Some of these reasons are that the death penalty is more expensive then a life in prison sentence, also they believe that the death penalty may result in innocent people getting executed. A third reason why death penalty opponents oppose the death penalty is biased to minorities and impoverish people. I am on the side that opposes the death penalty because I belive that tax payers should not have to pay extra to keep criminals on death row. ("Death Penalty." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag.
According to Attorney General John Ashcroft “black and Hispanic defendants were less likely at each stage of the department's review process to be subjected to the death penalty than white defendants," The study found that other factors contributed to what appeared to be racial bias. The factors of geography, differences in state laws, and decisions by state prosecutors explain why the majority of defendants facing death row are minorities. “The study also showed that only nine of the ninety four U.S. attorney districts accounted for about forty three percent of all cases that prosecutors called for the death
The ones who throw the bible at the penalty forget to read certain portions. “The murderer shall surely be put to death” (Numbers 35:16-18) this bible excerpt counters the argument. Abstracting the death penalty and saying it is wrong for the government to take ones life is the wrong way to approach the system. If each case was reviewed in the sense that the victim was a loved one, giving the criminal free room and board would be a harder choice. A claim that human life’s value is diminished when someone is executed is a bold claim.
Since the dawn of civilization, humans have had an order to control the chaos created by others. There have been laws to shape a society and when those laws were broken by any individual, they had to be punished in some way. The death penalty is the sentence of execution for very serious crimes, such as murder, and other capital crimes. China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the USA are the 5 biggest executioners with a percentage of 82%. Since 2013, there has been an increase in death sentences in over 57 countries.
The death penalty cost too much money to the state. In some states the death penalty is not in the best interest. For example, according to the Neb. Press &Dakotan a report from the Nebraska Judiciary Committee states that any savings from executing an inmate are outweighed by the financial costs. According to reuters.com the death penalty in California is the most expensive and the least effective.
Abstract This paper addresses the constitutionality and imposition of the death penalty. I will present some historic aspects of the use of the death penalty as well as constitutional issues that have risen through the years over its imposition and the execution of some convicts. Also I will discuss the general goals of sentencing and the various types of sentences available to judges. I will also review the constitutional rights and issues important in criminal sentencing especially as it pertains to the death sentence. At the end of the paper I will compare the death sentence to the alternative which is life in prison without parole- the deterrent effects on crimes, and the costs would be the main focus of the comparison.
Death penalty is a divisible and controversial issue, which raises important questions expressed in philosophical, political and moral terms. Different opinions on death penalty regarding deterrence, innocence and arbitrariness have split those who are firmly opponents and the supporters of the abolition. Although the debate over the legitimacy of capital punishment is long-lasting rooted in the morality and philosophy discourses, opponents and supporters have recently been contributing to the debate with arguments even based on economic efficiency, arguing that death penalty system carries massive costs to a state while many states that still maintain a capital punishment system use it so rarely for it to be a cost effective way to deter violent
For awhile now, the death penalty has been debated about and is considered a social injustice issue. Many people believe that we should abolish it in all the states, while others think it is still necessary. Many years ago it was ruled unconstitutional because it was said to violate the eighth amendment. People thought that it was a cruel and unusual punishment, and the court agreed. One of the big reasons people disagree with it is that many accused and executed have been proven innocent after it was too late.
Phillips, D. P. (1980). The Deterrent Effect of Capital Punishment: New Evidence on an Old Controversy. American Journal of Sociology,86(1), 139-148. doi:10.1086/227206 According to Philips(1980), “ homicides decreased by 35.7% immediately following a publicized execution”. Other criminal activities other than homicide such as rape, treason, terrorism, etc. also drastically reduces when death penalty is practiced.
According to him, 99% would rather be imprisoned for life than sentenced to the death penalty. Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, as cited in Haags argument says, "Some men, probably, abstain from murder because they fear that if they committed murder they would be hanged. Hundreds of thousands abstain from it because they regard it with horror. One great reason why they regard it with horror is that murderers are hanged”. In the article titled “The Folly of Capital Punishment”, Jeffrey Reinam concludes that capital punishment is immoral to our society; and thus, should not be legalized.