Pros And Cons Of Capital Punishment

Capital punishment is one of the most controversial ethical issues that our country faces these days. Capital punishment is the legal penalty of death for a person that has performed heinous acts in the eyes of the judicial system. Discussion on whether capital punishment is humane or considered cruel and unusual punishment has been the main issue this of debate for years. Recent discussion goes far beyond the act itself but now brings into question whether medical personal should aid in this practice.

PRO: "The crimes of rape, torture, treason, kidnapping, murder, larceny, and perjury pivot on a moral code that escapes apodictic [indisputably true] proof by expert testimony or otherwise. But communities would plunge into anarchy if they could not act on moral assumptions less certain than that the sun will rise in the east and set in the west. Abolitionists may contend that the death penalty is inherently immoral because governments should never take human life, no matter what the provocation. But that is an article of faith, not of fact. The death penalty honors human dignity by treating the defendant as a free moral actor able to control his own destiny for good or for ill; it does not treat him as an animal with no moral

The capital punishment is defined as execution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction, by a court of law of a criminal offense-according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. There are five methods to execute an offender, a lethal injection, the gas chamber, electrocution, hanging, and the firing squad. The lethal injection is the most commonly used, because there is no pain associated with this form of execution. Since 1976, there has been about 1400 executions in the United States of America. In those 1400 offenders about 150 offenders were proven innocent. The death penalty does not deter criminals, proving that it is unnecessary and preventable.

Furthermore, when investigating the costs of the death penalty versus a life without parole (LWOP) sentence, the Justice For All (JFA) estimates that, over time, “LWOP cases will cost $1.2 million - $3.6 million more than equivalent death penalty cases” (Sharp, D., 1997). The death penalty is not only supported by most of the general public and arguably less expensive than LWOP sentences, but it is also a just punishment for individuals whom commit heinous acts. Often, non-supporters of the death penalty will use the Bible, specifically the Sixth Commandment, to fight against the law, however, some Christians rebuttal saying that Jesus said to his disciples “’…all who take the sword will perish by the sword’ (Matt 26: 52)” (Lowe, W., 2011). Though Christians view every human life as important, we also believe that the death penalty is necessary in cases where the defendant is a grave threat to the community while alive. Lastly, those sentenced to death shalt not be the ones remembered or given attention to, but rather we should remember the thousands of lives lost each year to murder – “The combined loss is incalculable” (Who Speaks for the Victims of Those We Execute?, 2015). The guilty criminal who receives this punishment has voluntarily assumed the

The United States Constitution was based on the principles of what was right. It presented a radical new system of government, to right the wrongs of the past, to create a more perfect society. However, the Constitution has led to many disagreements on its interpretation. In the case of capital punishment, while the Constitution does not explicitly outline its practice, it offers insight to how such systems should be excluded from American Society. For this reason, the death penalty clearly acts in violation of multiple amendments that protect American citizens. As the death penalty violates the 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th Amendments, it is an unconstitutional practice that should be outlawed.

In 1989, Cameron Todd Willingham was convicted and executed for the deaths of his three daughters in a 1991 house fire near Corsicana, Texas. In 2009, the Texas Forensic Science Commission received an arson expert’s report that the investigation leading to his conviction was so flawed, that it’s finding could not be supported. Scientific experts — who debunked the arson evidence used against Willingham at his 1992 trial — convinced District Court Judge Charlie Baird in 2010 that the state of Texas wrongfully convicted him. However, Baird’s intended order never came to light because the court of appeals criticized his handling of the case and prevented him from working on it before he left the bench at the end of 2010 after choosing not to seek re-election. This case is a perfect example of why capital punishment should be abolished. Capital punishment, which is commonly known as the “death penalty,” is the lawful infliction of death as a punishment in response to a crime. Its motive is not found as morally correct but rather found as getting revenge against those who have committed an atrocious crime. Like the Willingham case, the justice system contains mistakes or flaws, which evolves into the killing of the innocent who are imprisoned. Consequently, it is imperative the focus is centered on the awareness that killing a human is absolutely wrong under all circumstances. Capital punishment is cruel, inhumane, and degrading; therefore, regardless of who is accused, the crime

Many people follow the saying “an eye for an eye” when someone does wrong to them, but when it comes to a person’s life all the decisions made are crucial. Capital punishment is the death penalty given to someone as a punishment for a serious crime. As of 2016, 31 states allow the death penalty, 19 states don't, and 4 states have a governor imposed moratorium. Though some people see this as a fair punishment, it also comes with a lot of problems. Due to this reason, capital punishment should come to an end because of all the complications that come with it.

The death penalty is one of the most hotly deliberated topics in the United States. Also referred to as capital punishment, it is the punishment of execution, legally administered to someone convicted of a capital crime. Although the number fluctuates from year to year, 1,465 executions have been performed since the year 1976. Those opposed to the death penalty would say that number is 1,465 cases too high, while proponents would say it is too low.

There has always been a question about whether capital punishment deters crime. The laws of the United states are founded upon Christian beliefs. Most people who believes that capital punishment is constitutional, are individuals that is for capital punishment out of vengeance “justice”. It does not matter if the individual who believes in capital punishment is Republican or Democrat (believers of this punishment are on both sides).

When a capital punishment case is reversed, it can create potential complications to present, future and past court cases. One of the main arguments debated is when a case is reversed because of intellectual disability. People question past cases where offenders might have had intellectual disability and did not receive the same treatment as a case that has been reversed. For example, Cecil Clayton (who killed a police officer), he was executed on March 17, 2015. Clayton was missing twenty percent of his brain due to an accident in 1972. After psychiatrists examined Clayton, they concluded:

Capital punishment also know as death penalty is a government sanctioned practice whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime. There are a lot of different kind of capital punishment. Capital punishment was use from long time ago, in this time a lot of country cancel Capital Punishment. In this time for Capital Punishment is use Lethal Injection.In America there 33 states have Capital Punishment, and other 17 states cancel the Capital Punishment. Capital Punishment should be legal and use in our country because it can help to deter against crimes, save money for the government and help us to treat everyone fair. In our country capital punishment need to be use every states.

Cruel and unusual or appropriate and justifiable? Capital punishment is a hotly debated topic that often divides opinion. There are three sides to every story: the criminals, the victims, and the laws a society elects to have. I happen to believe that capital punishment is a justifiable consequence of horrendous crimes where loss of life occurred. Furthermore, this extreme punishment must be reserved for very specific crimes and there should be no question of guilt.

From 1976, until May 12, of 2016, there has been a total of 1,436 deaths due to the execution of prisoners, who were legally given the death penalty in the court of law. What is the death penalty? The death penalty is an execution legally administered to someone convicted of a capital crime. In the United States, 31 states still uphold the death penalty as a form of punishment to those on death row. Although the capital punishment, which is just the act of execution, is the cruelest punishment a person can receive; the death penalty should be abolished for various reasons.

Capital Punishment is the legal conviction of death as a penalty for disobeying the law. Throughout the past, people have been put to death for numerous types of offenses. Procedures of execution have comprised of practices such as the use of gas chambers, drowning, smothering (asphyxia), impaling, and beheading. Today, capital punishment is usually done by lethal gas, shooting, electrocution, lynching, or beheading. The death penalty is the most debated punitive practice in contemporary societies. Other cruel, physical forms of criminal punishment (denoted to as corporal punishment) have generally been removed in modern times as being uncivilized and redundant. In the majority of nations, current methods of punishment (such as imprisonment or fines) no longer implicate the infliction of physical pain. Although imprisonment and charges are commonly acknowledged as essential punishments to the management of delinquency, however, globally, countries are divided on the matter of capital punishment. Around 80 nations have stopped the death penalty and an almost equivalent amount of nations sustain it (56 countries).

The law on this planet, and for this society, will not include the death penalty. I will explain my decision, while showing alternative punishments to the death penalty. The punishments have to be harsh so people are discouraged to violate the law. Punishments for other crimes will also be discussed, but in lesser detail. The crimes include, theft, trespassing, and littering. To improve this society, a crime will be punished whether it be a misdemeanor or a crime against humanity. The degree of the punishment will differ, but the society needs to understand violating the law is wrong.