Capital Punishment Persuasive Essay

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In today’s society, many find themselves faced with the idea of life, or death. This brings about many questions and ideologies related to capital punishment. Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, provides a legal avenue for the authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime. Capital punishment should be used on those who commit only the worst of crimes, and should only be allowed when proof of guilt can be substantiated with forensic evidence. Capital punishment relieves the streets of the worst of criminals, and provides relief and comfort for the victim’s families. Capital punishment remains constitutional, serves as a logical deterrent to violent crimes, and acts as a justifiable punishment in the majority of death …show more content…

Statistics have shown that within five years of release, about three-quarters of released prisoners are rearrested. There have been many cases in which a murderer is released, or escapes, and within months kills more innocent people. One sample of this is convicted murderer Andrew Dawson. Dawson was given a “life sentence” in 1982 after admitting to stabbing a 91-year-old man over a dozen times with a bread knife, and killing him. Although given a life sentence, Dawson was released after about 28 years in prison, and within weeks of his release, he felt an “urge to kill again.” He proceeded to stab defenseless John Matthews and Paul Hancock, and then left both of their bodies battered in blood, in a bathtub. If Dawson were given the death penalty after his first admitted murder, it could have saved the lives of two innocent men, and the grief of their friends and …show more content…

For instance, a “life sentence,” does not always result in a life in prison, and many times, the criminal escapes or is released, and proceeds to take many more innocent lives. Capital punishment ensures closure and safety for the victim’s families, and is the only sure way to promote justice, and fairness. The tremendous improvements in forensic and DNA evidence have made the chances of convicting an innocent person of murder slim to none. Today’s technology and media make bias and demographic inequality almost impossible. A fair case must always be granted, and the accused must be proven guilty without a doubt in order to implement capital punishment. The fear of death serves as a reliable deterrent to crime, and forces criminals to think twice before taking the lives of the

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