Discussing the Death Penalty - 1472 Words

A major debate discussed frequently in today’s society is whether or not the death penalty is the right thing to do to punish those who have committed heinous crimes. While some states have allowed the death penalty to be used in certain cases, others have outright removed it as a choice. Why is this debate important? Well as U.S. citizens we need to make a decision of what is the best way to deal with criminals. Is it better to execute these criminals or incarcerate them? This paper will discuss the considered pros and cons of the death penalty and what my view is, on this topic. Proponents of the death penalty have the belief that a criminal should be killed for what he or she has done. They believe that it is moral because it creates a feeling of justice. Carol S. Steiker and Jordan M. Steiker, authors of, â€Å"CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: A CENTURY OF DISCONTINUOUS DEBATE† stated that â€Å"The retributive argument, emphasizing that the death penalty provides the only appr opriate moral response to the worst offenses and offenders† (Steiker 676). Those who commit disastrous crimes should be punished to the highest extreme, which is death, something that many people are fearful of. Proponents believe that the death penalty also helps the families who grieve for their losses and suffer psychologically as a retribution for their pain depending on the way of how their loved ones were killed. Michael Keane author of The Ethical â€Å"Elephant† in the Death Penalty â€Å"Room† states, AShow MoreRelatedCapital Punishment Essay895 Words   |  4 Pagesopinion capital punishment is wrong. The death penalty is the center of much debate in society. This is due, in part, to the fact that people see only the act of killing a criminal, and not the social effects the death penalty has on society as a whole. Upon reading about the death penalty, it was found to be an unethical practice. It promotes a violent and inhumane society in which killin g is considered okay. Since there are alternatives, the death penalty should be abolished. Some people believeRead MoreArguments For and Against the Reintroduction of the Death Penalty for Murder1276 Words   |  6 PagesAgainst the Reintroduction of the Death Penalty for Murder The death penalty was abolished in the United Kingdom in 1965. (Blackwell 1968.) The abolishment of the death penalty was not a simple case. Since 1957 the issue had been before the House of Commons more than 19 times. However the death penalty is still used today in many countries across the world. During the year 2000 at least 3,058 people were sentenced to death in 65 different countries. (wwwRead MoreShould The Death Penalty Be Mandatory?925 Words   |  4 Pagesopinions on the subject. When we were discussing the death penalty although my opinion didn’t change, after hearing what some of my classmates had to say about the subject during our lab I was able to respectfully see why they had those thoughts and feelings about the subject. I believe that we should have the death penalty, and that it helps prevents more crime from happening. However, during our lab students that thought we should ban the death penalty had some pretty interesting reasons behindRead MoreA Call to End Capital Punishment Essay example1651 Words   |  7 Pagesabout the equality and effectiveness of the American Judicial system. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion about this topic but the throbbing question that lingers in the air is that is it morally right? Capital punishment also known as the death penalty is the brutal ordered execution of a prisoner as a punishment for a serious crime which might be murder or treason. The amounts of problems associated with capital punish ment are massive, ranging from the innocent dying for a crime he/she neverRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Effective Or Not?851 Words   |  4 PagesDeath Penalty has been and still is one of the biggest controversies in the United States and internationally. People have been discussing and debating whether or not the death penalty is effective or not. As opposers would argue, the death penalty deters crime and the criminals deserve it; however, the death penalty is a very costly procedure and time consuming as well as ineffective. David Muhlhausen, a Senior Policy Analyst in the center for Data Analysis at the Heritage Foundation, ironicallyRead MoreThe Death Penalty Was Furman V. Georgia Essay1300 Words   |  6 PagesAs society has evolved, the way the death penalty has been implemented has also evolved- sometimes against the words of our Constitution. One of the more influential cases that transformed how people view the death penalty was Furman v. Georgia. This case set up a guide for limited sentencing discretion; this meant that sentencing for the death penalty would become standardized. Essentially in extreme cases, every criminal death qualified would be sent to death row and eventually executed. After disputesRead MoreThe Death Penalty And Wrongful Convictions980 Words   |  4 PagesThe death penalty has been a controversial topic among society for ages. An issue often brought up when discussing the legality of capital punishment is wrongful convictions. Advocates of the death penalty say that, wh ile wrongful convictions are an issue, those few cases do not outweigh the need for lawful execution of felons who are, without a doubt, guilty. On the other hand, the opponents argue that the death penalty is wrong from both a legal and moral standpoint, an ineffective form of punishmentRead MoreCapital Punishment Essay667 Words   |  3 Pagesto the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, Capital Punishment is the infliction by due legal process of the penalty of death as a punishment for crime. Capital Punishment, also known as, the Death Penalty has been around for centuries. The first established death penalty laws date as far back as the Eighteenth Century B.C. in the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon, which codified the death penalty for 25 different crimes (www.deathpenaltyinfo.org). Not only is Capital Punishment ancient, it is highlyRead More The Benefits of Capital Punishment Essay1044 Words   |  5 Pagesworld and remains in effect in many nations. Through discussing many arguments in support of capital punishment it is obvious why this method of punishment is so controversial and why it should remain in effect today, regardless of the negative criticism it garners. Capital punishment has been used in the United States since the execution of Daniel Frank of Virginia in 1622. Since then more than 18,000 convicted criminals have been put to death (Crime and Punishment in American History, 1993, pRead MoreRace, Capital Punishment, And The Cost Of Murder884 Words   |  4 Pagesdisparities. This essay will analyze the author’s paper on the subject of race and capital punishment. The subject of capital punishment is controversial, as some citizens believe capital punishment is unconstitutional. Cholbi starts the essay by discussing racial discrimination in the court of law and how some forms of discrimination are present before the defendant enters the courtroom. The author moves on to explain how discrimination causes individuals to develop expectations of the type of treatment