Capital Punishment Around the World: Does it Protect Us From Potential Criminals?

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This paper will examine the methods of capital punishment. It will evaluate the effective ways to deter crime and other means of reasonable punishment of the offenders. The history of our world is filled with countless controversies that have sparked arguments amongst people. Debates ranging from human rights to abortion provoke disputes among many countries. The most contested opposition between people is unquestionably capital punishment. Capital punishment was widely applied in ancient times throughout the world. We have been using the principle of capital punishment since almost 18th Century BC, possibly even before that. While some people argue that it is immoral and against human rights, others see it as a perfect opportunity to discipline outlaws. However, a growing number of the public is wondering whether it is a worthwhile way to teach a lesson. Although capital punishment is a widely used method of reprimanding national offenders, many individuals question whether it is an effective way to deter future criminals. (http://karisable.com/crpundeath.htm) Introduction to Capital Punishment Capital punishment, also known as a death penalty, is often characterized as the execution of a person who is convicted of committing a crime or a serious offense by the court of law. Historically, capital punishment was primarily introduced in the early 18th Century in Hammurabi’s Code of Laws in Babylon. This Code gave strict disciplinary measures for punishing people. Some were minor penalties, such as “if a man be not able to replace [grain], then he and his possessions shall be divided among the farmers whose corn he has flooded“. Others, however, are much more severe. An example is that “if a son slaps his father, his [the s... ... middle of paper ... ... Hinton, P. (2009, January 15). The pros and cons of death penalty. Retrieved December 29, 2009, from http://americanaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_pros_and_cons_ of_the_death_penalty Hooker , R. (1996). The code of Hammurabi. Retrieved December 28, 2009, from http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/meso/code.htm List of methods of capital punishment. (2012, February 8). Retrieved December 27, 2009 from http://wapedia.mobi/en/List_of_methods_of_capital_punishment Messerli, J. (2009). Should the death penalty be banned as a form of punishment? Retrieved December 26, 2009, from http://www.balancedpolitics.org/death_penalty.htm Robinson, B. (2004, November 15). World & U.S. death penalty maps and countries abandoning the death penalty. Retrieved December 28, 2009, from http://www.religioustolerance.org/executh.htm

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