...punishment was reestablished in 1976 by the Supreme Court as an appropriate measure for murder cases. Since then, many murderers have been convicted and put to death for their awful crimes. With each execution of a murderer, society is a safer place. When a human makes the ultimate decision to commit a crime of murder, rape, child rape, and torture, would a life in prison term be fair. Prison's are for much less acts of crime and people who do the acts against fellow humans should be punished by capital punishment. Prisons and jails are used as a deterrent so that people in today’s' society will not perform an act against another human. If they do, they know the repercussions of the acts they are performing. Some people are clearly not mentally capable of knowing the difference between right and wrong and they are put into hospitals because of their sickness. The majority of society know the difference of right and wrong. Another form of a deterrent that our county has is the speed limits. Without having speed limits, people would be driving at very high speeds with no care for their life or others. The death penalty has the same deterrent in that people who kill others, rape others, or torture others in a cruel and unusual punishment would be taken of this earth. Do people speed? Yes. Do people murder other humans? Yes. There is...
Words: 1741 - Pages: 7
...thinking is that when a crime is committed or a wrong is done to someone, that the scales of justice are out of balance and that in order for things to be set straight, that wrong must be righted, or the crime must be paid for under some type of punishment. There are many arguments out there that are in favor of using the just deserts model in our justice system, but there are just as many against using it. Either way, both sides present interesting thoughts and credible reasons as to why just deserts are acceptable or unacceptable. Many people are in agreement that the just deserts model is the best way to approach punishments of offenders because it is supposed to mean that the punishment fits the crime. It is supposed to ensure that the crime that was committed is being addressed in a manner that will satisfy all parties that the convicted offender is receiving a fair amount of punishment in exchange for committing the crime that they chose to complete or attempt. The opinions on how this topic should be carried out and to what severity vary greatly. Some people think that any crime committed should be addressed with a firm set of limitations on what the sentencing can be, such as fines, jail time and alternative sentencing options. Others think that this model should be carried out to the strictest extreme possible. In cases that an offender commits the act of homicide, most people think that person should be put to death as equal punishment; however, extremists believe that...
Words: 1010 - Pages: 5
...Death Penalty Amber Coughenour Florida State College at Jacksonville The United States of America is the land of the free, home of the brave. Some people would argue against this, because of many states’ laws. Many states still use the death penalty as a form of punishment for heinous crimes. Eighteen of the fifty states, and the District of Columbia, have abolished the death penalty (“States With and Without”), while a few others have voted to abolish it and failed. Personally, I believe for some heinous crimes, the death penalty is the only way for the community and family and/or victim(s) to get their retribution and closure. In our criminal justice system, each crime has a punishment that is distributed through the court system. Depending on the state, the punishment may be different. In America, we punish people for a few different reasons: retribution for victims, to rehabilitate the offender, and punish the offender for breaking the community’s standards, to name a few. States with the death penalty may or may not sentence someone to death for crimes other than killing another human being. Personally, I believe murder is the only reason a person should be given the death penalty. Arguments agreeing with my statement mostly state that it isn’t equal punishment, which is what our justice system is trying to achieve. People who rape children should not be sentenced to death, but should be locked away for life without parole. They may have harmed a child in an unspeakable...
Words: 772 - Pages: 4
...Abstract The essay outlines the arguments for abolishing the death penalty, also including any counter arguments that can be used for a use of the death penalty. The arguments made in this essay for death-penalty abolition are its devaluation of human life, eliminating of the possibility for revenge, its violation of human rights, as well as including the view of religious groups. This essay argues that all of these arguments address that human life cannot be taken away from a person, even if the person is a murder, simply because then the society is not being better than the murder him- or herself. I have investigated many research and scientific studies in order to back up my arguments as best as possible. Furthermore I have also investigated into the methods of death penalty, such as lethal injection. This essay views practice of capital punishment as an expression of anxiety about safety, in particular it counteracts the argument that death penalty would deter any future crime, and terrorist attacks. I also looked up numbers in order to show how costly death penalty is, in order to emphasize that there are more cheaper and less inhumane methods to sentence a murder. I also draw attention to countries that use death penalty as a way to eliminate any enemies, using it as a political weapon to silence any troublesome individuals. I suggest that every life is valuable, and that death penalty does not consider the risk of killing an innocent person, but rather emphasize that...
Words: 2476 - Pages: 10
...The idea of putting another human to death is hard to completely fathom. The physical mechanics involved in the act of execution are easy to grasp, but the emotions involved in carrying out a death sentence on another person, regardless of how much they deserve it, is beyond my own understanding. However, this act is sometimes necessary and it is our responsibility as a society to see that it 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...
Words: 814 - Pages: 4
...be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” A fairly recent court case Kennedy v. Louisiana, June 25, 2008 violates the 8th amendment. The background information about this case is that, Patrick Kennedy was sentenced to death for raping a child. Now, the child didn’t die from being raped. The court decision definitely violates the 8th amendment because, Kennedy didn’t kill the poor child, he simply raped her. Not that I’m saying raping a child is ethical, but, the child’s life wasn’t taken away, just sexually assaulted is what happened. The court took it to a whole other level by sentencing him to death. Why go out of your way to kill him, there’s certainly other ways to punish Kennedy, but taking his...
Words: 880 - Pages: 4
...Pros and Cons: the Abolishment of Death Penalty Death penalty, from a legal perspective, is the killing of a person by a state authority through judicial process as a punishment for an offense. The capital punishment has been used by nearly all societies and the use of it extends to the beginning of recorded history. People believe that if we owe one’s money, we must pay back for it, so as one’s life. This kind of idea has deeply carved in many people’s mind for a long time. Compared with Christianity, who are strictly on the side of abolishment of the death penalty, Chinese tend to in favor of the saying of an eye for an eye and teeth for teeth. According to Amnesty International, at least 23 countries were known to had executions in 2010 and at least 17,000 people worldwide were sentenced to death. In addition, there are countries which do not publish information on the use of capital punishment, most significantly China, which is estimated to execute hundreds of people each year. Although there are many execution in China each year in the present day, there was a time in Tang Dynasty when the death penalty was abolished. This was in the year 747, enacted by Emperor Xuanzong. Depending on the severity of the crime, a punishment of severe scourging with the thick rod or of exile to the remote Lingnan region might take the place of capital punishment. However the death penalty was restored only 12 years later in 759 in response to the An Lushan...
Words: 952 - Pages: 4
...Is the death Penalty is a Fair Punishment Capital Punishment is Justifiable Killing Genine Jackson Philosophy 210 August 21, 2013 Dr. N Hooper-Simanaga THE DEATH PENALTY IS AFAIR PUNISHMENT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS JUSTIFIABLE KILLING Do believe in and eye for an eye, should a person should be giving a life sentence for selling drugs, is there a big different between giving a person life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death sentence? Do you think a person should be killed for killing one person, if killing is wrong how can execution be right? Do you think it is cheaper to keep a man in prison for forty years or to be executed? Do you think the death penalty is a fair punishment, is capital punishment justifiable killing? What would you do if you a got a phone call on the night before Thanksgiving: (You) Hello, (Caller) I need you to come to Rainbow South Apartment on Columbus Drive NOW!!!!!! (You) What’s going on; I am trying to cook, (Caller) Don’t ask me any question right now, I just need you to get here now! Then you notice that the caller voice did not sound right, so with any more hesitation you get in your car and go to Rainbow South Apartments. Not knowing where in the complex to go you drive in and on instinct you make a right turn and Oh my God you see all these police light and what appears to be three bodies on the ground. Now you start to get nervous because you do not see the person who call you in the...
Words: 2063 - Pages: 9
...What is death penalty? Death penalty is a form of punishment that involves the act of revenge to those people that commit a serious crime. Originally, death penalty viewed as an action that makes the criminal to pay the price to what they committed at the past. Death penalty is an irreversible form of punishment (Debate.org, 2013). It usually implement on person who commit on espionage, murder, or dealing drug crime. In the previous time, the methods to execute death penalty are very terror and cruel compare to now. This is because during past, death penalty normally does not see as the punishment but must be executed to ensure person was executed had to be painful (wisegeek, n.d.) Some of the common means of execution included crucifixion, boiling alive and etc. Until today, death penalty had been executed in more humane way. For example, electric chair, death by hanging or injection that can reduce the time of suffering for criminal. Recently, most of the country has executed death penalty as a form of punishment. The country with the most population among the world which is United State, China, India and Indonesia still practiced capital punishment. However, execution of death penalty is a very controversy form of punishment among the world. Many people started arguing whether the execution of death penalty is wrong since a long time ago. Although execution of death penalty is considered mandatory to deter criminal activity, there is several strong reason that death penalty...
Words: 1958 - Pages: 8
...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. People also believe that in the long run the death penalty helps saves innocent lives. Repeat...
Words: 731 - Pages: 3
...Understanding Morality Topic: Death Penalty 1. General theory overview Utilitarianism will check the outcome that results from punishing the criminals and whether it is the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. The theory of social contract is supported by Hobbes. He argues that the state of nature is “the life of man would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” His solution is to come together and agree to a social contract, whose aim is to protect people from harm by others as well as to guarantee all the parties can keep the agreement. Kant says we need to act out of duty of moral rule. When we treat criminals, the only reason to be regarded as praiseworthy must be nothing else than the crime itself. Then we should consider the 1st form of categorical imperatives, which says “act only on the maxim that you can will as a universal law”. Next, we must take the 2nd categorical imperatives into account. It says “always treat humanity whether in your own person or in that of another, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end”. On the retributivist view, legal punishment is justified as a means of making those who are responsible for a crime or harm pay for it. According to the retributivist view, payment must to be made in some way that is equivalent to the crime or harm done. There are two arguments, proportional equivalency and egalitarian equivalency. For proportional equivalency, one is required to pay back something proportional...
Words: 4406 - Pages: 18
...Sentencing Paper Tushar Vincent Botlero 12 March 2012 CJ/A-234 Melissa Andrewjeski Sentencing Paper Punishment has been a subject of deliberate among philosophers, political leaders, and lawyers for centuries. Various theories of punishment have been developed, each of which attempts to justify the practice in some form and to state its proper objectives. The quantity and severity of punishments were reduced, the prison system have been improved. According to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, Maryland, some of the major reasons for punishment are to reform, deterrence, rehabilitation, compensation, and retribution. Punishment for reform is intended to benefit the offender and society by changing the offender into a contributor to society. Punishment as deterrence is intended to benefit society by discouraging would-be offenders. Punishment to extract compensation is intended to benefit the victim of the offender. Finally, retribution is the only object for punishment that is primarily intended to harm the offender. Individuals are in prison because they broke the rules and would have to serve their time. Some go to federal prison and some go to state prisons. It depends on the type of crime that a person commits because these prisons harbor different types of criminals they also have different guidelines to follow in terms to punishing the inmates. Criminal offenders who benefit from prevention services and are at risk of committing...
Words: 1251 - Pages: 6
...against the death sentence. After all, it clearly sends out the wrong message: Why kill people who kill people to show that killing is wrong1? The use of capital punishment, frequently known as the death penalty, has extended to the beginning of recorded history. Used by nearly all societies, it has served as a punishment for the most heinous of crimes; ranging from murder to rape, from treason to espionage and even corruption2(Yes, in China!). Through the years, capital punishment has evolved and there were extensive movements towards a less painful and more humane execution. However, can the use of capital punishment ever be justified? There is no doubt it has served its duty of crime deterrence(partly), but I deeply believe that it is time we walk out of the dark history of mankind and into civilisation. As a Singaporean, I am ashamed to say that capital punishment is still legal in my country. Just last year, four people were sentenced to the gallows; two for murder and the other two for drugtrafficking. Despite pressing calls from the public to abolish the death penalty, the government has repeatedly reiterated its position, saying that ‘it is only reserved for very serious crimes3.’ Until the time when capital punishment is abolished, we can hardly even call ourselves a first world country. I understand the argument that the death penalty provides closure to the victim’s families who have suffered and grieved tremendously. But sometimes, I feel that as a society, we have to...
Words: 1559 - Pages: 7
...Should juveniles who commit first or second- degree murder receive a mandatory sentence of life without parole? That is a question that many people are asking themselves. This is a very debatable question due to the fact that if a juvenile does change, then he/she wouldn't have a chance at a new life because of the life sentence. I believe they should be granted a second chance, but if they take that second chance for granted, then they should be sentenced to life without parole. On the other hand, there has been cases where a teen who was sentenced to life got a second chance, but decided to take it for granted for being immature and emotionally unstable. Many teens make reckless decisions while growing up, some don't know better but others do. Where I stand in this situation is that juveniles should not be sentenced to mandatory life sentences without parole. Not many...
Words: 956 - Pages: 4
...punish also it affects the public when criminal put to death. The impact on the public is most impressive it could debate upon this so many times. Also against the matter, give a thorough explanation putting to death, criminal also the impact on the public. At this current time, research does not only show that the sentence to the death penalty is intricate in many ways. However, capital punishment has started to make people ask many questions it connection with preventing criminal act's effect. That it has on the public economically by having information that recent and from the past, also using articles of scholarly and other articles on the topic as well. To help support, the reason this research is essential and he would aid society to use different tactics. To help benefit both side issues, within the debate, they have on this matter. The costly and ethical standpoint of the death penalty The Kentucky lawmaker stated that it was too expensive to use the methods of using the sentence to death as a form of punishment. Also, how it might seem as morally wrong, to do, although the commission tells the truth about the expensive cost of administering the sentence to death penalty. It hardly talks about the ethical, also principled wickedness of the practices sentence to capital punishment. In the article, it says that it is ethnic also socioeconomic prejudice, with the penalty of sentenced to death also how it might or would begin to start worrying...
Words: 1651 - Pages: 7