...Sally Sunshine Research Proposal Section 1 – Summary of the Argument In my research paper, I will argue the case for the abolition of capital punishment. Outside of the United States, there are only three industrialized democracies that still use the death penalty as part of their justice system (Japan, Singapore, and South Korea). The global movement toward peace can never be led by a country that continues to sanction killing. First, I intend to give an overview of capital punishment, including its history, Supreme Court decisions, and the general controversy. Next, I will present my case by establishing the most relevant points in my argument, including statistics that contradict capital punishment as a crime deterrent, evidence that shows the inconsistency in how defendants are sentenced to death row, and finally evidence of mistaken executions. For my counterargument section, I will acknowledge those who support the death penalty by highlighting their cogent points. The primary counterargument in favor of the death penalty rests on giving the families of victims a sense of closure and justice. This counterargument will be refuted using evidence gathered primarily through national studies and statistics. Finally, I will conclude by summarizing key points in the argument, by offering possible alternatives to the death penalty, and be reasserting the case to federally abolish capital punishment once and for all.Sunshine 2 I do need help with a few questions...
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...Capital Punishment; Revenge or Desert? A Study of Capital Punishment And the Moral Dilemmas it Presents MODR 1760 Professor Dr. Jason C. Robinson March 31, 2014 Capital punishment is the legal process whereby a person is put to death by the state, as a means of punishment for having committed a capital crime. In this essay, I will discuss some of the main advantages and disadvantages of capital punishment and whether capital punishment is a morally and ethically viable approach to punishment. I hold a firmly retentionist position and believe that the most just and fitting punishment for one who has committed a capital offence would be the death penalty. I will support my position with statistics showing that capital punishment has successfully been used to deter people from committing capital crimes. As well, I will discuss various philosophies regarding the morals of execution and punishment in general. My goal in writing this paper is not to force abolitionist thinkers to change their position with regards to capital punishment, but rather to show abolitionist thinkers that there is another way to look at capital punishment. Two of the main principles that are used to support the retentionist philosophy are deterrence and retributivism. Deterrence is the theory that the death penalty is morally just because it will deter would-be murderers from committing capital crimes, which carry a sentence of execution. Retributivism is the idea that criminals should be punished...
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...PRO Capital punishment which is also known as the death penalty has become an increasingly controversial issue over many decades. Capital punishment is the pre-meditated and planned taking of a human life by a government in response to a crime committed by that legally convicted person. Capital punishment should be legalized in all states, because it is morally just and it will deter crime. The many opponents of capital punishment who are against it feel that the death penalty is not a deterrent and that it is a thing of the past. It has no place in a civilized society today. One of the biggest arguments against capital punishment is people feel that it violates the eighth amendment which forbids cruel and unusual punishment. People against Capital Punishment believe the death penalty is absurd and is in un-Christian practice. Further more, they feel society should not" encourage sentiments of revenge or cater to morbid interest in ritual execution." Criminologists also built a strong case that the threat of death failed to deter murder, anymore effectively than prison. Therefore, to inflict harm to one, it is simply useless. However, the punishment fits the crime therefore, it is morally just. Capital punishment is an expression of society's moral outrage at offensive conduct. This may be appealing to many but it is essential in an ordered society. It asks our citizens to rely on legal procedures rather than to self-help their wrongs doings. It is morally right to sentence...
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...Capital Punishment and Crime Deterred Should capital punishment be used in a justice system to deter the level of serious crimes in a society? There have been arguments that capital punishment is the best way to deter crime and arguments that say it is not all over the world. The justice system is in place to keep societies functioning proper, and punish those who hurt that goal, capital punishment is one of the ways that have been aiding in the success. If capital punishment does act as a deterrent for crime, shouldn’t a society use it as a tool for the justice system? However, if capital punishment does not act as a deterrent for crime, then should it be scrapped by the justice system and emphasis be placed on looking for a new way to deter crime? This is more than just a crime deterrent issue because it involves taking a life to save a life. This is an ethical issue of whether capital punishment is the best way to solve the problem, and this has been argued by millions of people all over the world for decades and it is still a highly debated topic to this day. Capital Punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the practice of sentencing a person to execution as punishment for a capital crime after a proper legal trail. It is typically only used as a form of punishment for people who commit serious types of murder. It may not be known, because many countries never actually use it, but there are 58 countries that currently have a form of the death penalty (Unknown, 2010)...
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...Is the Death Penalty Ethical? It is clear in our society that violent crimes, such as murder, should carry some sort of stiffer punishment than that of other, lesser crimes. What is not clear is what that punishment should be. One punishment that is a constant source of debate is the death penalty. In this paper, I will examine whether the death penalty is or is not ethical. Both sides of the issue will be explained, through examination of various aspects of it, which include religious and financial considerations, whether the death penalty is a deterrent or not, and whether or not it can be regarded as justice. I submit that the death penalty is an ethical and equitable punishment for murderers, and should be used throughout our country. The seemingly greatest amount of debate comes from a religious standpoint. Depending on whose interpretation one hears, the Bible is for or against capital punishment. Verses from The Bible are used by both sides of the argument to support their own beliefs. The United States is made up of numerous different religious cultures. A sample of a few official policies from some denominations’ web sites shows an almost fifty-fifty split for and against. For example, the Assemblies of God (USA) do not take a stance for or against the death penalty. The same is true for the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints, who say that it should be left to “…the prescribed processes of civil law.”(November 28, 2011). The...
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...Against the Death Penalty Life is sacred. This is an ideal that the majority of people can agree upon to a certain extent. For this reason taking the life of another has always been considered the most deplorable of crimes, one worthy of the harshest available punishment. Thus arises one of the great moral dilemmas of our time. Should taking the life of one who has taken the life of others be considered an available punishment? Is a murderer's life any less sacred than the victim's is? Can capital punishment, the death penalty, execution, legal murder, or whatever a society wishes to call it, be morally justifiable? The underlying question in this issue is if any kind of killing, regardless of reason, can be accepted. In this paper I will discuss if the modern American form of capital punishment can be morally justified Opponents of the death penalty have a distinct advantage when arguing their point over advocates. Their advantage is the fact that taking the life of another is immoral, and if you remove all outstanding circumstances capital punishment is nothing more than legalized murder. This argument alone is not strong enough, though, because of the many circumstances surrounding capital punishment, such as the fact that the convict being executed has more than likely taken someone else's life. The first justification for the claim that capital punishment is immoral is the idea that it creates a climate of violence. If a society punishes a murderer by murdering...
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...Capital Punishment Katrina Maxwell ITT Technical Institute Capital punishment has been described as an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Society is saying it is alright to use violence against violence and to use capital punishment as a means for retribution. Then questions come to mind of whether all the violence is necessary and whether it has the end results one claims it to have. In the 1960’s the appellate courts started applying the Bill of Rights to capital cases (G.R) Prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment and the requirements for due process and equal protection of the law was hugely expanded upon and the public demanded for the end of capital punishment. Today society has had the different tune of vengeance and retribution for violent criminals (Grant, 25). Robert Grant tells of different kinds of justices such as restoration and retributive. Restorative justice he explains as the elimination of violence from the community and heals the harm done to the extent possible. As best put by Martin Luther King Jr., returning violence for violence only multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Restorative seeks to eliminate the culture of violence and replace it with a caring culture. Retributive justice is quite the opposite, calling for the criminal to pay for the crime, that will balance the scale of justice. The debates have been all made for and against capital...
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...is done. Opponents of capital punishment have basically four arguments. The first is that there is a possibility of error. However, the chance that there might be an error is separate from the issue of whether the death penalty can be justified or not. If an error does occur, and an innocent person is executed, then the problem lies in the court system, not in the death penalty. Furthermore, most activities in our world, in which humans are involved, possess a possibility of injury or death. Construction, sports, driving, and air travel all offer the possibility of accidental death even though the highest levels of precautions are taken. These activities continue to take place, and continue to occasionally take human lives, because we have all decided, as a society, that the advantages outweigh the unintended loss. We have also decided that the advantages of having dangerous murderers removed from our society outweigh the losses of the offender. The second argument against capital punishment is that it is unfair in its administration. Statistics show that the poor and minorities are more likely to receive the death penalty. Once again, this is a separate issue. It can’t be disputed sadly, the rich are more likely to get off with a lesser sentence, and this bias is wrong. However, this is yet another problem of our current court system. The racial and economic bias is not a valid argument against the death penalty. It is an argument against the courts and their...
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...The Reasons for Death Penalty Should we approve the legalization and initiation of death penalty? Yes, we have! With the alarming cases of murder, terrorism, genocide killing and other acts of grievous crimes against humanity becoming worse in the passing of years, death penalty is, indeed, the only solution available to exact justice from heartless criminals, whose carnal act it is to seek pleasure and satisfaction in seeing others suffer and perish for no reason at all. Come to think of the millions of innocent lives, many of them young and elderly, as they perish simply because some merciless dictators ordered to do so. And what about those who died of terrorist attacks, those pitiful souls killed by a single explosion? What becomes of the criminals who killed them? They either roam around, free to spread harm and fear, or comfortably imprisoned while milking the government for food, shelter and clothing. Then, how many times have we seen one man as he goes on a shopping spree, killing dozens because he finds it a delight to do so? One reason why these people have come to think that the law is in their hand is because we have let them do as they please. Society has turned out a society of man and not of laws. We have shifted from thinking that the will of law shall be done to “our” will shall be done, thus, we have given these heartless criminals the chance to turn themselves into demigods here in on earth, believing that they are the law and justice does not exist until...
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...Europe can achieve – is this the way forward? * Do the various ages of consent need to be reviewed for the young people in this country? * How old is “too old” for parenthood? * Have improvements in contraception brought about liberation or a passport to promiscuity? * Has genetic engineering gone too far? * Cloning - a tremendous medical advance or an ominous development? * Should animal organs be used for human transplantation? * Should doctors have the right to refuse expensive treatment to patients who will not change their habits (eg lose weight, stop smoking, stop drinking)? * Should there be a minimum BMI for models? * Has cosmetic surgery become too readily available? * Should Britain bring back capital punishment? * Is marriage an outdated institution? * Social Networking sites should be controlled by the government. Discuss. * Should people be allowed to express their faith through the clothes they...
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...Dr. Margaret Dunn October 24, 2012 Is Capital Punishment Justifiable Is capital punishment really worth it. Is the planning of taking human life really that cost effective that we as humans can break our own morals and laws. Passions in the US are sharply divided and are equally strong on both sides of the argument. Since colonial times, roughly about 13,000 people have been executed under capital punishment, but what makes it right? Many people argue that capital punishment is well deserved to some of the criminals we see in the old today. "There are some defendants who have earned the ultimate punishment our society has to offer by committing murder with aggravating circumstances present. I believe life is sacred. It cheapens the life of an innocent murder victim to say that society has no right to keep the murderer from ever killing again. In my view, society has not only the right, but the duty to act in self defense to protect the innocent" says a New York Attorney. Many people agree with him as well. They feel that if someone feels like its ok to take anthers life then their life can be taken as well for punishment. People also feel that they pay for what these criminals do. To hold an inmate in prison, on death row or not, its about $30,600 per year that comes straight out of our taxes. So in reality people feel that we pay for the mistakes of these criminals when some of them should be held to capital punishment for the crimes that they have committed...
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...Capital Punishment Capital punishment has been the center of much controversy dating back to its origins. Although the roots of capital punishment can be traced as far back as the life of Christ, arguments over its effectiveness and morality continue in the midst of its existence today. There are many people who have come up with reasonable arguments for both sides of the issue. Most people who believe that the death penalty is a fair punishment use the argument, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, an arm for an arm, a life for a life." Otherwise known as Hamarabi’s Code. While most people who are in opposition use the argument that capital punishment is a cruel and unusual punishment which violates the eighth amendment to the United States Constitution. In the times surrounding the origins of capital punishment, it was used for a wide variety of crimes. Capital punishment can also be found in the Bible. The Bible prescribed the death penalty for crimes such as murder, kidnapping and witchcraft. By 1500 AD, in England, only major felonies carried the death penalty: treason, murder, larceny, burglary, rape, and arson. (Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia, 1989) The United States inherited capital punishment from European settlers in the seventeenth century. They promoted the idea that heinous crimes deserved severe punishment. And this is what brought capital punishment to its present standing. In the United States justice system a proportionate punishment is achieved, in the...
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...For the capital punishment The death penalty is an issue that has the United States quite divided. While there are many supporters of it, there is also a large amount of opposition. Currently, there are thirty-three states in which the death penalty is legal and seventeen states that have abolished it (Death Penalty Information Center). I believe the death penalty should be legal throughout the nation. There are many reasons as to why I believe the death penalty should be legalized in all states, including deterrence, retribution, and morality; and because opposing arguments do not hold up, I will refute the ideas that the death penalty is unconstitutional, irrevocable mistakes are made, and that there is a huge gap of race and income level. Putting people to death, judged to have committed certain crimes, is a practice that’s been around for a long time. In the later half of the twentieth century, it has become a controversial issue. Statistics prove consisted application of the death penalty deter crime. No executed murdered has ever killed again. For many years, Criminologists have thought to believe the death penalty has no affect as deterrence to homicides. From 1972-1976, a suspension was place on capital punishment. The United States had 9,140 murders in 1960 where 56 people were executed. Nine years later in 1969 where the United States had zero executions, there were 14,590 murders. After only 2 executions since 1976, murders raised to 23,040. If murderers are sentenced...
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...deterrent of crime. In the 1970s, this form of punishment was suspended for being unconstitutional (Bedau, 1997). Abolitionists of the death penalty believe that the issue of using capital punishment to deter crime is dependent on the mind of a murderer because it is psychological. Research shows that 88% of the leading criminologists agree that the death penalty does not deter crime (Radelet & Lacock, 2009). Death penalty is a debatable topic, but research shows that it has not deterred crime levels. According to Radelet & Lacock (2009), the use of the death penalty to punish criminals had no effect on the crime levels across the states. Ninety-one percent of the respondents during the study indicated that there are misconceptions on the reason for supporting the death penalty. Politicians support this form of punishment to appear tough on crime while an overwhelming seventy-five percent of the respondent believe it is a diversion from the real solution to social issues. The respondents were positive that adding the number of executions carried out annually or speeding the process would have little or no effect on crime levels in society. The rate of homicides in abolition states is lower than in death penalty states. Research shows that out of the 20 states that have the highest murder cases, 17 of those states are death penalty states (Freedman, 1997). It is an indication that the implementation of the capital punishment has no effect on the crime rate in those...
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...Capital Punishment – For Or Against Scott Cameron Phase 4 Individual Project ENGL125-1203B-08 Dana LaMantia I’m sure you all have your thoughts on Capital Punishment, and whether you’re for or against it. I’d like to share a story with you about Donna Payant, a New York State Corrections Officer, and her killer. Lemuel Smith was an inmate where Donna worked; in 1976, he was sentenced to death for murdering a store owner and his employee, then kidnapping and murdering another woman before he was caught. However, his sentence was later converted to life in prison, sealing Donna’s fate five years later (Irvine, Kincaid,2003). My aim today is to share a few ideas that enforce capital punishment as an effective means of deterring heinous and horrific crimes, providing comfort for victims and their families, and saving the legal system money. Let’s start by taking a look at deterrence. Capital punishment can be looked at from the aspect of deterrence, which is discouraging individuals who may have the intention to participate in homicide. It is also a reference to the criminal, denoting that he may not commit a crime or participate in homicide. Deterrence is summed up by the deterrence theory (Siegel, 2012); this theory requires that individuals weigh the costs and rewards associated with different actions. It’s based on the premise that individuals will choose those actions that translate to greatest reward at lesser costs. The theory also proposes that crime...
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