[Writer Nаme]
[Supervisor Nаme]
[Dаte]
- Introduction :
- Thesis: I believe capital punishment as a punishment for crimes should be reversed. It wastes the government’s money, does not serve its purpose and is immoral.
- Attention Getter: Is the eye-for-an-eye method right? Does killing a person really equate the loss and sorrow of the victim’s family? Is this a form of reinforcement and punishment that we want our youth to nurture in?
- First Argument Against Capital Punishment:
- Capital Punishment is morally wrong
- Second Argument Against Capital Punishment:
- Capital Punishment is an expensive process
- Third Argument against Capital Punishment:
- Capital Punishment is unsuccessful.
- Conclusion
Capital Punishment Essay
Capital punishment is a form of chastisement that makes killing a human being legal. It is legalized in 32 states across the US for punishment of serious high rated crimes (CNN). However, capital punishment has proven to be unpractical and has been unsuccessful in deterring crime. I believe capital punishment as a punishment for crimes should be reversed. It wastes the government’s money, does not serve its purpose and is immoral.
Is the eye-for-an-eye method right? Does killing a person really equate the loss and sorrow of the victim’s family? Is this a form of reinforcement and punishment that we wish for our youth to grow in? Capital punishment is morally wrong in the way that it negates the constitution of our country. According to the 8th and 14th amendment, no man is entitled to cruel and unusual punishment (The Premier Online Debate Website). It is morally wrong because the purpose of giving punishment is to correct the behavior. Nevertheless, the results of capital punishment are permanent and irreversible. Therefore, there is no room for contrition.
Capital punishment is expensive. The government bears millions of dollars annually defending a case of capital punishment. The legal fees and processing of such cases are much higher than trying for life imprisonment with no parole. Not only does the processing cost more but also housing of the death row inmates are also a huge cost to the government and uses up a lot of the taxpayer’s money. (DPIC)
Capital Punishment is unsuccessful. Majority of the studies conducted conclude that the effects achieved by imposing capital punishment are not much different from those that may be achieved from lifelong imprisonment with no parole. The south of US has the highest rate of crime and has the most number of states with legalized capital punishment. (Death Penalty: Deterrence)
In the light of the arguments presented above, I believe that capital punishment needs to be stopped. It is expensive, morally wrong, and does not prevent other people from committing crimes. It does not fulfill its purpose and instead there can be other positive and constructive forms of punishment. The answer is to enforce alternative forms of constructive punishment that will help the criminal with repentance. The penalty could be to enforce tougher and more painful punishments. (Ott)
Work Cited
"Costs of the Death Penalty." DPIC. 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty>.
"Death Penalty Fast Facts." CNN. Cable News Network, 11 Dec. 2014. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/19/us/death-penalty-fast-facts/>.
"Death Penalty: Deterrence." Death Penalty: Deterrence. 1 Jan. 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.deathpenalty.org/article.php?id=82>.
"Is Capital Punishment Morally Wrong?" The Premier Online Debate Website. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.debate.org/opinions/is-capital-punishment-morally-wrong>.
Ott, Alisha. "The Death Penalty: Society's Injustice System." The Death Penalty: Society's Injustice System. 1 Jan. 2004. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.deltacollege.edu/org/deltawinds/DWOnline04/thedeathpenalty.html>.
