Since the 13 colonies were first established in America, the death penalty has been the main form of capital punishment as a firmly deep-rooted institution in the United States. Today, one of the most debated issues in the criminal justice system is the issue of capital punishment. While receiving disapproving viewpoints as those who oppose the death penalty find moral fault in capital punishment, the death penalty has taken a very different course in America while continuing to further advancements in the justice system since the start of the new millennium. While eliminating overcrowding in state jails, the death penalty has managed to save tax payers dollars as well as deteriorate crime and apprehend criminals.
Despite the fact that over 135 countries across the globe have outlawed the death penalty and that there is little evidence to support its use, the United States remains as one of the few major industrialized nations that still execute prisoners. In every society, many cases occur where a criminal must be punished, so that they can be taught a lesson and be stopped from committing future crimes. There are many different ways of punishing criminals: one is the death penalty. The issue of the death penalty has been debated throughout history and even more so recently. Some people support the death penalty, since they say it is only fair for one to forfeit their life if they take the life of another. Many feel the death penalty is unfair, and
The death penalty brings conversation in all spectrums of rhetoric. Some view the death penalty as needed and an appropriate punishment for those who are deserving. While others view the death penalty as being unconstitutional by way of cruel and unusual punishment. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, capital punishment or the death penalty is “Execution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction by a court of law of a criminal offense. Capital punishment should be distinguished from extrajudicial executions carried out without due process of law. The term death penalty is sometimes used interchangeably with capital punishment, though imposition of the penalty is not always followed by execution (even when it is upheld on appeal), because of the possibility of commutation to life imprisonment." This shows, according to antideathpenalty.org, the first person to ever receive the death penalty in america was in 1608, a man was spying for the spanish government in jamestown. from 1608 to modern times the death penalty has been apart of our judicial system.
The death penalty dates back to the eighteenth century. Criminals received many punishments throughout the centuries such as hangings, quartering, and burning at the stake. The death penalty consists of lethal injections today. The death penalty is a controversial topic because some people are for the death penalty and some people are against the death penalty. There is no one consensus for or against the death penalty. Although there have been many studies on the immorality of the death penalty and whether or not to limit the death penalty in some ways or just completely abolish it all together. It appears that more people are leading towards getting rid of the death penalty, but the courts want to keep it because the courts argue that that it is a successful fear tactic and may prevent future crimes. The death penalty is inhumane, biased, arbitrary, and an unsuccessful fear tactic so it should be abolished.
Pasquerella, Lynn. “The Death Penalty in the United States.” The Study Circle Resource Center of Topsfield Foundation. July 1991. Topsfield Foundation. 03 Feb 2011. Web.
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
The United States guarantees the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; however, if the death penalty is legal, the same country which promises life, has the ability to take it away. If a person were to commit first degree murder, take part in terrorism, or commit an act of espionage, they would be faced with capital punishment. Many Americans disagree with the death penalty because of the high expense of death, the possibility of innocent people murdered, and the amount of crime deterred by the elimination of the death penalty. However, many citizens realize the advantages to the death penalty such as, prison escapees who might commit more crimes, a potential solution to overcrowded prisons, and a way for victims’ families
The Death Penalty
Execution style shootings, entire families bludgeoned to death, children abducted, sexually molested and killed, parents murdered by their own children and children murdered by their own parents, terrorist attacks that kill dozens of innocent victims-the list of heinous crimes committed around the world goes on and on. Would the list be even larger without the threat of the death penalty or are there other solutions that would deter people from committing horrendous crimes? My response to the question “Would Jesus pull the switch?” is an immediate and definite “no”. The Bible tells the story of a woman sentenced to be stoned for adultery; in response to questions by the Pharisees, Jesus answered that whoever is without sin should cast the first stone. Jesus went on to tell the woman to go and sin no more.
Throughout our fathers’ lives, not just our fathers, grandfathers and ancestors, death is a common punishment used to bring justice to the ones who committed a horrendous crime. Whether it is a lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging, or even by a firing squad, death is a consequence for committing a serious crime. From the earliest of times such as the Roman Empire and is still used today in America. Over the years the death penalty caused huge controversy over how cruel it is to end a human’s life like that. And so the number of states that have the death penalty decreased from 50 to 31. However, this does not mean that the death penalty will be forever gone as 63% of Americans support the death penalty. Currently, there are 5 different execution methods in the United States, each one is controversial on its own as they do get the job done, but each method have their own drawbacks.
The death penalty in the United States has been controversial ever since the beginning of its usage. Capital punishment may seem fair to others in severe cases, but it has many downsides. The death penalty should not be acceptable because it defeats the purpose of getting justice, it is expensive, and there are many flaws in our justice system that could execute an innocent person.