...jail time, but life sentences are the right thing. The 8th amendment does not support the death penalty. There is also the problem of innocent inmates that die, and then there is the money issue. There are a lot more reasons to keep the people off of death row and end the death penalty. One reason we should quit the death penalty is that 1 out of 25 inmates put to death are innocent and have been put up for the death penalty because of the lack of effort from their legal team. Either that or the state will deny their motion. They go to the death penalty to quick and do not even give it thought. In the case of a Death Row inmate Willie Poindexter...
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...The Death Penalty Should Be Abolished. The death penalty has been around in the United States for over four-hundred years. The first person sentenced to death was in 1608 and he was hanged for spying on the Spanish government. Since then eighteen states have outlawed the death penalty while it is still legal in thirty-two, one of which is California. The death penalty should be abolished in every state of the United States. The expense for convicting one with the death penalty is much more expensive than sentencing a person to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Many people believe that a criminal shouldn’t be given the “easy way out” and they should suffer in prison for the rest of their lives. The death penalty often times doesn’t bring peace to the victims or the victim’s family. The death penalty is a very expensive process, and unfortunately tax payers are the ones forced to deal with those expenses. In California residents pay 90,000 dollars more per death row prisoner ("Death Penalty : The High Cost of the Death Penalty." Death Penalty : The High Cost of the Death Penalty. Death Penalty Focus, 31 Mar. 2009. Web. 14 Aug. 2013). Convicting a criminal with life in prison without the possibility of parole would cost millions less than sentencing one to death. Charging someone with the death penalty is a long, expensive process because the constitution requires a judicial case to insure no innocent person is executed. Tax payers shouldn’t have to pay millions...
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...Abolishing the Death Penalty George L Turner III PHI 103 Mr. Russ Tompkins August 31, 2009 Abolishing the Death Penalty The Death Penalty in America today is a highly debated issue and has been for many years. Could you imagine not having a life threatening consequence at all, such as the death penalty when it comes to criminals that commit very severe crimes? There are many people in the United States today with many different opinions on why the Death Penalty should or shouldn’t be abolished in our Country. I’m one who feels that we should not abolish the Death Penalty; however our Capital Punishment system can be much improved. One advantage to keeping the Death Penalty is that it’s suppose to act as a deterrent against those people who might think about committing a serious crime. I believe that it does help as a deterrent for some people, but not to the extent that it should. If we started sentencing more murderers and serious offenders to death, then I believe that more people will fear the consequences in which they may face. Now, if we start convicting the serious criminals to death, then that doesn’t mean continue to let them appeal their sentence and take years before they’re actually put to death. One other thing that I believe that keeps the Death Penalty from being as effective as it should be is T.V. I know it’s only T.V. but that’s what people see and a lot of people believe that is the way it is. Whether or not T.V. is how...
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... be it ISI and other Terror organizations. I strongly opine that homicide in return for homicide is barbaric as it resembles eye for an eye and tooth for tooth justice of medieval times and uncivilized. France and Germany have completely done away with death penalty and reported lesser crime rates. Many studys' conducted in US and some other countries where death penalty is still in force have proved that, it doesn';t have a deterrent effect on crime rate and more than death penalty, it's rigorous imprisonment for life that has more deterrent effect than death penalty. Incarceration for life proved to be more effective in preventing repetition of the same or other crimes by the same convicts than that of death penalty. In countries, where death penalty has been abolished less crime rates have been reported. Apart from incarceration for life, solitary confinement and shaming the person through social boycott etc are other options. For crimes of rape and acid attacks also, incarceration for life and the above two suggested alternatives could be considered as viable alternatives to death penalty in addition to confiscating the entire property of the criminal and paying it as compensation to their victims. Educating the guilty regarding the barbaric and heinous nature of their crimes and making them feel ashamed for their crimes and their crimes' lethal and traumatic...
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...Death Penalty: the easy way out Capital punishment is one of the most controversial issues discussed in the United States. Capital punishment or the death penalty, is used throughout most of the U.S. The debate is over if the death penalty is humane or cruel and unusual. Those against the death penalty believe the death penalty should be removed from the United States all together. There are also some who are against the death penalty because of their religion. Anti-death penalty activist are not only against the death penalty because of the inhumane acts associated with it, but also because of the expenses. I, too, am against the death penalty. With the death penalty part of our country, I believe that we are no better than any other country. The death penalty is wrong and so are the methods used to execute those sentenced to it. There are many reasons to why the death penalty should be abolished from the United States. This year alone, twenty-eight people were executed. Last year forty-three were executed and in 2005, sixty people were executed. The year of 1990 has the most executions at an outstanding number of ninety-eight executions. Since 1976 there have been 1,305 executions. Out of the fifty states, only seventeen are without the death penalty. There are still about 3,170 inmates on death row right now. Throughout the years, the numbers have raised. Those states that are for the death penalty actually have higher crime rates than those who have abolished it. The murder...
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...Death Penalty Capital Punishment also known as the Death Penalty has always been surrounded by controversy. As a result of killing someone said criminal will also be killed in return, some would say an eye for an eye. In the end it boils down to more than a question of morality and ethics. Capital Punishment is not necessary and should be abolished because the government shouldn’t decide who should live and who should die, its more expensive than life in jail, and its not an effective deterrent. Furthermore, Capital punishment is legal in the United States, in fact, legal in 33 states including Florida. Additionally, the death penalty is accepted internationally in 58 countries and use it regularly. China is the number one in the world for the number of executions done per year. The exact number is not none due to it being a ‘state secret’ but is said to be in the thousands. Not far behind is the United States which ranks number 5 on the list with 43 executions in 2011. The death penalty is universally reserved for heinous crimes that are considered completely devoid of morals and socially accepted standards. Crimes like murder after substantial planning in Florida and premeditation and treason in Arkansa. As well as rape of a minor, murder of a minor, murder of a senior knowingly, to avoid arrest and so on. (http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org) However, due to an evolving dilemma and expansion of human rights and the enforcement of the right to live, many countries have abolished...
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...of Babylon, and the Draconian code of Athens, the death penalty has been established as a punishment for crimes. If we scheme these historical aspects, a feeling of devastation arises in us regarding the horror that associates the idea of using the worst methods of death for punishing people. Capital punishment has long been a topic of controversy attracting both opposers and supporters. However, the modern state of today`s world reflecting topics of humans` rights and justice assuredly push us towards refuting capital punishment. “The first question shouldn’t be 'Why not use the death penalty?' but 'Why use it?' There’s no good reason. First, we’ve already protected ourselves. This individual has been separated from society; he’s not able to hurt us again. If we execute this young man, it will not protect us against a future tragedy. The things that keep us safe are preventative, that address the root causes of crime — making sure people have mental health services, an education, helping families that are at risk ( Diann ,2004). The International law and the analysis based on human rights are useful means to address the death penalty in the U.S. Although the U.S. uses other terms in protecting basic rights, and has...
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...EN 110 Capital Punishment A thing as inhumane and a violation of human rights is some of the main basis for why the Death Penalty should be abolished. Why kill to justify the killing of another? It’s like a revolving circle of deaths one killing to justify another only for another to kill again and be executed after. Kudlac states, “they are becoming more privatized and hidden from the public with their procedure of the death penalty with respect to people’s opinions about the inappropriate methods used during the execution,”(16) however that does not make it anymore right. People have also brought up the argument that the Death Penalty is very expensive. If the Death Penalty were to be abolished that would save the money for many states and countries that use it. The Death Penalty has been something that has been debated for years without a solid conclusion. There are those who stand against it and then those who are all for it, but the argument against the Death Penalty is much stronger today than it has ever been. Many believe the death penalty should be completely abolished and have good reasons as to why it should. Capital punishment towards another human-being for their wrong doings does not necessarily bring peace. Along with the fact that it is against human rights, it is also more expensive to go through with the procedure rather than keeping that criminal in prison for life. Mitchell writes, “To execute one person in Texas alone is 2.3 million dollars which is about...
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...capital punishment should be abolished without question? Should a man or woman not receive the same punishment as they committed? Is it better to kill a person or allow them to sit in prison for there whole life? What do you think is right, what do you think America needs to do about capital punishment? Capital punishment dates back to the eighteenth century B.C. in the code of King Hammurabi of Babylon. At this time only twenty five crimes were punishable by death. These crimes were carried out by crucifixion, drowning, beating to death, burning alive and impalement. As you can tell capital punishment has been around for a long, long time and probably not going anywhere (DPIC). Do you know when the first form of capital punishment was performed on North American soil? The first execution in the colonies was that of Captain George Kendall. The execution took place in the Jamestown colony of Virginia in 1608. Captain Kendall was executed for being a spy for Spain. From there on out, capital punishment continued throughout the colonies. The crimes punishable by death varied for colony to colony (DPIC). Today, there are around fifty countries that still use the death penalty. One of these countries is the United States of America. The United States has condemned over a ten thousand people to the death penalty since its beginning. Should the United States continue with the death penalty or should it be abolished. Do you believe the death penalty goes against everything the United...
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...the first known case of the death penalty in the American colonies happened in the James town colony in 1608 when George Kendall was executed for spying for the Spanish (Green, Melissa S.,compiler. (1998-2009). Focus on the Death Penalty). Capital Punishment is a subject in the United States that was and still is very controversial. Many people want capital punishment to be abolished but on the other hand there are a handful of people who want capital punishment to end. The purpose of this study is to show why capital punishment should be abolished. Capital punishment needs to be abolished because there are way too many cases and executions. During the time span of the Revolutionary war, capital punishment was widely accepted. During this time 162 documented cases of capital punishment were recorded. In the nineteenth century, following that era, capital punishment had increased to 1,391 documented cases. As of April 1, 2008, there were a total of 1,099 people who received the death penalty. The State of Texas had the most cases of capital punishment with a number of 405 cases (Bureau of Justice Statistics 1-2). That is way too many cases just for one state. The States of New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Kansas recorded zero cases of capital punishment. In today’s society, 38 out of the 50 states in the United States accept the capital punishment idea. In the year 2010, over 3000 people convicted of crimes were sentenced to the death penalty (Bureau of Justice Statistics...
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...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). Capital punishment is a topic that many people offer their opinion on, not only people from academia, but also doctors, bus drivers, salespeople, accountants, politicians, and barbers. There is a huge interest in the death penalty globally, but that doesn’t mean there is a consensus that has been reached on the topic. There are basically three different points of views...
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...someone to commit a ghastly, felonious act they know is illegal and could ensue death for themselves? Is someone else’s pain and misery worth your life? Would you want to know when your time was up? The death penalty should be illegal considering it is an act of murder, it is inhumane, and that person can be used for other, useful things within jail. Hundreds of thousands of people die each day. Planned or not, it happens. Murder, suicide, diseases, car accidents, or maybe even the death penalty. The death penalty costs tremendous amounts of money and resources, and it doesn’t seem to decrease criminal activity. If you think about it, how many people have been killed as a result of the death penalty? And still, how many people are committing crimes? It doesn’t scare people. Ballaro and Cushman say “Where the death penalty is allowed, it is often used in a racist manner”. As harsh as it sounds, what good is a dead body? There are many of jobs nobody wants. Pressing license plates, military can always use more help, truck driver, etc. Nobody wants these jobs, they want the money and/ or benefits that come with the jobs. If someone has committed a crime, they definatly do not deserve to have a high paying job but if nobody is wanting to take them they could occupy the jobs and be paid minimum ways or even nothing depending on how bad the crime was. Many people have been murdered as a result of the death penalty. That person may have been killed for killing someone else. How is this fair...
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...leaving him to suffer a slow, painful death. Should this man be killed for his crime, or should he be locked up in a cell for the rest of his life? I do not consider capital punishment an effective disciplinary action for those who have committed crimes. The act of ending the life of a convicted person makes us murderers too. Furthermore, there is always the risk that we could execute someone who would later be proved innocent, which would be a horrific tragedy. The idea that capital punishment reduces the crime rate is false. Also it’s not true that a life sentence for a prisoner will cost the government more over time. Most compelling to me, in creating my conviction, was an interview with an inmate from a Connecticut correctional institution. Her shocking revelation that a most prisoners would rather die than spend the rest of their life behind bars helped me come to the conclusion that we would not want to offer this kind of solitude to our most serious criminal offenders. Capital punishment is an immoral, hypocritical and inhumane act. The methods though which executions are conducted can involve physical, emotional and mental torture. Who was it anyway who gave humans the authority to play God? When a criminal is convicted and given the death penalty, by carrying it out aren’t we committing an act that is as bad as the one we are punishing them for? If, as a society, we want to punish the taking of a life, shouldn’t we be punished for doing the same thing...
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...Editor, In response to your article “Iran executes woman who killed her alleged rapist” it has brought up many issues and concerns that I’m sure many people would agree on. She shouldn’t have been executed and there should’ve been a more thorough investigation on the case. The trial was not fair at all to that woman and the discrimination to women over there in Iran needs to stop. If the United Nations was so against the trial and execution then they should’ve done more to intervene and stop the execution from happening. The UN and the UK foreign office minister should’ve obviously done something more than sit there and just talk about it since they were so convinced. What if that was your daughter accused of murder when she was trying to self-defend herself from someone who was trying to sexually abuse her? Wouldn’t you do anything in your power to make things right and find her innocent, or at least not executed? Laws like execution need to be abolished; it’s the twenty first century. “U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking in July, said the death penalty has no place in the 21st century and urged all countries to work toward its abolition.” These things need to stop and equal rights, regardless of gender or race, should be given to all people. These death penalties should have been abolished a long time ago. Why should she be punished and executed for protecting herself from someone who was trying to abuse her? Sincerely, Marc...
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...changed their recollections” and there was “no DNA evidence was available to categorically clear Troy Davis”. Nine affidavits, containing evidence implicated another suspect, were written after the trial. In fact, one of the two witnesses who did not recant his testimony was this suspect. Regardless of the lack of evidence and serious doubt, Davis was sentenced to death and executed. Was the execution warrant setting Troy Davis’ execution unconstitutional?...
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