Truman Capote's Arguments Against The Death Penalty

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Across prisons and correction centers in America today, there are nearly 3,108 criminals, as of April 1st, 2013, that are held on death row. To be applicable for placement on death row, all states follow regulations along the lines of the main crime, murder. At least 3,108 people have been murdered, by criminals that have taken their lives. Everyone has the right to live, but is it really fair that someone who has taken that right away from someone else, to exercise that right? The Death Penalty, or Capital Punishment, serves as an explicit warrant for certain crimes, such as murder. In In Cold Blood(Source A), by Truman Capote, two characters named Perry Smith and Dick Hickock commit murder and massacre an entire family overnight, which…show more content…
A frequent argument used against the death penalty is the amount of money it costs to fully complete the procedure. In Kansas alone, the costs of capital cases are 70% more expensive than non-capital cases, including the costs of incarceration. (Source C) However, what most people don’t analyze is the sum of unnecessary expenses like extra trials, food rations, and incarceration per inmate that should be skipped. If it is 100% clear that the prosecuted has committed the crime, they should almost immediately be put to death. They should not be allowed more time in prison, where tax payers will spend countless dollars on their “free” food and stay. Furthermore, the fact that the government is caught up in the pain of the procedure is extremely offensive. I guarantee that their victim did not lose their life without pain. Another frequently used argument is that Capital Punishment is a racial exploitation and is corrupt due to the fact. The most common contrast is between the ethnic races of white and black. The number of death row inmates that are Caucasian, or white, is 43%. The number of death row inmates that are African American, or black, is 42%. The percentage of white defendants that are executed is 56%. The percentage of black defendants executed lies at 34%. A dominating 76% of the victims in death penalty cases are white. A mere 15% of that number is…show more content…
Truman Capote had written his book as the two prisoners awaited their fate on death row. In his interview he states that “[he] feel[s] that capital crimes should all be handled by Federal Courts, and that those convicted should be imprisoned in a special Federal prison where, conceivably, a life-sentence could mean, as it does not in state courts, just that.” (Source I) Capote himself is not against the death penalty, he feels that such sensitive cases should be handled respectfully by the most qualified persons. Capote also expresses his dislike for the loose term “life sentence”, for if someone is sentenced to life imprisonment; they should truly be imprisoned for life. The death penalty, although not practiced nearly as often, is still a very popular choice among the public. The number of people in favor of the death penalty is decreasing, but it still holds the majority. Approximately 63% of Americans support the death penalty as punishment for murder, rather than life imprisonment, with or without possible parole. (Source K, deathpenaltyinfo.org) This information is up to date as of January 9th,
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