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Today American correction facilities experience a crisis of epic proportions. United States prisons and jails house inmates in record numbers with no relief. This situation leads many to suggest that overcrowding in prisons constitutes an important issue facing American correction reform today. One way to deal with overcrowded prisons is to enforce the death penalty. According to David Davis, infliction of the death penalty for certain secular crimes, such as murder and robbery, associates historically with the rise of the modern state (23). He also states, in England the death penalty was rationally defended as a means for protecting the king's peace (23). Capital punishment dates back to 1787, where tactics were used such as decapitation, firing squads, and hangings. Just recently death penalties were carried out by means of electrocution and lethal injection. Enforcing capital punishment ensures a means of reducing recidivism for those who commit heinous crimes. H!einous crimes that consist of proven murders, terrorist situations, and rape deserve the death penalty. Increasing capital punishment promotes the reform of prisons by reducing recidivism, increasing deterrence, and decreasing pr
year saves the lives of victims of such crimes" (3). He also states, " since Texas reinstated the death penalty in 1982, Harris County has executed more murderers than any other state and has seen the greatest reduction in murder from 701 in 1982 down to 261 in 1996-a 63% reduction" (4). This reduction in murders proves that capital punishment is a deterrent. Kate King also states, that during the temporary suspension of capital punishment from 1972 to 1976, researchers gathered information that suggested an increase of crime during this time. Capital punishment serves as a great deterrent and it also saves lives. According to Wesley Lowes, "in 1985, a study published by economist Stephen K. Layson at the University of North Carolina, showed every execution of a murderer deters, on an average, 18 murders" (2). So capital punishment practiced on a regular bases can serve as a deterrent. opulated prisons are known to have riots break out on weekly bases (Goodnight 78). Several inmates have appealed to the Supreme Court about overcrowded prisons. The Supreme Court states that crowding alone is unconstitutional. Inmates state, "living in an overcrowded prison is cruel and unusual, which goes against the eighth amendment" (Goodnight 187)
Some common words found in the essay are:
Miles Harer, David Davis, Supreme Court, Lynn Goodnight, North Carolina, Pay American, Orange County, Kate King, Harris County, death penalty, County Register, capital punishment, overcrowded prisons, prison population, american correction, american correction facilities, reducing recidivism, commit heinous, criminals commit, supreme court, prisons constitutes, commit heinous crimes, orange county register,
Approximate Word count = 842
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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