Persuasive Essay On The Death Penalty

1057 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Is the death penalty effective or not

The death penalty is a major point of controversy in the United States of America right now. People feel strongly about both sides of the argument. This paper is on why the death penalty should be in place in America today. The death penalty does do good for society. It guarantees that a psychotic murderer is not going to kill or harm anyone ever again. It could also help deter possible criminals from doing a crime if they know they will be killed for doing that crime.
There is no greater penalty in life than death. Currently there are thirty two states where the death penalty is a legal sentence. If one is on the fence about murder in one of these states they might think twice about it. If they do something as simple as not pulling a trigger …show more content…

With the death penalty it makes sure nobody can kill again. Almost fifty four percent of murderers end up murdering someone else again (answers.com). The death penalty could potentially drop that fifty four percent down to a beautiful zero percent. The death penalty can also serve as a very useful crime deterrent weapon. If somebody realizes they are going to be killed as a result of committing a crime theres a chance they will not do it. In states that do not have the death penalty people who commit murders have three meals a day and a place to live in their future plans. Everything has a price. This is also true with the decision to execute someone or give them life without parole. When someone is in prison they are taken care of. Prisoners in America receive three meals a day, clothing, a bed, medical attention, and 24-7 security just to name a few. That all adds up, in New York one prisoner costs the state $167,731 each year. Taxpayers in New York pay about $60,000 per inmate (nytimes.com). There are around 81,000 inmates in New York, that means approximately $13,586,211,000 a years spent just on prisoners (scoc.ny.gov). With that approximately thirteen billion dollars spent, some of the money could be used to help fight hunger or build homeless shelters. Not to mention that almost sixty percent of New York’s roads are in less than good condition …show more content…

Attorneys know that their tactics will be criticized throughout the whole case. When this is the case they usually do their best to avoid any costly or embarrassing errors (cdaa.org). When a murderer is sentenced to death, and eventually put to death there is a sense of closure for the victims family. They know that that person can not harm their family or any other family ever again. If the murderer receives a prison sentence there is a chance that the inmate could escape. If they do escape it puts immediate fear into the victims family. Just knowing the fact that a murderer with possibly bad intentions is wondering the streets can be terrifying. The opposite scenario can be true also. If a murderer is released from prison he could be worried about his life. There could be someone so affected by the crime he committed that revenge is the only thing on his mind. If the murderer was sentenced to death and killed is saved an innocent man that was angry from possibly going to jail. If the murderer is executed the revenge driven man can calm down and know that the job has been done for

Show More
Related

  • Death Penalty's False Promise By Anna Quindlen

    391 Words  | 1 Pages

    There is no point in wasting thousands each year on such a practice that has no effect on criminal decision-making. In fact, according to the FBI’s “Crime Rates in the US”, the states without the death penalty actually have a lower murder rate than states with the death penalty. We should not use the death penalty to teach criminals that killing people is wrong; it’s hypocrisy. You don't teach someone that murder is wrong by murdering the one who's done it just as you wouldn't teach someone that stealing is wrong by stealing something of

    Read More

  • Argument for The Abolishment of Capital Punishment GCSE

    1167 Words  | 3 Pages

    deter crime? A study into the effect of Capital Punishment said, 'the presence of the death penalty in law and practice has no discernible effect as a deterrent to murder.' How does this serve as a deterrent to crime? It offers the convict an easy way out with no reflection on what they've done. They don't learn from their mistakes and although there is obviously no risk of re-offence, the criminal cannot give anything back to society.

    Read More

  • Is the Death Penalty Cruel and Unusual Punishment?

    1249 Words  | 3 Pages

    that offenders will not commit these crimes again. The United States should use the death penalty because it is economical and continues to be a deterrent for potential offenders.

    Read More

  • Affirmative Action and Capital Punishment

    1177 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...already in there for life, there is nothing to stop him or her from killing other prisoners on a spree. The death penalty ensures more safety in that sense, because the prisoner will most likely consider his punishment of life sentence as bad enough and not want anything worse.

    Read More

  • The Unjust Reality of Capital Punishment

    1241 Words  | 3 Pages

    While one person lays with their wrists circumscribed to the worn leather of the gurney, another person holds two skin-piercing needles. The individual holding the needles is an inexperienced technician who obtains permission from the United States federal government to murder people. One needle is held as a precaution in case the pain is too visible to the viewers. Another dagger filled with a lethal dosage of chemicals is inserted into the vein that causes the person to stop breathing. When the cry of the heart rate monitor becomes monotone, the corrupt procedure is complete. Lying in the chair is a corpse when moments ago it was an individual who made one fatal mistake that will never get the chance to redeem (Ecenbarger). Although some people believe that the death

    Read More

  • Death Penalty Persuasive Essay

    797 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to balancepolitics.org, it cost two to five times more than keeping that same criminal in prison for life. The reasons for such high financial costs are the endless appeals, additional procedures, legal processes, paying people, lawyer costs, and even the execution itself based on which type. Not only do the financial costs affect the state but it affects the taxpayers. Most criminals who are convicted to penalty are on death row for up to 20 years which slows down the court system and makes the death penalty useless in some way. Deathpenalty.procon.org notes that, “Everything that is needed for an ordinary...

    Read More

  • Death Penalty Essay

    777 Words  | 2 Pages

    The people in support of the death penalty say that if murderers are sentenced to death, future committers will think about the consequences before they actually proceed with the crime. However, most murderers don’t expect or plan to be caught and weigh their fate. Because, murders are committed when the murderer is angry or passionate, or by drug abusers and people under the influence of drugs or alcohol ("Deterrence (In Opposition to the Death Penalty)”). Therefore, it will not deter future crimes and will actually increase the amount of murders because of society. As previously stated, the death penalty isn’t proven to prevent future murders and/or crimes because it actually increases the likelihood of committing murder. It doesn’t prevent future murders because it would upset the family and friends of the person who was executed. For example, if someone was executed by the death penalty and it was someones family member, then the person who lost their loved one by the execution would most likely commit murder in anger. If that person was executed the next family member would get angry and so on. The cycle would never end and would have more murders. There is no final proof that the death penalty is a better deterrent than other options. Not having the death penalty would be better because it could save many lives. For example, United States a country that uses the death penalty has a higher murder rate than Europe or Canada which are countries that do not use the death penalty. To get a little specific, the states in the United States that do not use the death penalty have a lower murder rate than the states that do.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On The Death Penalty

    1644 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...ding, deterring crime, and saving tax dollars. The death penalty also ensures equal justice in America and ensures justice to those deceased in homicides. In the future, such issues can be resolved by keeping the death penalty: overcrowding in prisons will be less likely to happen, more criminals would be apprehended because of the plea bargain and crime rates will go down. This changed America by locking up more criminals in prison in these past two millenniums alone then altogether in America before while deterring crime due to convicts facing the chance of execution and being placed on death row. The death penalty also ensures the innocent who have suffered as a victim in a homicide have received their justice. With this being said, the death penalty works as a solution to the overcrowded prisons and overwhelming crime rates in the United States.

    Read More

  • Life or Death

    1022 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Death Penalty Facts and Statistics, in 2012, 63% of people were in favor of the death penalty, 32% were not in favor, and 6% do not have a preference. I find this statistic to be very surprising because I did not know that many people still believed in giving out the death penalty sentence. On estimate, 16,000 murders take place each year in the United States, 13,000 arrests, 8,000 convictions and fewer than 120 get death sentences (Guernsey). A positive about death penalty is that it will for sure end the crime recurrence risk since the offender is not alive anymore (Death Penalty Facts). This quite horrible to think of it that way, but it is the truth, if they are given the death penalty then they will never be able to re-offend. As of 2012, thirty-two states in the United States still use the death penalty (Death Penalty Facts). If an inmate believes that they are innocent then they are legally allowed to appeal the courts decision allowing a higher court to review the case. Not all cases get overturned, but some do which helps from executing innocent people.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Death Penalty

    2435 Words  | 5 Pages

    One of the most repetitive and controversial topics discussed in the criminal justice system, is the death penalty. Capital punishment has been a part of our nation’s history since the creation of our constitution. In fact, as of January 1st, 2016, 2,943 inmates were awaiting their fate on death row (Death Penalty Information Center). Throughout my life, I have always been a strong advocate for the death penalty. During the majority of my undergraduate degree, I was a fierce supporter of capital punishment when discussing the topic in classes. However, throughout many criminal justice courses, I found myself in the minority, regarding the abolishment of the death penalty. While debating this topic, I would always find myself sympathetic to the victims and their families, as one should be, wanting those who were responsible for heinous crimes to

    Read More

  • Funding Constraints and Death Penalty Controversy

    836 Words  | 2 Pages

    Those that are for it may see that it is a waste of money spent on criminals that deserve death to allow them to stay alive in prison. Also, the criminal could have a chance at causing more damage in some way while in prison. On the other hand, to those that oppose the death penalty, it may seem inhumane or cruel to take a person’s life because of the bad decision they made. It also may seem like a better use of money to let them suffer a possible long life in prison ("Death

    Read More

  • The Death Denalty, An Annotated Bibliography To The Death Penalty

    1346 Words  | 3 Pages

    When someone is legally convicted of a capital crime, it is possible for their punishment to be execution. The Death Penalty has been a controversial topic for many years. Some believe the act of punishing a criminal by execution is completely inhumane, while others believe it is a necessary practice needed to keep our society safe. In this annotated bibliography, there are six articles that each argue on whether or not the death penalty should be illegalized. Some authors argue that the death penalty should be illegal because it does not act as a deterrent, and it negatively effects the victim’s families. Other scholar’s state that the death penalty should stay legalized because there is an overcrowding in prisons and it saves innocent’s lives. Whether or not the death penalty should be

    Read More

  • We Need the Death Penalty

    560 Words  | 2 Pages

    The death penalty deters murder. The death penalty is the best way to stop a killer from killing someone else. Some say that prison is enough, but it isn’t. Death is necessary because if they are only sent to prison there is always the risk that some day the same killer that brutally killed a 5-year old or raped and strangle a college student might return to the streets.

    Read More

  • Capital Punishment is Necessary

    365 Words  | 1 Pages

    The death penalty deters murder and puts the fear of death into would be killers. A person is less likely to kill, if he fears a possible sentence for his action. Another way the death penalty may help deter murder is the fact that if the killer is death, he or she will not be able to kill again. There are two different opinions on the death penalty. There are those who think that murders deserve to live and serve a life sentence in jail, and those who are supporters of the death penalty as a form of revenge. Both groups want to make examples out of offenders so that the threat of death will be enough to deter from capitol offenses.

    Read More

  • Benefits of the Death Penalty

    1542 Words  | 4 Pages

    Have you ever thought about if the person next to you is a killer or a rapist? If he is, what would you want from the government if he had killed someone you know? He should receive the death penalty! Murderers and rapists should be punished for the crimes they have committed and should pay the price for their wrongdoing. Having the death penalty in our society is humane; it helps the overcrowding problem and gives relief to the families of the victims, who had to go through an event such as murder. Without the death penalty, criminals would be more inclined to commit additional violent crimes. Fear of death discourages people from committing crimes. If capital punishment were carried out more it would prove to be the crime preventative it was partly intended to be. Most criminals would think twice before committing murder if they knew their own lives were at stake. Use of the death penalty as intended by law could actually reduce the number of violent murders by eliminating some of the repeat offenders. The death penalty has always been and continues to be a very controversial issue. People on both sides of the issue argue endlessly to gain further support for their movements. While opponents of capital punishment are quick to point out that the United States remains one of the few Western countries that continue to support the death penalty. The deterrent effect of any punishment depends on how quickly the punishment is applied.

    Read More

More about Persuasive Essay On The Death Penalty

Open Document