A strong voice in opposition to capital punishment comes from an organization called Amnesty International. Amnesty International works to promote and protect human rights. The abolishment of capital punishment worldwide is one of many issues they focus on. On their website against the death penalty, Amnesty International states, "The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment. It violates the right to life. It is irrevocable and can be inflicted on the innocent. It has never been shown to deter crime more effectively than other punishment"(Against).

This statement is the foundation for their fight against capital punishment. Their feeling is that the governments that allow capita

"Against the Death Penalty." Amnesty International 2000. 20 April 2001

"Death Penalty." Issues and Controversies on File 1 May 1998. 5 April 2001.

l punishment are playing God, and have no authority to do so. A greater concern is the fear of innocent people being executed. They argue that as long as the law is susceptible to errors, innocent people will be sentenced to death and may be executed before they can be exonerated. They are not trying to minimize the effects of the crime upon the victims' families, but see the death penalty as the legal repetition of the crime itself.

In conclusion if someone purposely takes a life, they should be accountable for sacrificing their own. When a crime occurs, an important function of the criminal justice system is to administer fair and just punishment. Looking back to the earlier years of United States history, criminals were tried, convicted, and executed swiftly. Deterrence worked because punishment was immediate. There was no crime epidemic back then. People feared the punishment they would face for their crimes. Today the criminal justice system is lenient on those who don't deserve leniency. Murderers in the prison system are made to feel comfortable. The problem with the criminal justice system today is the lack of fear of punishment. In fact more people die on death row than they do by actual executions. Murderers are made to feel comfortable in prison with three square meals a day, cable television, and free room and board. If society wants to end this country's crime epidemic, swift puni!

By executing murderers supporters feel, that alone is deterring crime It prevents murderers from being released to killing again. Don Feder, a journalist for the Boston Herald says, "When murders aren't executed, innocent people suffer. Odds are a killer will be released at some point..."(Feder). There have been cases in the 1970's, where convicted murderers were released on parole and found their way back to jail for committing another murder. Opponents want the people to believe that this could not happen, when in fact it has happened. Supporters admit tha

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