Death Penalty Pros and Cons
80The death penalty is a difficult and emotive discussion topic for many people. Although it has been abolished in two thirds of the world's countries, it is still used in many places, including many states in the USA, and seen as a suitable punishment for the worst crimes by many people. In this article I look at the pros and cons of executing people who have committed serious criminal offences - first of all looking at the essential arguments in favor of the death penalty, followed by the arguments against it. Rather than go into too much depth, I have attempted instead to highlight the main arguments for and against. Below are my death penalty pros and cons, I hope that you find them useful and interesting.
Death Penalty Pros
The death penalty deters criminals from committing serious offenses. Common sense tells us that the most frightening thing for a human being is to lose their life, therefore the death penalty is the best deterrent when it comes to discouraging people from carrying out the worst crimes.
The methods of execution have gradually become more humane over the years, so the argument that the death penalty is cruel and unusual is not valid.
Just because it is feasible that a wrong decision could be made by the legal system, it doesn’t mean that the death penalty is wrong. Every effort is made in the US to give death row prisoners opportunities to challenge decisions. Modern methods of crime detection, such as DNA testing, also give greater certainty of guilt than existed in the past.
The death penalty can provide families of victims with some closure, which may help them to deal with their suffering.
The death penalty acts as a deterrent for prisoners who are already serving life sentences in jail from committing more serious offences.
The idea put forward by abolitionists that it costs more to execute someone than imprison them for life is simply not true and there is plenty of evidence to show this.
Retribution is not the same as revenge. Retribution is a necessary part of the punishment process - without it, friends and family of the victims, as well as the public generally, would not feel that justice had been served.
Death Penalty Cons
There is no credible proof that the death penalty works as a deterrent. In US states where the death penalty has been abolished, there has been no significant change in the rates for serious criminal offenses, such as murder.
The death penalty is a cruel and unusual punishment, where basic standards of human dignity are compromised or undermined.
Retribution is just another word for revenge and simply continues the cycle of violence – it is essentially just a form of the flawed concept that two wrongs can make a right: the pro argument is that killing people is wrong, therefore you should kill people for doing it, which just doesn’t make sense.
The death penalty affects the poorer segments of society and racial minorities disproportionately, in part because they are unable to afford the costs of good legal support. In the USA, although only 13% of the US population are African American, but 50% of death row prisoners are African American.
America’s image would be improved in places like Europe, if the death penalty were abolished. The other places where executions happen regularly include repressive regimes like Iran, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
The justice system is bound to make mistakes. In the case of people who are wrongly imprisoned, they can be released from prison and given compensation, but a wrongful execution can never righted.
When all the practical and legal costs are taken into account, it is clear that the death penalty is more expensive than imprisoning prisoners for life.
A life spent in prison is a worse punishment than an execution.
Death Penalty Poll
After reading all the pros and cons, are you in favor of the death penalty or against it?
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Why do people worry about the method being humane? If the person is guilty without any doubt, then money could be saved by using a bullet. The person who is sentenced to death didnt worry about their actions being humane as they killed and or torchured another.
I'm curious why you posted the same arguments as both Pros and Cons. Either it costs more to keep criminals alive, or it doesn't, for example.
@McCordRM - Thanks for your comment. The argument that the death penalty is more expensive than life in prison without parole is often put forward by abolitionists. This is disputed by death penalty advocates. You would think that it would be straightforward to work out the figures and provide a definitive answer, but as the figures are disputed, I thought that I would include both points of view in the interest of balance.
I am for the Death Penalty...Some Criminal do not deserve to live and be a burden for the rest of their lives on Tax payers... and some get out and KILL again...If there is NO Doubt they should be put to death, and not be allowed to sit on Death Row for l0, 15, or 20 years...There Victims did not have a choice...if they did they would have chosen not to be killed.
An eye for an eye...and eventualy,the whole world goes blind.
The only difference between murder and execution is the order in which it takes place.
Dean
I like how you weighed the pros and cons. There is no clear answer. Two people may have different viewpoints and both may be absolutely right. the important thing is to have a debate in your head before coming to an opinion.
I see everyones point of view but put yourself in the place of the victims family. Would you want that hurt that you felt on anyone else? I know I wouldn't and I talk from experince. Another thing is that what is the difference between the person who committed the crime and us?
When the crime is taking someone elves life and it is beyond a doubt the death penalty is the only cure. So many criminals have been caught and later discovered to have gotten a way with it before. The same truth our those who our released only to commit the same crime again. All other crimes our petty in comparison to horrific acts of murder. There is no cure for socio-paths and people who have no feelings towards others or their humanity. Simply put pre-meditated murder crosses the line in terms of ever curing ones self from evil.
necrofeliacs should be put to death because dead bodies do not deserve what they do to them
I Am doing A Report/ Essay About This And Im Against It. Ive Read Your Coments And I Agree And Disagree With Some Of Them. I Feel That They Shouldnt Die,Life In Prison Can Be Better Than Loosing Your Life. I know That You Guys Have already Writtin This But I Want To Make Sure You Understand Because I Know people Want Justice, But Is It Really Worth Someone Loosing There Life? I mean The Killer,Murder,Rapest can Be Sick In The Head. You Dont Know That, Maybe They Were Born That Way And Cant Help It.Do You really Think They Ment To Do It? Ask Yourself One More Question. What If That Person Was You WHo Commited The Crime?
i hate the death pentalty!
skittle chick is right what if that person did not do the crime but was killed eneywhases.
dont agree
@Cheaptrick I agree!
Another difference is:
* one is legally (and politically) accepted
* the other is immoral or unethical legally (from a political perspective)
I say politically because the death penalty still exists.
I am aganst the death penalty. it is horrable, and what if the peson was forced by another.
u will only kill one person and if u did not kill a killer then u would have less people in the world because he would kill alot of them and what if he killed someone in your family u would want him killed right right??? i think so
Thanks, I like hearing the pros and cons concerning anything, than I can think it out better.
if there sentecned to life without parole they usually have nothing to lose so what keeps them from constantly killing in prison? those people are going to not put any thought into there actions and there going to do what they think is right in that moment
zk there are not inicient people dying they have the dna evidence and with the technology today there arent inicient people being put to death
so what do you think about the cost is there more to it ?
I am totally against death penalty and I havent always had this soft heart..since my moms exhusband is on death row for her murder. I never want the man on the on street but since he has lived in that cell for 22 years I dont see what 20 more would hurt. Alejandra the cost to try death sentence I feel is myth. Well i know here in alabama those on death cant afford to pay a attorney and the ones they get over appointed through there life on death row your top of the line high quality lawyers. And thats how the system fails them especially the innocent ones.
I feel no remorse for those who murder, because they should have considered the consequences before commiting such an act. Even the death penalty is a very mild form of the experience they put there victim through. I feel bad for the victim who had endured such a nightmare and not the one who caused it all to happen.
i think
its good
its bad
i am for the death penalty because once a person goes to jain for life they dont really care what happens so what if that person killed lots of people and they escape then what we has a murderer back on the streets. Then not to mention if a person is a murderer then there is something wrong with there head and they would take advantage of being in jail and many people are ok with jail because they rule it there and they wouldnt have aproblem killing in there. So i am for the death penalty completely to get those ruthless murderers off the earth
I think so
so you think justice is being served by execution, what a concept, you can't bring the victim back by executing any-one, what you mean is revenge is being served, and why do you not think that life in prison with-out a chance for parole isn't a punishment, why should we let a murderer bring us down to their level? the u.s is one of the only civlized countries left still executing, look it up on the web, and see who we're in company with when it comes to the death penalty.
I very much agreed with James Nash.What a concept. Who ever give anyone the permission to killed someone.What do you an eye for an eye? Do you think that if someone was convicted of murder, Do think that the person should be executed? What a laugh. Sin is Sin. Death is Death.Their is only one god and he would be the judge.He gave life and he should take life. No one should
Ralph Deeds Level 6 Commenter 8 months ago
Nice hub. If you like the death penalty, Rick Perry's your man. He surpassed George Bush's record as a Texas death machine governor this week.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/12/opinion/cheering