Troy Davis Death Penalty Ethical Analysis

Analyzing and Making a Decision about an Ethical Dilemma

Ethical 10/29/2011

The Death Penalty - An Ethical Issue:

This paper will look at the case of Troy Davis a black man who convicted of and executed for the August 19, 1989, murder of a white off duty police officer. This paper will examine how the death penalty in my opinion is morally and ethically wrong. While many inmates admit their wrongdoing and ask for forgiveness, Davis maintained his innocence until his execution. From my research on this topic and case, it is my opinion that Troy Davis was wrongfully convicted and executed. The case against him consisted entirely of witness testimony, which contained inconsistencies…show more content…
In the case of Troy Davis he was convicted and executed of a crime where there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime and according to the Chicago Tribune,7 out of nine witnesses had changed or recanted their testimony.

In addition, statics show that the death penalty does not deter crime the table below shows how the numbers of inmates on death row have grown since 1968.

[pic]

If the death penalty was a deterrent, the numbers who be decreasing instead of increasing. The death penalty is not a deterrent because most people who commit murders either do not expect to be caught or do not carefully weigh the differences between a possible execution and life in prison before they act. Those who believe that deterrence justifies the execution of certain offenders bear the burden of proving that the death penalty is a deterrent (Steiker & Steiker,…show more content…
Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved October 3, 2011, from http://deathpenaltyinfo.org
Friedman, L. S. (2007). The death penalty. San Diego, CA: Daniel A. Leone.
Georgia executes man convicted in cop's killing. (2011, September 22). Chicago Tribune, p. 10.
Henningfeld, D. A. (2006). The death penalty: opposing viewpoints. Farmington Hills, MI: Green haven Press.
House, R. (2009). The Death Penalty and the Principle of Goodness. Then International Journal of Human Rights, 13(5), 680-688. Retrieved September 15, 2011, from the Academicsearchpremier database.
Kurtis, B. (2004). The death penalty on trial: crisis in American justice. New York: Public Affairs.
Lake Research Partners. Lake Research Partners. Retrieved October 11, 2011, from http://lakeresearch.com
Parks, P. J. (2010). Does the death penalty deter crime? San Diego, CA: Reference Point Press.
Steiker, C., & Steiker, J. (201). No More Tinkering: The American Law Institutie and The Death Penalty Provisions of The New Penial Code. Texas Law Review, 89(2), 353-365. Retrieved October 22, 2011, from the Academic Search premier database.
Untitled Document. . National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved October 1, 2011, from