...Rebuttal: Taking a Stance Against Capital Punishment NAME BCOM 275 DATE INSTRUCTOR It is no human’s right to take another human’s life; Therefore, the United States should stop the use of capital punishment. My heart goes out to the victims, and victim’s families, of crimes that are currently punishable by way of the death penalty. I could understand the deep yearning for justice. The death penalty is not the answer. Currently, the only crime punishable by the death penalty is murder. However, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, or the DPIC, (2010) the state of Louisiana has administered the death penalty twice for the crime of raping a child. Some states are fighting to broaden the crimes punishable by death, but have not succeeded. After Louisiana administered the death penalty for rape, the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional because the degree of punishment exceeded the degree of the crime (DPIC, 2010). Some may argue that it costs more to give a criminal a life sentence versus the death penalty; however, quite the opposite is true. For example, in the state of California, it costs an average of $90,000 more to put someone on death row versus placing them in a maximum security prison with no chance of parole (DPIC, 2010). Research also shows that there is no significant deterrence to committing murder because of capital punishment. According to Donohue (2010), “evidence suggests that the death penalty may increase the murder rate although...
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...The debate on whether the death penalty is acceptable will never be resolved. That is unless the government decides to abolish it. I do not nor will I ever agree with the death penalty. It does not matter what the person has done. Nobody has the right to take anyone’s life. Although these people have done horrible crimes the death penalty can never be justified. The death penalty is inflicted on those who have committed capital crimes. Those crimes being espionage, treason, murder, and aircraft hijacking resulting in death. Furthermore, kidnapping, genocide, and drug drive by’s all resulting in murder. The death penalty is legal in 31 U.S. states. While it is only illegal in 19 of the 50 states. Making over half of the United States murders. Explicitly, the ways of execution on the death penalty are the most some of the most lethal. There are five ways used in the U.S. , lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, firing squad, and hanging. All five of these processes are disgusting to me. When considering the death penalty it is important to look at it from all...
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...Crystal Williams Engl 111 4/4/14 Delong No to the Death Penalty I believe that the death penalty is absolutely outrageous. Its morally wrong because faith leaders from many denominations have united in their opposition to the death penalty. Many believe the death penalty: does not affirm the sacredness of human life; demeans the value of life, promotes violence, and does not promote spiritual healing and well-being of victims. Also its not a deterrent: The death penalty does not deter crime. A survey of experts from the American Society of Criminology, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and the Law and Society Association found that 88% of the nation’s top criminologists believe the death penalty is not a deterrent. In a 1995 Hart Research Associates Poll of police chiefs, the chiefs ranked the death penalty as the least effective tool in deterring crime. Then its executing innocent people at times. The Criminal Justice System is not infallible, and as long as states impose the death penalty innocent people will be put to death. Since the U.S. reinstituted the death penalty in 1973, 139 wrongly convicted people have been released from death row. Then comes the cost. The death penalty costs significantly more than a life without parole sentence, in some estimates about 10 times the amount. This is because of the heightened process that the death penalty requires. The average length of time from a sentence of death to an execution is 13 years. During that time the taxpayer...
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...Marc Habbaki 9/1/2012 I.D.: 12090561 Death Penalty Is death penalty served as a justified and valid form of punishment? There are two arguments for this topic with a lot of different reasons and explanations .One says prevention, the other side says there's a potential of executing an innocent man; one says justice and punishment; the other side says execution is murder. However, c0rime is an evident part of society, and everyone is aware that something must be done about it. In several parts of the world, the death penalty has been apportioned to those who have committed a variety of felonies. The Roman Empire made use of the death penalty liberally, as did the Church of the Middle Ages. As history tells us, capital punishment is an acceptable and efficient means of deterring crime. Today, the death penalty remains an effective method of punishment for murder and other terrible crimes because it helps lower the rate of violent crimes, makes the streets safer and provides us a better environment to live in. People will rob, take advantage of others, and commit crimes as long as it is in their best interest to do so. The purpose of our entire criminal justice system is to protect the rights of life, freedom, and property for all its citizens. To be able to accomplish this, the punishment for crime must be harsh enough to deter potential criminals. Under this mindset, the death penalty makes perfect sense because it truly makes a criminal pay for his crime and prevents...
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...Capital Punishment a just social problem SOC 203 Intro to Social Problems The debate of capital punishment will always generate passion, it is one of the most debated issues in the Criminal Justice system. The absence of capital punishment would prove a greater problem for the sake of society. Many opponents will argue the death penalty should be abolished, they fail to offer up any comparable alternatives for the crime for murder. It is a harsh punishment but, in all fairness, the punishment fits the crime. Capital punishment does what the name suggests: it punishes and it removes the notion that one can kill and get away with it. It serves as a deterrent for those contemplating murder and in the end, it brings justice. Capital punishment defends the sanctity of life and until we evolve to the place where murders are no longer a part of our society, we must punish this crime fairly. To know we have removed a murdering criminal from the street is a relief thankful to deterrence of violent crime, retribution, Christianity, and innocence. One argument for the death penalty is the fact that it deters crime. Those enticed by killing someone might think twice if they know their life will be taken as a consequence. Joanna Shepherd explores the history of capital punishment and explains that while many studies produced mixed results, modern economic studies reveal executions “significantly deter murders” (Shepherd). In addition, Wesley Lowe reports when the death penalty was temporarily...
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...Outline Topic: Death Penalty Purpose: To inform my audience on Death Penalty and why they should advocate for it Time: 3-5 minutes Introduction -Greetings -Attention Material -Tie to the audience -Credibility material Thesis statement: , I am in favor of death penalty Preview of main points 1. I will discuss death penalty in general 2. I will argue for and against it specifically am in favor of death penalty. 3. Finally, I will discuss why it should be legalized. Body -Main points on pros of death penalty A. Human life is consecrated and sacred and anyone taking it away should have their own lives taken away too. B. Everybody is entitled to the right to life and so no one should be deprived of this right. C. Death penalty helps to preserve law and order Conclusion -Final review of main points -Concluding remarks and thanking the audience Introduction Hi everyone, I am happy to present to you on the topic death penalty. Many of us believe in the statement that, we should do to others what we expect should be done to us and so when one kills, they should be killed too. I am sure that all of us at some point have heard of death penalty and how many people have lost their lives through this penalty. Death penalty has been adopted by many states and is commonly used for heinous crimes, especially murder. It is also used on crimes against the state such as espionage, treason, crimes against humanity, and violent crimes...
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...MWF 8:05 AM – 8:59 AM English Composition 2 12/07/12 The Death Penalty Crimes are committed every day. Some of them worse than others. The worst crimes get the worst punishment. That can mean capital punishment. Capital punishment is just another way of saying legal murder. Should it be allowed? This is one of the most debated issues in the criminal justice system. Hundreds of criminals are being killed legally at the hands of the government every day. Why you may ask, because they were convicted of killing one or more people. But the government can do it and get away with it. The death penalty is wrong and should be outlawed in all 50 states. The reasons why it should be outlawed are: the person could be innocent, it is not a good crime deterrent, and it does not cause closure for a victim’s families. The most obvious reason it should be banned is that it is against the law. It says so in our constitution. The Eighth Amendment clearly states that the federal government is prohibited from using cruel and unusual punishment. Most people would have to say that sitting down in a chair and getting electrocuted until your dead or getting poison shoved in your veins is pretty cruel and unusual. Also when you put someone to death for committing murder you are committing an act of it as well, which is an eye for an eye. Evidently the government seems to not think so. Another good reason to ban capital punishment is the person who was charged with the murder could actually...
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...created tension in today's society is whether the death penalty serves as a justified and valid form of punishment. Whenever the word "death penalty" comes up, extremists from both sides start yelling out their arguments. One side says deterrence, the other side says there's a potential of executing an innocent man; one says justice, retribution, and punishment; the other side says execution is murder. Crime is an evident part of society, and everyone is aware that something must be done about it. Most people know the threat of crime to their lives, but the question lies in the methods and action in which it should be dealt with. In several parts of the world, the death penalty has been apportioned to those who have committed a variety of offenses from the time of ancient Babylon to present-day America. The Roman Empire made use of the death penalty liberally, as did the Church of the Middle Ages. As history tells us, capital punishment, whose definition is "the use of death as a legally sanctioned punishment," is an acceptable and efficient means of deterring crime. Today, the death penalty remains an effective method of punishment for murder and other heinous crimes. There is debate over the morals and effectiveness of such a harsh sentence. Most commonly, the death penalty is challenged as a violation of the Eighth Amendment, which says that the U.S. cannot use "cruel and unusual" punishment. Due to the fact that "punishment" is a legal infliction of suffering, it must...
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...The debate concerning the death penalty has been ongoing for decades. The central question is whether capital punishment should be retained or abolished worldwide. While the death penalty continues to be used today, most countries have eliminated it in their criminal justice systems. One substantial country that continues to use the death penalty is America. Capital punishment is significant because it permits individuals to be killed lawfully. The death penalty carries enormous power around the legal system in addition to the persons that are accused of serious crimes. The purpose of this paper is to find out the diverse arguments surrounding capital punishment that has led some countries against it and others for it? This will be done by...
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...The case of Coker v. Georgia, 433 U.S. 584, (1977), is a United States Supreme Court case which address a claim of cruel and unusual punishment, under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as well as a proportionality claim (Cornell University, n.d.). The petitioner in this case, Ehrlich Anthony Coker, claimed that the state of Georgia had violated his Eighth Amendment rights, when he was given a death sentence for his rape of an adult female, and subsequently claims that the punishment was too severe for the crime he committed, thus the proportionality claim. Ehrlich Anthony Coker was an inmate in a Georgia state prison, serving three life sentences, for rape and murder, as well as two 20 year sentences, and one 8...
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...Introduction/Thesis Statement Body History of Capital Punishment a.k.a. the Death Penalty B. The Catholic Church and the Death Penalty Conclusion Works Cited Christine Boothroyd Professor Doris Neuzil REL 401 - The Catholic Tradition September 24, 2011 The History of the Catholic Church and the Death Penalty The Ten Commandments, principles issued by God for us to live our lives by, includes one that states – “Thou Shall Not Kill.” However, on Wednesday, September 21, 2011, two men in the United States were executed – Mr. Troy Davis in Georgia, and Mr. Lawrence Brewer in Texas. (Jonsson) While the approaching execution of Mr. Brewer was almost unmentioned, the approaching execution of Mr. Davis garnered much public attention with many believing his claims of innocence. According to an article published in The Christian Science Monitor, this public attention included world leaders, a former president and Pope Benedict XVI - the head of the Catholic Church. (Jonsson) Pope Benedict without a doubt was against not only Mr. Davis’ execution but that of Mr. Brewer’s as well. With the Catholic Church against the taking of another life, what exactly is the history of the Catholic Church and the death penalty? The Death Penalty, also known as capital punishment, can be traced back to the Eighteenth Century B.C. in Babylon and the first recorded execution in what eventually would become the United States dates back to 1608. (Death Penalty Information Center) Back in the colonial...
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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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...An Eye for an Eye in America The death penalty is a form of punishment in the United States that allows the state to execute violent criminals who have given up their right to live by committing murder or other acts that are unforgivable, such as child rape, or mass-murder. Many feel the death penalty is immoral in itself and executing criminals does not bring back those the criminal took from the victims’ families, nor does it bring closer. This may be true, it does not bring those victims back, but it does keep the animals off the streets and out of society for good. The death penalty is a good way to rid society of pedophiles, rapists, and murderers. Four philosophical and moral justifications for criminal punishment exist in common law; the death penalty complies with three out of the four. The four justifications of common law are: Retribution, Incapacitation, Rehabilitation, and Deterrence. The act of retribution is basically “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”. This may seem barbaric and immoral but the fact remains, the society we live in generally believes that no bad deed should go unpunished. The death penalty fulfills retribution for murderers. Incapacitation is the theory of removing a criminal either by imprisonment or the death penalty will incapacitate them from committing additional crimes. This was demonstrated the best by when crime rates plummeted in New York City under Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who believed that a small part of society tended who committed...
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...Death Penalty The Death penalty is one of the most controversial and debatable questions in the history of criminal justice. The main problem is that the death penalty is irrevocable so a wrong decision can lead to a terrible mistake and injustice towards an innocent person. “On the other hand, the death penalty is the only possible measure to punish criminals and protect our society from cruelty and repeat crimes” (Coyne and Entzeroth 72). Objectively speaking, plausible moral arguments can be made both for and against capital punishment. A key element of the debate, moral arguments have tended to remain fairly static over the years, and often have been used in conjunction with religious arguments. Two moral arguments have remained particularly important throughout the death penalty debate: retribution and the sanctity of life. Argument: Death penalty is a crucial punishment which violates human and constitutional rights of people, thus it is the only possible measure to protect society from violence and repeat crimes. Those favoring the death penalty often argue that society must express moral outrage at -- and condemnation of -- heinous crimes such as murder. Proponents of death penalty typically consider deterrence to be one of its fundamental goals. “The execution sermons of the early colonies were full of warnings against following in the footsteps of the condemned, and executions were public events designed to instill fear and reverence for the law in the people of...
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...DEATH PENALTY Have you ever heard the saying “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind?” The same idea can be applied when thinking of capital punishment. It does not make sense to kill people to show that killing people is wrong. An effective form of punishment has three basic characteristics: it is delivered immediately after the wrongdoing, it is administered consistently, and alternative behaviors are introduced. Society needs to get over the “eye for an eye” mentality in order for civilization to continue advancing (“Should”). The death penalty does not have any of the characteristics of an effective form of punishment. First, people who are sentenced to die are not put to death immediately. They spend years on death row. The average time on death row before execution is 10.26 years (“Death”). There are currently 3,300 men and women on death row in the United States (“Death”). Because those who are sentenced to death are not punished immediately after their actions, the death penalty is not an effective form of punishment. A good form of punishment is administered consistently. Not every person that murders someone is sent to death row. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia do not use the death penalty (“Death”). Among the states that do encourage it there are multiple methods of execution. These methods include lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, firing squad, and hanging (“Methods”). Not only are all murderers not punished equally, but also those...
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