Arguments For Capital Punishment And Specific Retribution

294 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Controversial arguments on the death penalty

Arguments for capital punishment include general and specific deterrence and retribution. At the foundation of the support of capital punishment is deterrence. Specific deterrence states that if a condemned individual is put to death, then they will not break the law ever again. General deterrence states that if the rest of society sees a murderer being executed, then everyone in society will refrain from committing murder due to fearing the ramifications of the act. Retribution is punishing an offender as severely as possible for a crime, and in this case, death is the most severe punishment.

Arguments against capital punishment include religious and spiritual concerns about killing; belief that it does not deter; race, gender, and class

Show More
Related

  • Writing Assignment 1

    731 Words  | 2 Pages

    Radelet & Borg address the most common arguments for and against the death penalty, and how views on capital punishment have changed over time in respect to six specific areas: deterrence, incapacitation, caprice and bias, cost, innocence, and retribution.

    Read More

  • The Case Against The Death Penalty

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    It's dark and cold, the fortress-like building has cinderblock walls, and death lurks around the perimeter. A man will die tonight. Under the blue sky, small black birds gather outside the fence that surrounds the building to flaunt their freedom. There is a gothic feel to the scene, as though you have stepped into a horror movie.

    Read More

  • The Case Against Capital Punishment

    787 Words  | 2 Pages

    Proponents of capital punishment believe that killing criminals is a moral and ethical way of punishing them.  They feel there is justification in taking the life of a certain criminal, when in fact that justification is nothing more than revenge.  They also feel that the death penalty deters crime, although there have been no conclusive studies confirming that viewpoint (Bedau).

    Read More

  • Capital Punishment - An Appropriate Form of Punishment

    902 Words  | 2 Pages

    Since the early settlers first stepped foot on what is now the United States of America, capital punishment has been reserved as a form of punishment for the people who have committed some of society’s most heinous crimes. Recently, support of capital punishment has begun to erode due to the advancements of DNA technology and groups, such as the Innocence Project. Capital punishment, however, remains to be an appropriate form of punishment for someone convicted of capital crimes, and may be effective in deterring such offenses.

    Read More

  • Sad Violin Music

    768 Words  | 2 Pages

    Narration: Proponents believe that the death penalty is an effective way to stop crime. They believe that the death penalty is a deterrent, so this should mean if the death penalty is the consequence then people will think twice about committing a crime that could result in the death penalty.

    Read More

  • How Do We Justify Killing?

    1462 Words  | 3 Pages

    Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is defined as the pre-meditated or planned taking of a human life by a government in response to a crime committed by that legally convicted person. It has been discussed extensively over the years by many people. There are many reasons to agree or disagree with capital punishment, but the reasons against it completely outweigh the ones that support it. Many of the justifications for affirming the death penalty either do not apply wholly to our justice system, are misunderstood, or just do not make sense. There is no justification for killing other human beings and all of the arguments cannot change this. Since 1976, over one thousand people have been executed by the government.

    Read More

  • Capital Punishment: The Pros And Cons Of The Death Penalty

    1041 Words  | 3 Pages

    The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, is when someone convicted of a crime is put to death by the state. This practice has been around for centuries. The death penalty has evolved from acts like public hanging, to the more “humane” lethal injection used today. Many people view this as the only acceptable punishment for murderers, mass rapist, and other dangerous crimes.

    Read More

  • Capital Punishment: The Easy Way Out

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many people support the idea of capital punishment for a number of reasons. First, people insist that some crimes are too drastic to ever forgive, and that life behind bars simply does not do enough justice. Secondly, others cry out that keeping a prisoner behind bars for life is costly, and killing them for the crimes they have committed will save the government and taxpayers money. Finally, some people simply believe that the individual on death row has the right to request death by capital punishment, instead of rotting behind prison bars. Although these three common ideas vary from person to person, the general consensus is that those in support of capital punishment do not view the negative aspects of the horrendous act. Further, they do not realize the actuality of capital punishment, and hold a few common misconceptions that are detrimental to an unbiased viewpoint on the subject.

    Read More

  • The Need for Capital Punishment in America

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is the firm belief and position here that committing such a crime as murder is punishable by death. Americans should take a position for anyone on death row, to be executed sooner rather than later.

    Read More

  • The Death Penalty

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    The death penalty continues to be an issue of controversy and is an issue that will be debated in the United States for many years to come. According to Hugo A. Bedau, the writer of “The Death Penalty in America”, capital punishment is the lawful infliction of the death penalty. The death penalty has been used since ancient times for a variety of offenses. The Bible says that death should be done to anyone who commits murder, larceny, rapes, and burglary. It appears that public debate on the death penalty has changed over the years and is still changing, but there are still some out there who are for the death penalty and will continue to believe that it’s a good punishment. I always hear a lot of people say “an eye for an eye.” Most people feel strongly that if a criminal took the life of another, their’s should be taken away as well, and I don’t see how the death penalty could deter anyone from committing crimes if your going to do the crime then at that moment your not thinking about being on death role. I don’t think they should be put to death they should just sit in a cell for the rest of their life and think about how they destroy other families. A change in views and attitudes about the death penalty are likely attributed to results from social science research. The changes suggest a gradual movement toward the eventual abolition of capital punishment in America (Radelet and Borg, 2000).

    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

  • A Non-Pacifist Argument Against Capital Punishment

    2773 Words  | 6 Pages

    Traditional opposition to capital punishment has generally been based on one or more of the following claims: (1) Capital punishment is immoral because all killing is immoral, (2) Capital punishment is unjust because killing is irreversible, or (3) Capital punishment is ineffective because killing is not a deterrent to killing.

    Read More

  • The Ethics of Capital Punishment

    1503 Words  | 4 Pages

    While we may all want murders off the street, the problem we come to face is that capital punishment is being used for vengeance or as a deterrent. Capital punishment has been used worldwide, not only by the governments to instill fear, but to show that there are repercussions to ones actions. From the time we are born, we are taught to learn the difference between right and wrong. It is ingrained in our brains, what happens to people that do bad things? Capital punishment is renowned for being the worst thing that could be brought amongst ones life.

    Read More

  • The Ethics of Capital Punishment

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Ethics of Capital Punishment Ethics is "the study of standards of right and wrong. " philosophy dealing with moral conduct, duty and judgement. ' [1] Capital Punishment is the death penalty for a crime. The word "capital" in "capital punishment" refers to a person's head as in the past. people were often executed by severing their heads from their bodies.

    Read More

  • Capital Punishment: Annotated Bibliography

    1737 Words  | 4 Pages

    Capital punishment, a topic that is constantly debated, is questioned on whether or not it serves its purpose which is to deter criminals and if it is morally acceptable. It is my goal to evaluate arguments that promote or reject capital punishment and its deterrence factor. It would be beneficial comparing crime statistics for states that uphold and states that abolish capital punishment. Finally, an investigation of criminals facing the death penalty and their thoughts as well as modern prison conditions will provide insight to this debate. Capital punishment could be a great deterrent to crime or it may have no effect at all.

    Read More

More about Arguments For Capital Punishment And Specific Retribution

Open Document