who should be subjected to death. In the present time, the Clause forbids capital punishment as an unusual and cruel means of punishment that violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.
The opponents of capital punishment deny its efficacy in decreasing the crimes within the community. They object that the death penalty deters murders and rapes more effectively than life imprisonment. The statistics show that states that use capital punishment do not have lower crime rates than others that have no laws in regard to the death penalty (Eren, 2012). The same situation is with the states that have canceled this punishment. As a result, the death penalty does not provide a deterrence effect. The opponents of capital punishment insist that there is no credible evidence that will prove a decrease in crimes due to the application of the death penalty (Kayser, 2011).
The opponents of capital punishment believe that the cost of death is too high for any crime. Life in prison deprives criminals of a happy and rewarding life. Living in jail presupposes net expenses and taxpaying. However, those who support the death penalty ignore this fact insisting that one should not kill another person to make the community better. Besides, they state that capital punishment demands additional costs. It combines complicated and lengthy capital punishment trials (Shen, 2014).
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Death Penalty Persuasive Essay Conclusion
In conclusion, one should say that capital punishment is justified due to the criteria of morality, income level, deterrence, constitutionality, retribution, the cost of death and life in prison, irrevocable mistakes, race, attorney quality, and physicians at executions. One should not doubt the morality of the death penalty as the crimes of larceny, murders, kidnapping, treason, torture, and rapes destroy all ethical principles. The constitutionality makes the death penalty a new form of the execution depriving criminals of pain and suffering. The government saves money spent on imprisonment using capital punishment. Another advantage of the death penalty is deterrence that prevents juveniles from committing crimes. This punishment deters murders and statistics together with the common sense proving this.
Problems in the criminal justice system of America can be solved through the implementation of capital punishment. It is difficult to root out crimes due to their popularity among juveniles. The public correctional policy of the criminal justice system does not work properly as incarceration. It only results in the degradation of humans rather than the prevention of further crimes. The death penalty can be used as deterrence from future crimes. The income level and race are not the most crucial aspects in terms of choosing a proper way of punishment. As a result, those who are in favor of the death penalty have created a stereotypical vision of the death penalty depriving it of any sense and efficacy. However, with the help of capital punishment, the American criminal justice system can be improved.
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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Death Penalty — The Death Penalty: Pros and Cons

The Death Penalty: Pros and Cons
- Subject: Social Issues
- Category: Human Rights
- Essay Topic: Capital Punishment , Death Penalty
- Words: 1208
- Published: 07 February 2022
- Downloads: 382
Pros and Cons of Death Penalty
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You have included the three main parts of an essay (introduction, main body, conclusion) backed up with evidence. Spelling, punctation, and grammar are accurate. Well done! A few things to bear in mind for future development: Personal pronouns are not normally used in academic writing. The introduction should begin with ... the broad/wide topic, then mention the parts of the topic that you will be focusing on and end with a thesis statement. The main body points/arguments normally follow the structure of topic sentence, evidence (cited), explanation, and concluding sentence. There are usually 3-5 points/arguments made in the average essay (each in a new paragraph). The conclusion should paraphrase the thesis, summarize the main points/arguments and end with a broad/wide statement about the topic in general. Show more
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IELTS band 9 essay: death penalty
Here you can find advice how to structure IELTS essay and IELTS model answer for death penalty topic. Question type: advantages and disadvantages .
Here is the question card:
Some people advocate death penalty for those who committed violent crimes. Others say that capital punishment is unacceptable in contemporary society.
Describe advantages and disadvantages of death penalty and give your opinion.
So this is the advantage/disadvantage essay. In this essay you're asked about :
- Advantages of capital punishment
- Disadvantages of capital punishment
- Your opinion about it
Before writing this IELTS essay, you should decide what’s your opinion and then choose your arguments to describe pros and cons of death penalty. You don’t have to make up very complicate ideas. Even simple, but well-written arguments can often give you a band 9 for writing .
Some of the possible arguments :
- Disadvantages of capital punishment :
- we have no rights to kill other humans
- innocent people can be killed because of unfair sentences
- even criminals deserve a second chance
- Advantages of capital punishment :
- it prevents major crimes
- it restores equilibrium of justice
- it lessens expenses on maintenance of prisoners
How to structure my answer?
Surely, there are a lot of ways to organise this essay. But here is one possible way of structuring the answer to produce a band 9 essay :
Introduction : rephrase the topic and state your opinion.
Body paragraphs :
- paragraph 1: disadvantages of death penalty
- paragraph 2: advantages of death penalty
Conclusion : sum up the ideas from body paragraphs and briefly give your opinion.
Band 9 essay sample (death penalty)
Many people believe that death penalty is necessary to keep security system efficient in the society. While there are some negative aspects of capital punishment, I agree with the view that without it we will become more vulnerable to violence.
Death penalty can be considered unsuitable punishment for several reasons. The strongest argument is that we have no rights to kill other humans. Right to live is the basic right of any human being, and no one can infringe this right, irrespective of the person’s deeds. Moreover, innocent people can face wrongful execution. Such unfair sentences take away lives of innocent people and make other citizens lose faith in law and justice. And besides, sometimes criminals repent of their acts. In this case they should be given a second chance to improve themselves.
However, I believe that capital punishment is necessary in the society. Firstly, it is an effective deterrent of major crimes. The best method to prevent a person from committing crime is to show the consequences of his or her actions. For example, the government of Pakistan has controlled the rate of terrorism by enforcing death penalties for the members of terrorist organisations. Secondly, the governments spend large sums of national budget on maintenance of prisoners. Instead, this money can be used for the development of the society and welfare of the people.
To sum up, although capital punishment has some disadvantages, I think that it proves to be the best way of controlling criminals, lessening governmental expenses and preventing other people from doing crimes.
(257 words)
Useful vocabulary
capital punishment = death penalty
to commit a crime - to do a crime
deterrent of major crimes - something that prevents big crimes
to face wrongful execution - to be mistaken for a criminal and killed for that
to infringe someone’s right - restrict someone’s right, hurt someone’s interests
innocent people - people who are not guilty or responsible for crimes
to repent of something - to feel sorry for something
right to live is basic right of any human being
unfair sentence - not fair judgement

Support of the Death Penalty Essay
Proposal & annotated bibliography assignment: capital punishment.
Radelet, Michael L, and Traci L Lacock. "Do Executions Lower Homicide Rates?: The Views of Leading Criminologists." Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology. 09.02 (2009): 489-508. Print.
Against The Death Penalty Essay
There are many reasons to both support and oppose the death penalty. Many people can feel very strongly about whether or not they approve of this method of punishment. I feel that the death penalty is wrong, and I believe that there is much support to back this up. I believe that the death penalty is wrong because it is not an effective deterrent, racially and economically bias, unreliable, expensive, and morally wrong of society.
Dylan Pidich. Boston College Philosophy. . "Does The Retributive
“A recent study by Professor Michael Radelet and Traci Lacock of the University of Colorado found that 88% of the nation’s leading criminologists do not believe the death penalty is an effective deterrent to crime. The study, Do Executions Lower Homicide Rates? The Views of Leading Criminologists, published in the Journal of Criminal Law and Crimonology, concluded, “There is overwhelming consensus among America’s top criminologists that the empirical research conducted on the deterrence question fails to support the threat or use of the death penalty.” A previous study in 1996 had come to similar conclusions.”
Victoria Crowley. Soc 153 Debate Essay. April 18, 2017.
For centuries capital punishment has been used to “punish” criminals for a severe enough crime that they committed. It dates back to hundreds of years ago and has been enacted in many different countries, some that still have it today. Death penalty/capital punishment is the punishment of death an offender receives after having a court hearing and being convicted of a crime (ProCon.org, 2008). Once someone receives a death penalty sentence, they go on death row awaiting their execution. For a very long time, the controversy regarding whether or not the death penalty is ethical or just has been a topic of debate. I believe that the
Pro Death Penalty Essay
- 3 Works Cited
Capital punishment and the practice of the death penalty is an issue that is passionately debated in the United States. Opponents of the death penalty claim that capital punishment is unnecessary since a life sentence accomplishes the same objective. What death penalty opponents neglect to tell you is that convicted murders and child rapists escape from prison every year(List of prison escapes, 2015). As I write this essay, police are searching for two convicted murders who escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York on June 6th, 2015. The ONLY punishment from which one cannot escape is the death penalty.
The Death Penalty And Its Effects On America
This paper will discuss the Death Penalty. It analyzes the effectiveness of the death penalty. It covers the history of the death penalty as our nation shifts through various eras in its history, as well as the historical background of the death penalty in New York. It considers all factors such as crime rates, deterrence, the rights of the people, and consequences of the death penalty. Analogies were made of areas all over the country as to what degree the death penalty effects crime all around. It concludes this paper by reflecting on the information provided of the death penalty and provide an alternative to it.
Supporters and Oppostion to The Death Penalty Essay
One of the most widely debated and criticized methods of punishment in the United States is the Death Penalty. The Death Penalty is an issue that has the United States quite divided. While there are many supporters of it, there is also a large amount of opposition. Currently, there are thirty-three states in which the death penalty is legal and seventeen states that have abolished it according to the Death Penalty Information Center. There is no question that killing another person is the most atrocious criminal act that one can commit. I am not sure why, but it seems that the United States government is being hypocritical when it says that capital punishment is acceptable because a criminal did murder an innocent victim, and therefore
The Death Penalty Essay
The Death penalty has been a controversial subject since the beginning of time. People are concerned about the morality of the death penalty thus making it a debatable subject. Because of this, James Freeman, columnist for USA Today, decided to write an editorial on the subject of “Does America need the death penalty?” While being a writer for USA Today, one would think that he would effectively use the appeals of rhetoric (ethos, pathos, and logos), but in fact he does not and concludes with a poorly writing argument.
Essay on Pro-Death Penalty
I, as well as many others, have total confidence in the death penalty. It is a very beneficial component of our justice system. The death penalty saves lives. It saves lives because it stops those who murder from ever murdering again. It also deters potential murderers from ever committing the crime.
Deterrence Theory
The death penalty is one of the most controversed punishments in the United States. According to The Death Penalty Information Center, 88% of criminologist do not believe the death penalty is an effective deterrent. According to deterrence theory, criminals are no different from law abiding people. Individuals settle on their choices taking into account the net expenses and advantages of every option. There is a basis provided for analyzing how capital punishment should influence murder rates, according to the deterrence theory. Throughout the years, a few studies have shown a connection in the middle of executions and reductions in homicide rates.
Capital Punishment - A Complex Social Issue Essay
- 27 Works Cited
Surprisingly, there is one study supported by pro-death groups showing that capital punishment can deter crime up to 35.7%, but here is the catch – the death penalty only deters 35.7% crime for a couple of weeks or months, and the execution has to be widely publicized. (Philips) If this is the case, then one solution to the crime problem in the U.S. could be to have at least one
Deterrent Effect
A common way to determine whether the death penalty had a deterrent effect always on the basis of the number of murders deterred for each convicted criminal that was actually executed (Winter, 2008). The approach to verify the empirical verification was to replicate the results of the original studies and did battery of robustness tests. While the later study showed that these approach failed to confirm the death penalty affects the murder rate.
- 4 Works Cited
The death penalty is currently used by 34 states and is used by the federal government for punishing federal crimes. And in most cases the death penalty is used when the criminal has been convicted of murder. However, two people have been sentenced to death for the rape of a minor. The definition of the death penalty is: execution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction by a court of law of a criminal offense. This begs the question does the government have the right to take away someone’s life? And if so is it ethical and moral? Overall the goal of the Criminal Justice system is to give the right sentence and protect the people. Even though the death penalty does this, there are better more efficient ways to accomplish that
“Murder is wrong” (“Capital Punishment”). We’ve been taught this indisputable truth since childhood. The death penalty is defined as one human taking the life of another. Coincidentally, that is a classification of murder. There are as many as thirty-six states with the death penalty, and it’s essential that they change it. The United States needs the death penalty abolished because it is filled with flaws, cruel and immoral, and is an ineffective means of deterrent for crime.
Argument Against the Death Penalty Essay
- 28 Works Cited
Life is sacred. This is an ideal that the majority of people can agree upon to a certain extent. For this reason taking the life of another has always been considered the most deplorable of crimes, one worthy of the harshest available punishment. Thus arises one of the great moral dilemmas of our time. Should taking the life of one who has taken the life of others be considered an available punishment? Is a murderer's life any less sacred than the victim's is? Can capital punishment, the death penalty, execution, legal murder, or whatever a society wishes to call it, be morally justifiable? The underlying question in this issue is if any kind of killing, regardless of reason, can be accepted. In this
Related Topics
- Capital punishment
- Capital punishment in the United States
Argumentative Essay About Death Penalty

Argumentative Essay: The Death Penalty In Texas
The death penalty has its pros and cons, to take another life or to not. There are thirty-four states that use the death penalty and sixteen states who don’t. Texas is the the top state that practices the death penalty. I support the use the death penalty, not just for “eye for an eye”, (Death penalty procon). I believe in the use of the death penalty only in severe cases. Serial killers, rapist and child molesters I believe cannot function in society, nor will they ever be productive citizens. Capital punishment is away of keeping our society a little safer. The US spends 4% or 49 billion dollars to feed, cloth and entertain murders and rapists. Also “that death penalty cases are estimated to generate roughly $470,000 in additional costs…
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Does the death penalty deter crime, especially murder? Is the death penalty just? Should the death penalty be reformed? The death penalty also known as capital punishment continues to be an issue of controversy for many years. It seems that public opinion on the death penalty has changed over the year and is still changing, but there are still other people who believe that the death penalty is a good punishment and will continue to believe. Most of the time in my life, I often hear “An eye for…
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COMMENTS
Contemporary arguments for and against capital punishment fall under three general headings: moral, utilitarian, and practical. Moral arguments Supporters of the death penalty believe that those who commit murder, because they have taken the life of another, have forfeited their own right to life.
In the article "Death penalty is a deterrence", the authors claims that by practicing the death penalty, violent crimes will decrease. "violent crime has declined 11 percent, with murder showing the largest decline at even more than 22 percent.
The death penalty is a definitive discipline our general public can give one for their activities and it not all way awful. Then again it is viewed as a disavowal of human rights that advances more prominent savagery in our general public. Strict Resilience.
The effectiveness of the death penalty can be measured by the rates of crimes that demonstrate that this method of punishment does not reduce the number of criminal acts. The main goal of the death penalty is to decrease the numbers of abhorrent crimes in the world.
The death penalty is one criminal justice area that has attracted a serious debate about whether or not it should be abolished. The penalty enjoys a strong support from the public as people believe that it serves to deter crime as criminals are afraid of dying just like other humans.
I feel that a death penalty should be placed on a person if they took the lives of innocent people/person for no reason. The reason I am for the death penalty is because if someone murders someone else, they have given up their human rights, including the one to stay alive themselves.
The death penalty has been a controversial issue for many years. It was established centuries ago and has been accepted by society. It was put into place to punish those who had committed an offense against laws of the institution that was in place at the time. Within our society the death penalty has been associated with several symbols.
Individuals who do not agree with the human dignity argument may attempt to argue that the death penalty is an effective consequence because it deters other criminals from committing the crimes. Continuing, it may be argued that the death penalty can show society its moral outrage at unpleasant crimes. Resulting in a decrease in the crime rates.
The death penalty is the act of executing somebody as discipline for particular wrongdoing after an appropriate lawful preliminary. It is a definitive discipline. There is no harsher discipline than the death itself. Supportive and counter considerations against the 'moral part' of capital punishment have... Death Penalty Capital Punishment Topics:
1166. Do you agree or disagree. There is never a reason for death penalty to be used. Both points of view find in argumentative essay examples. In some countries, serious criminals such as serial murderers and terrorist bomber hardly escape death sentence. While many complement on such tough justice, others condemn it mainly for religious reasons.
In the article "Death penalty is a deterrence", the authors claims that by practicing the death penalty, violent crimes will decrease. "violent crime has declined 11 percent, with murder showing the largest decline at even more than 22 percent.
Arguments FOR the Death Penalty The first and most basic argument is that it is a deterrent and prevents future murderers from committing such heinous crimes. Throughout history, societies have always used different methods of punishment to discourage future criminals from any unlawful action.
The death penalty, or capital punishment as it is commonly known, is one of the issues that have raised controversy not only in the United States, but all over the globe. Undoubted, this subject remains a thorny issue in the world entirely. The United States remains one of the few countries in the world, where the capital punishment is still ...
Thirty one out of the fifty states in America obtain the death penalty ("States with and without the Death Penalty," 2016). An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth displays the biblical morality in allowing the death penalty for those deserving. Thus translating into the greater meaning of why the death penalty should be used.
Death Penalty Persuasive Essay Conclusion. In conclusion, one should say that capital punishment is justified due to the criteria of morality, income level, deterrence, constitutionality, retribution, the cost of death and life in prison, irrevocable mistakes, race, attorney quality, and physicians at executions. ...
The death penalty is an issue that has the United States quite divided. While there are many supporters of it, there is also a large amount of opposition. Currently, there are thirty-one states in which the death penalty is legal and nineteen states that have abolished it. I believe the death penalty should be legal throughout the nation.
Surely, there are a lot of ways to organise this essay. But here is one possible way of structuring the answer to produce a band 9 essay: Introduction: rephrase the topic and state your opinion. Body paragraphs: paragraph 1: disadvantages of death penalty. paragraph 2: advantages of death penalty. Conclusion: sum up the ideas from body ...
In Support of the Death Penalty Introduction From the ethical perspective of philosopher John Rawls who said that justice should be described as" a fair system of arrangements; one that the parties can agree to without knowing how it will benefit them personally" , the death penalty must be considered just and right as it creates a fair balance between the act that has been committed and ...
Argumentative Essay: Colorado's Death Penalty System. Currently, 18 states have formally declared the death penalty to be illegal. Most states are currently on "hold" or are not aggressively implementing the penalty. Colorado, has shown a growing trend to lack the will for executions. Governor Hickenlooper gave a reprieve in 2013 to our ...