Introduction
Arguably, the society in the 21st century has become one of the dangerous places to be. Crimes are committed at home, streets, business premises, as well as religious buildings. Some of the worst crimes include murder, rape, and robbery with violence. Hence, the society has the highest intention of discouraging these crimes by using the strongest form of punishment, which is death penalty. It refers to a legitimate infliction of death as a form of punishment to those individuals found guilty of the most serious crimes. The arguments for and against this type of punishments are very complex. Despite the fact, that death penalty has been abolished in many countries, it has its pros and cons.
Cons of death penalty
There are many reasons provided by society, administration, human rights organizations, and individual in society opposing death penalty. According to abolitionists, death penalty is uncivilized and immoral act. Ideally, this group argues that is out of this world to correct a crime by committing equally related crime, (Bren, 2009). Furthermore, many people have been executed innocently; hence, the administrative bodies are against death penalty because innocent individuals can be executed.
Death penalty in society is a total violation of the rights of individuals. Specifically, the right to live; to many people, the government does not respect life of individuals, as well as the emotions of friends, family members, and the entire community, (Pojman, & Reiman, 1998). Punishments in real life are used in order to correct and transform individuals from bad to good. Death penalty does not, at all give room for change. As matter fact, studies shows that individuals could change, when they are given a chance to face life sentence, instead of capital punishment. Therefore, capital punishments are not a corrective measure, (Bren, 2009).
Criminals are human beings with emotions and feelings. Hence, when they face capital punishments, they fear, feel pain, and hurt their loved ones. The state should put into consideration the feelings of friends and family. They are innocent and they should not be subjected to innocent torture. Capital punishments do not actually deter individuals from committing serious criminal offences. Religious groups believe that the supreme God has power to give and take life, (Pojman, & Reiman, 1998).
Pros of death penalty
Undoubtedly, the cost of maintaining prisons, especially for individuals serving long-term punishments, is very expensive. Execution process is very cheap as compared to other forms of punishment. To many people, capital punishment is economically right, and cost-effective. Additionally, many people offer their support of death penalty based on logic, stating that the more the crime, the unsympathetic should the punishment be. Hence, death penalty the most extreme type of punishment, for the most atrocious crimes. The punishment should have and equal measure to crime, (Bren, 2009).
Perhaps, death penalty is the best form of punishment, which deters criminals in the community from committing heinous crimes. Certainly, the highest form of fear among human beings is the fear of death. Hence, death penalty discourages individuals from undertaking serious crimes in the society, (Pojman, & Reiman, 1998). Additionally, death penalty incapacitates the criminal; this implies that it eliminates the worst criminals completely from the community. The punishment makes the society mush safer, because the death criminal will never commit any type of crime.
Imprisonment does not guarantee the society their security. Criminals out of parole and probation are a threat to the entire society. For example, there are incidences in which criminals out of parole, commit the most dangerous crime, a satiation that could have been stopped through death penalty. In addition, retribution is only achieved through death penalty. The community we live will be converted into a just environment, if each individual receive what he/she deserves, (Bren, 2009).
Conclusion
Conclusively, there are many cons and pros towards capital punishments. Each an individual in society believe and interpret d the validity of death penalty. Some of the pros include deterrence, safety, cost effectiveness, and retribution. On the other hand, cons are based on religion, morality, violation of human right and revenge. In the long run, the government actions should based on what most of the people believe to be socially, religiously, politically, and economically moral
References
Bren, G. (2009). Death Penalty: For Solution or Moral Failure. Minneapolis: Lerner Press.
Pojman, L., & Reiman, J. (1998). The Death Penalty. Boston: Rowman & Littlefield.
