Because the death penalty is a subject that sparks a lot of discussions, it is imperative to have a solid understanding of it. There are many arguments for and against it, and this article will explore more common ones.
Proponents of a capital punishment state that the death penalty prevents crime from recurring and protects society. They also believe it is less costly in the long run than keeping a person behind bars for life.
Pros
Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of the death penalty is crucial when thinking about it. You might not have made up your mind yet, or you might be confident of your position and wish to learn more about what is death row and the reasons put out by the opposing side.
One of the most prominent arguments against capital punishment is that it’s unjust. It wastes lives and money, imposes unnecessary costs on society, and isn’t needed to achieve social benefits.
The argument in favor of the death penalty is that it is an appropriate and moral approach to dealing with the worst offenders in the country. They believe that the punishment should match the crime and that retribution is not the same as revenge.
Another argument against the death sentence is that it worsens public safety and fails to prevent crime. A survey of police chiefs in the United States found that they rank it as the least effective tool to reduce violent crime.
In addition, the death penalty inevitably leads to wrongful convictions. Many people who are sentenced to die never did anything wrong in the first place.
These people could have been rehabilitated and used their life experiences to benefit society. The death penalty destroys any good they might have done in the future if they had been allowed to live.
Cons
The worsening public safety and ineffectiveness in deterring crime are two more arguments against the death penalty. Proponents argue that it is a form of justice and a deterrent against future crimes. At the same time, opponents say that the punishment does not deter crime or is disproportionate to the crime committed.
Opponents also point to the fact that it can be costly to implement and is a violation of human rights. Many abolitionists advocate replacing capital punishment with life imprisonment without parole (LWOP).
The death penalty is a harsh and unusual punishment that can devastate victims’ families. Their lives are impacted for years to come. And while it may seem like a deterrent, it does not deter future crime.
Another negative is that it shifts sympathy away from the victim and toward the criminal who committed the offense. It is especially true for those who are violent and often commit crimes against vulnerable people.
Furthermore, a death sentence can also be an effective revenge against the victim. In some cases, the avenging criminal will be so desperate to kill their victim that they will even murder to get revenge.
Finally, some would always prefer to operate outside of the rules set by society. These people may never be rehabilitated and are more likely to commit other crimes.
Alternatives
Since ancient times, people have been sentenced to death for crimes like murder. Egypt, for example, introduced the first death sentence in the 16th century B.C.; however, many countries have long since abolished the practice.
The punishment carries with it high costs, as well as risks for the convicted person. It is because it requires that great procedural precautions be taken throughout the process to prevent errors and reduce the risk of executing an innocent person.
Moreover, it also harms society by cheapening the value of life. The death of a convicted killer, even if they were the victim of their crime, diminishes the dignity and respect of other human beings.
As a result, many human rights advocates and legal scholars have been calling for the abolition of the death penalty. They argue that a better alternative to capital punishment is the sentencing of convicted murderers to life imprisonment without parole, which all states have, as well as the federal government and the U.S. military.
Today, a majority of Americans support alternatives to the death penalty. A recent Gallup poll showed that 60% of respondents chose life without parole as an acceptable punishment for murderers.
History
Around the world, the death sentence has been applied to many different crimes. Most notably, it was employed by ancient Greece and the Romans. It has also been sanctioned at one time or another by followers of most major religions.
While the death penalty has been banned in some countries, it remains a significant criminal justice policy in many other parts of the world. In some cases, political changes have driven abolition, such as when a country has become more democratic or when it becomes a condition for entry into the European Union (E.U.).
Until the 18th century, a wide range of offenses was punishable by capital punishment. However, as the enlightenment spread throughout Europe and the United States, a movement grew to limit its scope to certain crimes, such as first-degree murder.
Some states, including Florida and Texas, still use the death penalty today. Others, including California and Oregon, have gubernatorial moratoriums on executions.
The death penalty has been imposed for numerous crimes all around the world. The Supreme Court has ruled that applying the death penalty to people of color violates the Constitution’s Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.
While racial bias has decreased over the years, it remains a severe issue in the United States. Black defendants account for over 40 percent of the U.S.’s death row population. They represent more than one-third of all people executed since 1976.
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