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Why Capital Punishment Works

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Submitted By jasharin11
Words 3232
Pages 13
Asharin 1
Asharin, Justin
4/12/10
Gardner
Philosophy
Why Capital Punishment Works: Concepts of An Ideal Model Throughout the history of capital punishment, there have always been many criticisms of the penalty questioning everything from racial motivations to give the penalty, to why or why not juveniles should be exempt from the penalty, to the economic efficiency of it. Economically, many believe that the death penalty is a too long and drawn out process, and that giving life in prison is a more efficient process, and saves tax-payer money. In terms of discrimination, there has always been a subliminal sense against certain groups; with those being minorities and juveniles. The death penalty is supposed to only be given as a punishment based on the nature of a crime. However, certain statutes such as the minimum age law for the death penalty attempt to prevent true justice. If a juvenile is deemed competent, and their crime is heinous enough to incur the death penalty, then there is no reason as to why they should not be given it. As for minorities, there have always been questions as to why the majority of inmates on death row are African American. Although racism seems to be the easy answer, it is clear that the true reason is because many African Americans live in higher poverty areas were crime is rampant, thus making them more susceptible to committing heinous crimes. The death penalty should defend certain peoples, and should be used more often against certain races. It should merely aim to prevent those who have committed heinous crimes
Asharin 2 of the highest degree from ever having the opportunity to do so again, and also to attempt to deter others from committing crimes of the same nature. With the country in a time of economic downturn, many have looked at cutting costs in any way, shape, or form. One of the costs that many

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