Clare Algar Death Penalty Summary

616 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: how has technology affected criminal investigations

After reading Clare Algar’s article on the death penalty I decided to write this letter in response in order to get my opinion on the matter. I strongly agree with what Algar wrote in the article, reasons being that she is against the death penalty and so am I.

The strongest point that Algar raises in her argument is that in some cases innocent people will get sentenced to the death for a horrific crime they didn't commit. Proponents of the death penalty could counteract this argument by saying that now we can prove whether or not the criminal is innocent or guilty with the use of modern science, such as lie detectors or DNA tests for solid proof and evidence. Personally, however, I agree with Algar’s point here because science can never be 100% accurate; there will always be that 0.1% of doubt, which (I will admit) is highly unlikely but still …show more content…

Many may argue opposingly by saying that this is just an opinion and not a fact because you have no solid proof of how the person felt whilst being executed. Furthermore, research shows that certain methods of execution are not as brutal as Algar makes them out to be; for example, the electric chair will overwhelm and blowout the nervous system thus eliminating pain, or the nerve response time for the body to even feel pain. Similarly, the lethal injection was created for a painless more humane way of execution. On the other hand, I have highly conflicted feelings regarding whether or not these methods of execution are “painless”, reason being that methods such as the electric chair are much more painful than you think considering the fact that the body is going through intense heating and violent muscle spasms which last quite some time surely all this pain will be felt until the criminal is knocked out? That cannot be considered

Show More
Related

  • The Case of Billy Frank Vickers

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the minds of the American public and jurors in capital cases the perception of lethal injection is of a clean, clinical, and painless end. As stated in the article, Lethal Injection, seventy-one percent of those responding to a 2001 survey considered injection to be the least cruel form of execution (Lethal Injection). This perception is an advantage to the state because the public is much more willing to accept execution in this form and jurors are more willing to convict and pass the death sentence. At times it is understood why the death penalty would be considered in cases. Maybe the people are a threat to not only society but also to themselves, and need to be put to death so they can do no harm to anyone. Vickers gunned down a grocery store owner who was probably trying to make a living for himself and his family. Now this man is gone; his family is left in agony, and maybe Vickers deserves to die. Some people may say an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, but do two wrongs make a right?

    Read More

  • Kinder Executions Summary

    1496 Words  | 3 Pages

    Marshall and Essig come to an agreement when talking about the death penalty specifically. They both believe that it is unconstitutional, unfair, and ineffective. In Essig’s article, he uses examples of prisoners who sought to have a more painful death in order to highlight the hypocrisy of “painless execution.” For example John Byrd, who was a convicted murder in Ohio, specifically requested to be electrocuted rather than the needle itself. The legislature abolished electrocution and forced him to die by lethal injection. Another example is a prisoner named Earl Bramblett who declared: “ I am not going to lay down on a gurney and have them stick a needle in my arm and make it look like antiseptic execution”(Essig, 2003, p. 2). The author mentions both of these prisoners because he wants the reader to visualize the actual brutality of capital

    Read More

  • Capital Punishment Is Morally Acceptable

    1336 Words  | 3 Pages

    Special attention will be given to the topics of deterrence, the families of the victims, and the increased population that has been occurring within our prisons. Any possible objections will also be assessed, including criticism regarding the monetary value of the use of the death penalty and opposition to this practice due to its characteristics, which some identify as hypocritical and inhumane. My goal in arguing for the moral justifiability of capital punishment is not to use this practice extensively, but rather to reduce the use to a minimum and use it only when necessary. Above all else, capital punishment should be morally justified in extreme situations because it has a deterrent effect. Many criminals seem to be threatened more by the thought of death rather than a long-term prison sentence.

    Read More

  • Capital Punishment Essay - True Justice Through Application of the Death Penalty

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    Opponents of capital punishment are outspoken and vehement in their arguments.  They believe the death penalty does not does not deter crime.  They also hold the opinion that endin...

    Read More

  • Capital Pusnishment: Crime, Spionange and Treason

    695 Words  | 2 Pages

    The death penalty is not cruel.[7] Forms of execution that are utilized are methods where the brain does not have a chance to feel pain.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Capital Punishment

    1008 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are over sixty offenses in the United States of America that can be punishable by receiving the death penalty (What is..., 1). However, many individuals believe that the death penalty is an inadequate source of punishment for any crime no matter how severe it is. The fact remains, however, that the death penalty is one of the most ideal forms of punishment. There are other individuals who agree with the idea that capital punishment is the best form of punishment. In fact, some of these individuals believe that this should be the only form of punishment.

    Read More

  • The Case Against Capital Punishment

    787 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... clearly support the argument against capital punishment.  There can be no justification for the taking of any life, no matter what the transgression.  By taking that life we, as society, have chosen to become as monstrous as those whose heinous crimes we abhor.

    Read More

  • Death Penalty Persuasive Essay

    797 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion, our justice system is full of flaws and proves to show why the death penalty should be abolished. The reasons for it to be abolished include: financials cost, long drawn out process, more effective sentencing styles, the conviction and execution of an innocent person and the violation of the “cruel and unusual” punishment clause in the Bill of Rights. While the death penalty may seem like the right thing to do under the philosophy of “Eye for Eye”, it only encourages the ongoing process of criminal behavior. Our criminal justice system is blurred and sometimes ineffective when it comes to certain cases. Moreover, justice can be bought rather served.

    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

  • Speech In Favor Capital Punishment

    1293 Words  | 3 Pages

    Speech In Favour Of Capital Punishment Capital Punishment is the lawful infliction of death and has been used in Britain since the 5th century. It was not until 1964 that capital punishment was abolished and this has been described by many historians as Britain's worst decision in over 500 years. Along with these historians, I also believe that our country was much better off with the death penalty as a punishment for sick and twisted people, murderers, rapists and peadophiles. Did you know for instance that in 2003 there were 1048 murders and 172 attributed to one man? . . Harold Shipman.

    Read More

  • Pros and Cons of Death Penalty

    623 Words  | 2 Pages

    The death penalty has been an issue of debate for several years. Whether or not we should murder murderer’s and basically commit the same crime that they are being killed for committing. People against the death penalty say that we should not use it because of that very reason. They also make claims that innocent people who were wrongly convicted could be killed. Other claims include it not working as a deterrent, it being morally wrong, and that it discriminates. Some even claim that it is cruel and unusual punishment. I would like to shed light on the issue and inform everyone as to why we should keep the death penalty and possibly even use it more than we do now.

    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

  • Speech: Against Capital Punishment

    1171 Words  | 3 Pages

    It must be remembered that criminals are real people too, which have. life and with it, the feeling of pain, fear and the loss of their loved ones and all the other emotions that the rest of us feel. There is no such thing as a humane way of putting someone to death. Every type of execution causes the prisoner physical suffering, some. methods perhaps cause less than others, but be in no doubt that being.

    Read More

  • Capital Punishment Should be Abolished

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    Capital punishment is now illegal in many countries, like the United Kingdom, France and Germany, but it is also legal in many other countries, such as China and the USA. There is a large debate on whether or not capital punishment should be illegal all over the world, as everyone has a different opinion on it. In this essay, I will state arguments for and against the death penalty, as well as my own opinion: capital punishment should be illegal everywhere. Firstly, many believe capital punishment should be reinstated in the United Kingdom because of the financial cost of prisoners. Annually, it costs about £26,978 per prisoner when they are in jail.

    Read More

More about Clare Algar Death Penalty Summary

Open Document