Death Penalty 2 Essay, Research Paper
Death Penalty
Capital Punishment has been part of the criminal justice system since the earliest of times. The Babylonian Hammurabi Code(ca. 1700 B.C.) decreed death for crimes as minor as the fraudulent sale of beer(Flanders 3). Egyptians could be put to death for disclosing the location of sacred burial sites(Flanders 3). However, in recent times opponents have shown the death penalty to be racist, barbaric, and in violation with the United States Constitution as “…cruel and unusual punishment.” In this country,although laws governing the application of the death penalty have undergone many changes since biblical times, the punishment endures , and controversy has never been greater.
A prisoner’s death wish cannot grant a right not otherwise possessed. Abolitionists maintain that the state has no right to kill anyone; . The right to reject life imprisonment and choose death should be respected, but it changes nothing for those who oppose the death at the hands of the state.
The death penalty is irrational- a fact that should carry considerable weight with rationalists. As Albert Camus pointed out, ” Capital punishment….has always been a religious punishment and is reconcilable with humanism.” In other words, society has long since left behind the archaic and barbous” customs” from the cruel “eye for an eye” anti-human caves of religion- another factor that should raise immediate misgivings for freethinkers.
State killings are morally bankrupt. Why do governments kill people to show other people that killing people is wrong? Humanity becomes associated with murderers when it replicate their deeds. Would society allow rape as the penalty for rape or the burning of arsonists’ homes as the penalty for arson?
The state should never have the power to murder its subjects. To give the state this power eliminates the individual’s most effective shield against tyranny of the majority and is inconsistent with democratic principles.
Family and friends of murder victims are further victimized by state killings. Quite a few leaders in the abolishment movement became involved specially because someone they loved was murdered. Family of victims repeatedly stated they wanted the murderer to die. One of the main reasons- in addition to justice- was they wanted all the publicity to be over. Yet. if it wasn’t for the sensationalism surrounding an execution, the media exposure would not have occurred in the first place. Murderers would be quietly and safely put away for life with absolutely no possibility for parole.
The death penalty violates constitutional prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment. The grotesque killing of Robert Harris by the state of California on April 21,1992, and similar reports of witnesses to hangings and lethal injections should leave So 3 doubt that the dying process can be- and often is -grossly inhumane, regardless of method(Flanders 16).
The death penalty is often used for political gain. During his presidential gain, President Clinton rushed home for the Arkansas execution of Rickey Ray Rector, a mentally retarded, indigent black man. Clinton couldn’t take the chance of being seen by voters as ” soft on crime.” Political Analysts believe that when the death penalty becomes an issue in a campaign, the candidate favoring capital punishment almost inevitably will benefit.
Capital punishment discriminates against the poor. Although murderers come from all classes, those on death row are almost without exception poor and were living in poverty at the they were arrested. The majority of death-row inmates were or are represented by court-appointed public defenders- and the state is not obligated to provide an attorney at all for appeals beyond the state level.
The application of capital punishment is racist. About 40 percent of death-row inmates are black, whereas only 8 percent of the population as a whole are black(Flanders 25). In cases with white victims, black defendants were four to six times more likely to receive death sentences than white defendants who had similar criminal histories. Studies show that the chance for a death sentence is up to five to ten times greater in cases with white victims than black victims(Flanders 25). In the criminal justice system, the life of a white person is worth more than the life of a black person.
The mentally retarded are victimized by the death penalty. Since 1989, when the Supreme Court upheld killing of the mentally retarded, at least four such executions have occurred. According to the Southern Center for Human Rights, at least 10 percent of death row inmates in the United States are mentally retarded(Long 79).
Juveniles are subject to the death penalty. Since state execution of juveniles also became permissible in the decision cited above, at least five people who were juveniles when their crimes were committed have executed(Long 79).
Innocent people can-and have been- executed. With the death penalty errors are irreversible. According to a 1987 study, 23 people who were innocent of the crimes for which they were convicted were executed between 1900 and 1985(Long 79). Until human judgement becomes infallible, this problem alone is reason enough to abolish the death penalty at the hands of the state more dedicated to vengeance than to truth and justice.
Executions do not save money. There are those who cry that we, the taxpayers, shouldn’t have to “support” condemned people for an entire lifetime in prison- that we should simply ” eliminate” them and save ourselves time and money. The truth is that the cost of state killing is up to three times the cost of lifetime imprisonment(Long 80). Judges and others are reluctant- as they should be- to shorten the execution process for fear that hasty procedures will lead to the executions of more innocent people.
The death penalty has been imposed most for murders committed during the course of another felony. Aggravating circumstances for murder are defined in the applicable death penalty statute. Circumstances considered for murder include:
-The crime was particularly vile, atrocious, or cruel.
-There were multiple victims.
-The crime occurred during the commission of another felony.
-The victim was a police or correctional officer in the line of
duty.
-The offender was previously convicted of a capital offense or violent crime.
-The offender directed an accomplice to commit the murder or committed the
murder at the direction of another person.
(Flanders 12)
In the novel, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, the main characters Dick and Perry were guilty of several of the circumstances that eventually led to their demise:
-The multiple victims included all four of the Clutter family.
-The event occurred during an attempted robbery.
-Both were former inmates and had previous dealings with the law.
-Dick had chosen Perry for his instinct as a “Natural Born Killer”.
Further,it seems that both Dick and Perry fell almost directly under the common background of one convicted of death. The death penalty is flawed in many facets. Juries in rural counties are more likely to impose the death penalty than those in urban areas. Dick and Perry were convicted in Garden City, a small to moderate sized town. Both Dick and Perry were unemployed, poor, white criminals whose actions wrecked havoc not only on the remaining Clutter family and relatives, but on the entire town of Holcomb and surrounding areas. This only justifies and reinforces the points stated above that capital punishment is biased, racist, and is harmful not only to the offenders themselves, but to the entire community.
Opposition to the death penalty finally acheived its goal when in 1972 the Supreme Court struck down death penalty laws, finding fault not with the theory, but with the method. However, all was lost when four years later, the decision was once more revised and ruled the death penalty once more legal. Death row will continue to expand. It is almost certain that the rising level of executions will be widely condemned. The future of capital punishment may finally come down to the question of expense. A single capital trial now costs millions of dollars. The enormous volume of continuing appeals strain both federal and state court systems. Unless workable solutions are found to the practical difficulties involved in the administration of the death penalty. American society eventually may decide to significantly restrict or even abandon capital punishment.
Другие работы по теме:
Humanity And The Death Penalty Essay Research
Paper Humanity And The Death Penalty Write up by Paul Arguin One of the more controversial issues these days is the death penalty, and it does come up more than once in a while. Over the course of this assignment, I will tell you about the Death penalty in Canada and in other countries around the world and why it should be abolished from the face of the planet forever.
Capital Punishment Essay Research Paper Capital PunishmentMy
Capital Punishment Essay, Research Paper Capital Punishment My opinion on capital punishment is very shaky because of the unstable facts and controversy surrounding this topic. I personally, am caught somewhere in the middle of deciding on being for or against the death penalty. I am for the death penalty for several reasons: I think that we need to get the hardened criminals off the streets and out of our court and jail systems.
Death Penalty Essay Research Paper Support for
Death Penalty Essay, Research Paper Support for the death penalty has fluctuated throughout the century. According to Gallup surveys, in 1936, 61% of Americans favored the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. Support reached an all-time low of 42% in 1966. Throughout the 70s and, 80s the percentage of Americans in favor of the death penalty increased steadily culminating in an 80% approval rating in 1994.
Death Penalty Essay Research Paper The most
Death Penalty Essay, Research Paper The most severe of all sentences, known as the death penalty, capital punishment is the most severe form of corporal punishment as it is requires law enforcement officers to kill the offender. It has been banned in many countries, in the United States, an earlier move to eliminate capital punishment has now been reversed and more and more states are resorting to capital punishment for serious offenses such as murder.
The Death Penalty 11 Essay Research Paper
The Penalty of Death In this essay, H.L. Mencken has two arguments that stand out in the beginning of this essay. These arguments are against the penalty of death, although his essay is in a way, for it. The first one is, That hanging a man (or frying him or gassing him) is a dreadful business, degrading to those who have to do it and revolting to those who have to witness it . (Mencken 455).
Capital Punishment 6 Essay Research Paper CAPITAL
Capital Punishment 6 Essay, Research Paper CAPITAL PUNISHMENTCapital Punishment or Life Imprisonment? I think that capital punishment should be use more often than just life imprisonment. Life imprisonment is just not working. The death penalty does have some cons but it has its share of pros too. Lets start with the pros.
My Beliefs Essay Research Paper My BeliefsThe
My Beliefs Essay, Research Paper My Beliefs The idea of putting another human being to death is hard to completely imagine. I think the emotions involved in carrying out a death sentence on another
Capital Punishment Essay Research Paper I am
Capital Punishment Essay, Research Paper I am all for Capital Punishment. I think that if you kill someone you should be given the death penalty. I think that the death of the killer would give family and friends a bit of ease
A Wise Decision Essay Research Paper A
A Wise Decision Essay, Research Paper A Wise Delay Governor Ryan?s decision to suspend the death penalty is already starting to have a valuable impact on the rest of nation. Other states are starting to aid in Governor Ryan?s quest to improve death penalty systems. Last week, a representative from the state of Wisconsin, requested that President Clinton put a hold on executions until the federal death penalty system can be reviewed.
Alcohol Essay Research Paper DEATH PENALTYThe
Alcohol Essay, Research Paper DEATH PENALTY The Penalty should fit the Crime that is committed, then society would become a safer place to live in. Imagine a man who commits murder, do you think a fifteen
Death Penalty 9 Essay Research Paper After
Death Penalty 9 Essay, Research Paper After reading “The Death Penalty” by William Raspberry several topics surfaced in my mind. The death penalty is unjust and very ridiculous sentence for a human being . Capital punishment is not as effective as most people believe. There are alternative and beneficial solutions in place of the death penalty.
Capital Punishment Essay Research Paper Capital PunishmentWhat
Capital Punishment Essay, Research Paper Capital Punishment What type of society kills its own people? The American culture?s morals have accepted the death penalty as a reasonable punishment. However, who gives us the power to determine when someone?s life should end. People who murder others should be punished and pay the price of their crime, but not killed.
Death Penalty Essay Research Paper Why I
Death Penalty Essay, Research Paper Why I oppose the death penalty A central principle of a justice society is that every person has an equal right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That is why I oppose the death penalty. If you are Queer, or a woman who does not behave in socially acceptable ways, courts and juries are stacked against you, including those that can send you to death row.
Capital Punishment Essay Research Paper I have
Capital Punishment Essay, Research Paper I have an opinion on many subjects. Whether or not you agree with it is your opininon. This country, being a free country, gives me the right to persuade you to see things my way. This is my goal with the following essay.
Capital Punishment Essay Research Paper Capital PunishmentElectrocution
Capital Punishment Essay, Research Paper Capital Punishment Electrocution . . . gas chamber . . . lethal injection . . . field shooting . . . all are forms of the death penalty used across the United States. Some believe that when one person takes the life of another, that person’s life should be taken as well.
Death Penalty 6 Essay Research Paper Death
Death Penalty 6 Essay, Research Paper Death Penalty In The “Death Penalty is a Step Back” by Coretta Scott King, she makes some very good and strong points opposing the death penalty. To bad all those points can be countered very easily with logical explanations. Yes, Mrs. King is right when she states that two wrongs don’t make a right, but in some cases besides math it does, and the death penalty is one of those cases.
Deterrence Essay Research Paper The death penalty
Deterrence Essay, Research Paper The death penalty seems to be a controversial issue for most people. Supporters claim that it eliminates repeat offenders, deters potential murderers, and is the ultimate retribution. Opponents denounce it as murder, say that it does not cause deterrence but rather promotes violence, and claim that it introduces the chance of an innocent person being executed.
Death Essay Research Paper Why must there
Death Essay, Research Paper Why must there be death? Death is sad. So why must we bare sadness? Because nobody can stop death. Why do people die? Why must our loved ones die?
Crime In Today S World Has Become
More Gruesome With The Times Essay, Research Paper Crime in today s world has become more gruesome with the times. With the crimes comes jail, so more jails are being built for the prisoners. More people are be criminals are being sent to jail and getting the death penalty. Some feel that the death penalty is also a gruesome act of murder.
An Acceptable Punishment Essay Research Paper An
An Acceptable Punishment Essay, Research Paper An Acceptable Punishment When you think of an extreme crime you think of murder. When you think of an extreme punishment you think of the death penalty. Crimes of such severity sometimes deserve an equal punishment and we as a society accept this. However, Supreme Court Justice William Brennan argues that society seriously questions the appropriateness of the death penalty.
Capital Punishment 12 Essay Research Paper Capital
Capital Punishment 12 Essay, Research Paper Capital punishment is the penalty of death for a crime. It has been part of the world’s criminal justice system since the time of Babylonia’s Hammurabic Code. The system of capital punishment is full of injustices and inequalities. All the arguements for the death penalty ared filled with holes.
Death Penalty Essay Research Paper One of
Death Penalty Essay, Research Paper One of the things I have heard is that the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment. What about the victims families? What about the loss of a loved one? What about daddy not coming home again to tuck his babies into bed at night or mommy being there when the child falls and scrapes a knee? To hell with the criminal.
Is The Death Penalty Cruel And Unusual
Punishment? Essay, Research Paper In order to determine whether the death penalty is to be considered cruel and unusual punishment, it is necessary to first define each word in order to get full understanding of the issue being assessed. According to the Merriam-Webster collegiate dictionary, cruel is defined as: ?disposed to inflict pain or suffering devoid of humane feelings.? Unusual is defined as: ?not usual, uncommon, or rare.? Punishment is defined as: ?suffering pain or loss that serves as retribution.? Should capital punishment be viewed as retribution used to cause pain or suffering without humane feelings, and is it uncommon?The message that is sent out by killing a murderer is ?If you kill, we kill.? Punishment by death is the ultimate punishment and one that cannot be taken back.
Death Penalty Essay Research Paper Is the
Death Penalty Essay, Research Paper Is the Death Penalty Right or Wrong? Should we be able to execute people that have been convicted of murder or should we give them a chance to break out of jail and maybe kill other people. Well the Death Penalty has been around for a while ever since the Old West use to hang people for punishment.
Death Penalty 11 Essay Research Paper DEATH
Death Penalty 11 Essay, Research Paper DEATH PENALTY In 1972 the Supreme Court decide that the death penalty was cruel and unusual punishment according to the eighth amendment. The Furman vs. Georgia decision stop the death penalty in the United States. In 1976 the death penalty was back because of the ruling in Gregg vs.
Pros And Cons Of Death Penalty Essay
, Research Paper Texas is known for many things, both socially and politically. The death penalty is a very serious issue that we as Texans need to concentrate on in the upcoming election. The Death Penalty has been around forever even back into the dark ages. It is the way that we punish people for crimes they have been convicted of or have confessed.
Death Penalty Essay Research Paper Chad HeldtSociologyPeriod
Death Penalty Essay, Research Paper Chad Heldt Sociology Period 1 4/28/98 The Death Penalty Should It Be Allowed Or Not? In my paper I plan to give my opinion and my position on the death penalty. I believe the death penalty should be for hardened criminals like the Charlie Mansons of the world and people like that.
The Death Penalty. Right Or Wrong
Essay, Research Paper The Death Penalty. Right? Or Wrong? Capital punishment, or better known as the death penalty, is a very controversial issue in the United States today. The death penalty has been viewed by many people as wrong, while still other people see the death penalty to be acceptable in today s society.
Death Penalty Furman Vs Georgia Essay Research
Paper Furman vs. Georgia I believe that Furman’s appeal to the Supreme Court to lift his death penalty sentence was invalid. The accused received a fair trial, with due process and appropriate representation. There was no act in his sentence that could be deemed unconstitutional. Death penalty cannot be branded an unconstitutional act, for it does not fall into the category of cruel and unusual punishment that is prohibited by the Eighth Amendment.
Debate Over The Death Penalty Essay Research
Paper The death penalty Thousands of innocent people are killed every year in the U.S., and many murderers of the killed ones get away with a life sentence in prison or even easier punishment. The death penalty has been used since ancient times to punish cruel criminals. The death penalty is not fair in every murder s case but it is appropriate to punish a killer.
Death Penalty Essay Research Paper The risk
Death Penalty Essay, Research Paper The risk of executing the innocent precludes the use of the death penalty. The death penalty alone imposes an irrevocable sentence. Once an inmate is executed, nothing can be done to make amends if a mistake has been made. There is considerable evidence that many mistakes have been made in sentencing people to death.
The Death Sentence Essay Research Paper The
The Death Sentence Essay, Research Paper The Death Penalty Capital punishment is the legal infliction of the death penalty on persons convicted of a crime. Today, in modern law, the death penalty is corporal punishment in its most severe form. It is irrevocable: it ends the existence of those punished, instead of temporarily imprisoning them.
Pro Death Penalty Essay Research Paper PRO
Pro Death Penalty Essay, Research Paper PRO DEATH PENALTY In 1976 the death penalty was reinstated into the American government, and rightfully so. I believe in the motto: an eye for an eye , which means if someone kills