Death Penalty Position Paper - 915 Words

â€Å"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth† is how the saying goes. Coined by the infamous Hammurabi’s Code around 1700 BC, this ancient expression has become the basis of a great political debate over the past several decades – the death penalty. While the conflict can be whittled down to a matter of morals, a more pragmatic approach shows defendable points that are far more evidence backed. Supporters of the death penalty advocate that it deters crime, provides closure, and is a just punishment for those who choose to take a human life. Those against the death penalty argue that execution is a betrayal of basic human rights, an ineffective crime deterrent, an economically wasteful option, and an outdated method. The debate has experienced†¦show more content†¦Additionally, because the death penalty is such an ultimate decision, the number of court trials required to follow through with the sentence builds up significant costs as well. From a purely p ragmatic standpoint, the elimination of the death penalty would be beneficial due to the economic ease it would bring. The death penalty is inefficient means of punishment in both process and methodology. Due process by which criminals are tried is a lengthy and elaborate process. Convicts can make repeated court appeals to delay or dismiss their sentence. American’s desire a more brief and efficient method of trials, but â€Å"to give the†¦ public a truly swift and efficient system†¦significant effort to keep the process error free would†¦ have to be abandoned† (Zimring). The difficulty of this process and the inefficient use of time make the death penalty too drawn out to be a practical option. In the same way, the death penalty is said to deter crime, but â€Å"many criminologists†¦who favored capital punishment have admitted that they have been unable to produce ‘convincing studies’ that track the relationship between the death pen alty and the crime rate† (Zimring). A less final act of punishment would allow more room for change of plan and less need for strictly regimented processing in addition to having more positive results. The death penalty is riddled through with inconsistencies in both how frequently it is administered and which racialShow MoreRelatedEssay on Capital Punishment Cheapens the Value of Human Life1588 Words   |  7 Pages[notably murder and treason] , the death penalty [or its analogue capital punishment], is the judicially ordered execution of a prisoner as a punishment for a ‘capital’ crime (definitions differing from State to State). Such brutal killing of a citizen by the State dates back to antiquity. In fact, from an objective standpoint, the Gospels account of the trial and later crucifixion of Christ over two thousand (2000) years ago can be considered as a classical death penalty process. Accordingly, He was takenRead MoreThe Death Penalty : Costly, Counterpr oductive, And Corrupting1678 Words   |  7 PagesBright, Stephen B.: The death penalty as the answer to crime: costly, counterproductive and corrupting; 35 Santa Clara Law Review 1211 (1995) Summary paragraph: In Stephen Bright’s article, â€Å"The Death Penalty as the Answer to Crime: Costly, Counterproductive, and Corrupting† Bright asserts that capital punishment does not work because it is racially biased, the quality of the lawyers and attorneys supplied by the state to poor defendants is unfair, and that the law system currently in place doesRead MoreCapital Punishment Is Viewed With Two Different Thoughts782 Words   |  4 Pagesit. There are those who feel that it is not right to take another person’s life for it makes the system responsible for the death no better than the convicted murderer. The Catholic Church is on of this out there who opposes to the death penalty. â€Å"Over the past several decades, the Catholic Church has become an influential voice in the public debate about the death penalty(Klein).† Because of the influence the Catholic Church they can hold a lot of weight of in the discussion of Capital PunishmentRead MoreThe Death Penalty T hroughout History1074 Words   |  5 PagesThis paper explores how society has influenced the development of the death penalty throughout history. It begins with a brief explanation of the origins of capital punishment, referencing the first known documentation of actions punishable by death. The paper goes on to explore different methods of execution and how they have progressed and changed over the years. Documented cases at different points of history are referenced to show the relationship of time periods and beliefs to the implementationRead MoreDeath Penalty Research Paper1710 Words   |  7 PagesThe Death Penalty Research Paper English Composition ENG101 03 December 2011 Abstract The death penalty is a subject of much debate amongst the American people. Some people support capital punishment while others do not. Examination of sources and analyses of important history regarding the death penalty will hopefully add to the understanding of why it is so important in our day and age to have such a penalty to deter and deal with the most violent of offendersRead MoreCapital Punishment : The End Of The Death Penalty1669 Words   |  7 PagesResearch Paper Dr. Roise Capital Punishment: â€Å"The End of the Death Penalty† Abstract The paper will consist of explaining why the Death Penalty is wrong. It will take a look at the history of the Death Penalty, how it is viewed today, and the different methods of execution. This paper will also assess the how the death penalty is practiced in the United States and compare it to the practices of countries in Europe and Asia. It is important to note that the United States’ Death Penalty is acknowledgedRead MoreEssay on Death Penalty: Capital Punishment and Violent Crime1570 Words   |  7 PagesCapital Punishment and Violent Crime Hypothesis Most Americans are pro-death penalty, even though they dont really believe that it is an effective deterrent to violent crime. Those who are pro-death penalty will remain so, even if faced with the best arguments of anti-death penalty activists and told to assume the arguments were absolutely true. Violent crime Violent crime is a major problem in the United States. According to the ACLU, the violent crime rate rose sixty-one percentRead More Pro Death Penalty Essay965 Words   |  4 PagesCapital punishment and the practice of the death penalty is an issue that is passionately debated in the United States. Opponents of the death penalty claim that capital punishment is unnecessary since a life sentence accomplishes the same objective. What death penalty opponents neglect to tell you is that convicted murders and child rapists escape from prison every year(List of prison escapes, 2015). As I write this essay, police are searching for two convicted murders who escaped from the ClintonRead MoreCapital Punishment Essay1032 Words   |  5 PagesSupreme Court decided in Furman v. Georgia that the death penalty was unconstitutional because it was a form of cruel and unusual punishment. However, this decision did not last long; in July 1975 the Supreme Court ruled that capital punishment did not violate any parts of the Constitution. Executions as they had before 1972 resumed again. Since then 180 prisoners have been executed. The United States Supreme Court should abolish the death penalty because it is a form of cruel and unusual punishmentRead MoreThe Death Penalty And The Impacts On Society1540 Words   |  7 Pagesto research my final paper on was the death penalty and the impacts on society it has. As the death penalty is widely discussed topic from many angles and perspectives so within this topic there was many ways for me to go about this and research it. One of the methods I personally enjoyed was watching American death row documentaries. These documentaries show a perspective that s hard to understand from just reading it on a scholarly or pop culture source. The death penalty was also known as â€Å"capital