Death Penalty

A detailed Summary of Death Penalty


America has embraced the death penalty since the colonial times and who knows probably before that. Through time that has passed the methods of execution have changed, and we no longer crucify criminals or even stone them to death. Today Americans most controversial issues and debated subjects in society is the death Penalty. According to research conducted in 1995 there were 56 executions in the United States but a 12 percent drop in murder rate (Rubin). Even though 76 percent of America support the death penalty there are still a few that believe that it would only increase the violence. The question continually brought up is, does the death penalty deter crime? I will be addressing the validity of the death penalty's ability to deter crime, and why some of the experts believe that it doesn't deter crime and how execution delivers reasonable retribution.

Many people in America believe that the death penalty does deter crime. "Between 1965 and 1982, when there were very few executions in the United States, the homicide rate steadily increased. Consistent correlation between homicide rates and execution is not a result of coincidence -it is proof that the capital punishment works" (Johan


On the other side of this issue most of the opponents believe that the death penalty doesn't deter crime, and that is not morally justified. Opponents and experts believe that "it is irrational to assume that a criminal is going to carefully weigh the consequences of his actions before committing a criminal act"(Rubin). The opponent's theory is that the threat of the punishment of the death penalty doesn't have and affect on potential criminals. Those who do not rationally think about the consequences commit murders. So why even have the death penalty? Many think that the death penalty is inhuman. Some people even argued that we will be executing innocent people. Like in the case

sen112). Death penalty also serves justice to Victims. A murderer has been in jail for life if we think about the murderer he or she is still in a far better position than the victim. Consider this, the victim is tortured, raped and murdered, while the murderer gets clean clothes, three meals and cable television, what kind of punishment is that. If murderers have already sentenced their victims to death, why shouldn't we do the same? "Capital punishment for proven premeditated murders is...not immoral; it is not even a 'necessary evil'; it is moral necessity, demanded by justice" (Bidinotto21).

A prisoner named Lemuel Smith, who, while serving four life sentences for murder (plus two l

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Approximate Word count = 926
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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