The penalty of death is a very thought out process when it is subjected to a convict. The convict has to deserve the severity of the punishment and the courts cannot have any thoughts of the sentencing as unconstitutional for it to come into affect. Some arguments that were made that are for the death penalty, “gives closure for victim’s family who have suffered, creates form of deterrent crime, parole or escaped prisoners are given another chance to kill, and gives prosecutors another bargaining chip for plea bargain process” (Messerli). The constitutional arguments against the death penalty are, “financial costs of death penalty cost more than life in prison, appeals clog court system, why kill people who killed someone, innocent men and women may be put to death, and it does not bring the victim’s life back” (Messerli). The arguments for and against the death penalty are very strong arguments and could persuade a person’s mind to believe in both sides.
I do not believe this to be true, I believe that long-term imprisonment is what criminals are not afraid of. It is said that the death penalty encourages and legitimizes unlawful killing. But let’s think about it “murder, is unlawful and undeserved while the death penalty is lawful and deserved for unlawful act.” Imprisonment will never be a harsh enough punishment because they live off of our taxes, and it is sad to say that we are paying to keep these criminals alive. But most religious people will argue that capital punishment is breaking one of the Ten Commandments but the bible also says that “it is an eye for an eye.” That statement does not mean that when a person does something to you, you do it back but God put rules and people on this earth and gave them choices to make and I feel that if you truly love your brothers and sisters within this world the death sentence is appropriate because your are keeping them from hurting any other people. So many non-supporters of the death penalty say they are against it because of racial discrimination, or how it treats humans as like animal, or that it is cruel and unusual, or that retribution is another word for revenge and therefore they believe that life imprisonment is a just enough punishment.
Capital Punishment in America Jonathan Kelley Jr Capital Punishment in America In late news there has been an exceptionally disputable issue in regards to the utilization of the death penalty. Studies have shown that the most popular type of discipline to those on death row may not be as advantageous and effortless as once thought. Lethal injection could actually be excruciatingly painful to the prisoners that are put through it. This type of discipline took the spot of the hot seat back in the 1970s as the best type of execution. Those against the death penalty are as yet condemning the utilization of lethal injection today alongside whatever other type of execution.
I feel it adversely is shown and sought out to enhance the value of human life by demonstrating the old saying “an eye for an eye.” If government were to lower the penalty of murder it would portray that the victims’ loss of life was less significant than that of the murderer. Some opponents feel that a life sentence in prison is a far worse punishment than death. If this is true, then why do so many convicted prisoners put on death row try to appeal and get a lesser sentence? These prisoners who committed the same act outside prison walls are now facing death with no alternative, as their victim had, and aren’t ready to answer to the consequences. In the case of Stephanie Benton, I saw this with my own eyes.
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.
Many supporters of the death penalty argue that it will deter violent crime. People of this opinion believe that speeding up the death penalty process murderers would think twice before killing, because they fear death. This idea has been shown to be entirely false. Besides, if a crime is premeditated possible criminals do not think about the penalty of death but they often think of ways to elude arrest and conviction not the fear of punishment. In fact, it has been shown that murder rates are higher in states that issue the death penalty than states with those with no form of capital punishment (Death Penalty Information).
The Public Policy That Doesn’t Work Capital Punishment ABSTRACT This paper will address the issue of why the sentencing convicted criminal to death just does not work. The policies surrounding capital punishment are socially and morally wrong. These policies are designed for the safety and protection of all citizens. But, statistically there is no prove that the death sentence deters anyone from committing acts of heinous crimes. In addition those who are held accountable for upholding the law are biased in whom they convict.
Sadly and unbelievably, these twisted, cold-blooded murderers were never brought to justice. No one in this country can honestly say or believe there is justice and equality for all. Racial disparities are evident throughout the entire system. One would think when imposing the ultimate punishment, it would be free of unjustness. However, this is not the case because evidence of racism in the imposition of the death penalty is clearly recognizable.
The death penalty as it stands in this nation cannot be fairly and equally applied to all people due to the natural differences in predicate crimes, jury requirements, appeals and actual use. In addition the death penalty denies owed process by preventing an appeal based on new evidence after death by the fact that a dead person cannot be retried. For these reasons the death penalty is unconstitutional under the 14th amendment's equal protection and due process clauses. Death Penalty is not the way to handle a punishment at all. When did the government have a right in the way of life and death situations?
Capital Punishment Some people question the death penalty as to wether or not it is cold blooded murder or just an equal punishment for one who commits murder. Should there be any exceptions, such as minors or people with mental retardation. Televised executions should be completely out of the question. Also some question wether or not the criminal should be lethally injected or be given the same punishment as his victim. There’s a claim that it is more expensive for the state to execute a criminal than to incarcerate them for life.