Essay on Capital Punishment

Submitted By stephiesue02004

Words: 461

Pages: 2

Open Document

Capital Punishment

Capital punishment, also referred to as the death penalty, is not the best financial option available today. The death penalty has been a constant source of debate for as long as it has been imposed. Most of the debates focus on constitutionality, morality, religion, and racism. Focusing on the financial burden on carrying out the death penalty can help to eliminate all of the other debates.
In the United States of America 36 states and the federal government still use the death penalty. Those people that oppose the death penalty say that it violates the "cruel and unusual punishment" provision of the Eighth Amendment. The Supreme Court has repeatedly agreed and continues to rule that the death penalty is constitutional only if applied in a particular way. That ruling makes sure that congress and state legislatures are always at work to enact new capital punishment laws to try to ensure that the executions are not "cruel and unusual". Due to these laws all convicted prisoners sentenced to the death penalty undergo more expensive trials and appeals than someone sentenced to life without parole. The morality of killing a person is subjective for each individual. A person’s upbringing, education, beliefs, and religion all affect their moral beliefs. Therefore different people interpret what is moral differently. Also, throughout the life of an individual, their beliefs and morality can and most likely will change. Considering these facts and realizing that morality is subjective this part of the debate should not be considered the deciding factor. The same can be said for religious objections.
Racism is often a source of debate because the majority of those sentenced to the death penalty are of a race other

Capital Punishment

Capital Punishment Capital punishment is a legal practice of issuing death as a penalty for committing the most terrible crimes, such as murder, rape and kidnapping. Another term for capital punishment is death penalty. Executions can be performed by lethal injection or gas, electrocution, hanging or by shooting. In the United States, 33 states currently have the death penalty, including the U.S. military. It would be good to think that the justice system is perfect but sadly there have been many…

Words 835 - Pages 4

Punishment Capital Punishment Essay

Capital Punishment Capital punishment is and has been a major discussion point for many years and I personally believe it is time to bring it back. Not only will it lower the level of crime rates but it may also grant the victims’ families a bit of justice. Capital punishment should be brought back but only be used for the worst of crimes so it will only take place for the most heartless criminals. Although the death penalty may seem like a good option to put off crimes the statistics show otherwise…

Words 738 - Pages 3

Essay on Capital Punishment

When we hear the term capital punishment or the death penalty we often think of people being executed for the horrific crimes they committed. Justice is served. In ancient times any person could be sentenced to death for any charges brought about by their accusers. Often, many innocent people were condemned to die along with the guilty. Now that we are in the modern era, society has taken a different stance on capital punishment. Many countries have abolished the death penalty on the basis of…

Words 1491 - Pages 6

Capital Punishment Essay

Death Capital Punishment has always been a controversial topic in American history. From the Salem Witch Trials of burning individuals accused of practicing witchcraft, to lethal injections for persons found guilty of a heinous crime. These sentencing are based on the ancient quote/belief, “an eye for an eye” meaning if a person killed any other person then he should also be killed. Capital punishment was also established to detour criminal activity and to protect society. I believe that capital punishment…

Words 387 - Pages 2

Capital Punishment Essay

Capital Punishment 3 United States government needs to go the opposite way because the United States government is in a lot of debt with other countries because of the wars. Many people can be wrongly accused of committing crimes and given capital punishment. “More then 170 people have been exonerated by DNA testing after being misidentified before conviction. In most murder cases there is no DNA present, only 10% of all murder cases there is DNA available (Cardozo).” If America doesn’t completely…

Words 503 - Pages 3

Capital Punishment Essay

Capital Punishment Capital punishment is something that has been widely discussed and argued over for many years, so what actually is capital punishment? Capital punishment is a punishment that takes form of an execution, it is commonly known as the death penalty. There are many different types of capital punishment, such as beheading, lethal injection, electrocution, hanging and being shot by a firing squad. Crimes punishable with the death penalty include murder and terrorism. Not all countries…

Words 856 - Pages 4

Capital Punishment Essay

prison without parole in order to avoid capital punishment. The prosecutors are currently seeking capital punishment. Crime is part of human existence and acts of crime can be dated back to the biblical days and is still prevalent in our society today. The massacre in Aurora, Colorado is bringing this debate front and center in our country and resonating with the citizens as to whether we should be abolishing capital punishment. History Capital punishment can be defined as an “execution of an…

Words 2211 - Pages 9

The Ethics Of Capital Punishment

discussing about law and justice is capital punishment. Throughout history, people have been carrying out capital punishment. For example, the use of the guillotine to behead wrongdoers and public executions for murder or treason. But as humanity advances, as we look back on history asking if capital punishment was indeed more effective than other means of punishment, as we realise how inhumane our means to deter crime can be, the questions on the ethics of capital punishment become more relevant in our…

Words 751 - Pages 4

Essay on Capital Punishment

January 6, 2014 Capital punishment should be illegal because it sends the wrong message to the public. Why execute people who murder to show killing is wrong? Society has to move beyond the "eye for an eye" revenge mentality if civilization is to progress. “ What is increasingly happening is a failure to distinguish between the interests of society and those of the immediate victims, then the whole purpose of a judicial system is being subverted” (Cohen). Capital punishment has many cons including that it is ineffective and unsure…

Words 646 - Pages 3

Essay on Capital Punishment

Camden County College Capital Punishment A Life and Death Issue Michael Regan Introduction to Ethics Dr. Ralph December 15, 2014 Capital punishment has been a controversial issue about how society should handle and punish convicts. The issue lies with in each person and there view on possibly executing a criminal while in some cases the innocent. Proponents will tell you it maintains peace, lessens crime, cost less than imprisonment, and allows us to honor the victim of a crime…

Words 2255 - Pages 10