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Capital Punishment
Learning Team B
University of Phoenix
RES/110
Capital Punishment Outline
Capital Punishment is a relic of times when humans were considered uncivilized. This subject has been a controversial topic for many years and will probably remain contentious. Most Americans have a strong opinion for or against the death penalty. No matter what the opinion may be each individual should take an active stand for what they believe in. Capital punishment affects each of our lives in various ways. For example, if an innocent man/woman is sentenced to death, could citizen’s tax dollar be used toward his or her death sentence? Or consider this, if a guilty man/woman is set free in our community, due to the lack of circumstantial evidence, will the safety of various communities change? Throughout history there have been hundreds if not thousands of cases that prove that execution is wrong for some and satisfactory for others. This paper we will discuss the pros and cons of capital punishment and a middle ground for both viewpoints. The discussion will also focus on justice, error, increased or decreased crime, cost, mitigating circumstances and a medium for each opposing side which will hopefully help the audience better decide what their personal position is on the capital punishment.
Capital punishment is important in today’s society to demonstrate to murderers and criminals no barbaric activities will go unpunished, in other words, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. “Executing people for murder deters other people from committing other murders. Common sense would suggest to anyone that such a deterrent effect must exist. After all, people do fear losing their lives. And based on the evidence, it's hard to see why anyone would doubt the deterrent effect of the death penalty.” (Tucker, William, 2001) By practicing capital punishment it allows the state and country to have fewer homicides once these criminals are executed, and many of the victims families feel justice is served when one has a taste of his or her own medicine. Many homes are destroyed because of murders, why not bring these killers face to face with a slow and painful death and make them aware of the pain they caused these innocent families.
When a murderer is executed not only is there less homicides but these families are given a sense of justice on their part and are able to possibly pick up the pieces to their lives. With capital punishment in place and practiced it allows for crime rates to drop increasingly and allows for first time offenders not repeat their offenses. The death penalty is literally weeding out the bad apples, by the government eliminating these criminals which allows innocent civilians the peace of mind they all deserve and not only does it allow for innocent people to feel safer in their communities and homes it also makes other criminal aware that justice will prevail and steer them away from pursuing murders and barbaric acts against people.
“Retribution is the moral principle that the harm and injury imposed on the victim should be reflected proportionately back onto the criminal who caused them. This policy is both moral and practical. Moral—because it upholds the value of innocent human life. Practical—because a policy of reflecting full harm back on the criminal frustrates his goal, which is to profit at someone else's expense. Retribution means that the criminal "won't get away with it." (Bidinotto, James Robert, 2000) With the knowledge there will be a price to pay if they go ahead and commit a gruesome crime by taking someone’s life for whatever reason it may be, these criminals will also have to bear in mind that once they are caught there will be no other prescription but that these unlawful individuals lives will be taken as well, which in essence, will allow these individuals to think before they act which when committing any capital offense.
With the death sentence in place it allows for no chance of exoneration. The court will already have in place any fatal results of a criminal act which lead to capital punishment then execution, in turn this will allow individuals to live honestly and not cause a disturbance in their lives and other innocent people lives. But with the benefits of capital punishment, there are also oppositions of the death penalty.
The most interesting views against capital punishment can be made based on four points. One of the most important considerations is the possibility of error. Since the reinstatement of capital punishment in 1976, over 1000 people have been put to death in the United States. Once a suspect has been tried, convicted and sentenced to death, the judicial system has a responsibility to reassure the families and the citizens of any possible error. Currently in the news we are witnessing a high-profile death row case of Troy Davis, convicted of killing a Savannah police officer. Doubt and uncertainty surrounds his case, and possible error of inflicting capital punishment on the wrong person. According to Bill Rankin, editor for the AJC.COM; Davis was wrongfully convicted based on inadequate physical evidence. No DNA, fingerprints, or a murder weapon was ever produced and seven out of the nine witnesses have recanted their statement since the trial has been held in 1991. Some witnesses have come forward to identifying another person as the triggerman.
The second point representing a reason against capital punishment is the unconfirmed statistics that capital punishment reduces violent crimes. The claim that the death penalty lessens violent crimes is not definite and extremely hard to prove or disprove. Judging from the reports on the local news, violent crimes appear to take place on a daily basis without fear of any punishment. Many suspects who commit violent crimes are often victims of trauma such as violence, cruelty, molestation, neglect and other destructive social conditions. No, the behavior of an individual should not readily be excused, but we must not ignore such circumstances that may have contributed to the damage it may have caused this individual and their level of humanity. Where was the justice for them when they needed it? It is common to witness neglect amongst children in minority communities. When these neglected children grow up into troubled adults they are finally recognized and accounted for as a part of the judicial system. Corporate responsibility has to be weighed and factored, in order to determine the fairness of accountability.
The final argument against capital punishment is the expenditure. Allowing a person to spend the rest of their life in prison is said to be more cost efficient than execution. The death penalty involves automatic appeals, delays, retrials and technicalities which cost tax payers millions of dollars more than if the prisoner was to be sentenced to live out his or her natural life in prison. The prisoner normally lives 20 years or more before reaching the execution stage. The question to be asked is, is it really worth it? The outcome remains the same whether given death of life in prisonment.
References
Anonymous. McClatchy - Tribune Business News, 2008. Accused killer could get death penalty. ProQuest. Retrieved on September 30, 2008 from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1562462321&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=13118&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Bedau, H.A., 1987. The Case Against the Death Penalty. EBSCO Host. Retrieved on September 30, 2008 from http://swtuopproxy.museglobal.com/MuseSessionID=f42b22f4de5f62da346d129f3dff492/MuseHost=web.ebscohost.com/MusePath/ehost/pdf?vid=1&hid=103&sid=1eee2140-5df4-4a6f-adb5-5e4e8fced407%40sessionmgr107
Bidinotta, J. R., 2000. Capital Punishment is Moral, Current Controversies: Capital Punishment, Ed. Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2000. Retrieved on October 7, 2008 from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1562462321&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=13118&RQT=309&VName=PQD&cfc=1
Cauthen, K., 1997. Capital Punishment. Retrieved on September 30, 2008 from www.frontiernet.net/~kenc/cappun.htm
Cecere, J.K., 2006. The Death Penalty/The Death Penalty. http://swtuopproxy.museglobal.com/MuseSessionID=2a9f5b6e6e9e9f8322e627c2e8e17b18/MuseHost=web.ebscohost.com/MusePath/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=115&sid=82746eb5-aa70-47b3-9de8-9773b04d05a1%40sessionmgr107&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=tfh&AN=20844167
Rankin, B., 2008. Troy Davis case decision expected by Oct. 6 Retrieved on September 30, 2008 from http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/09/29/troy_davis_case.html
Tucker, W., 2001. Capital Punishment Works: “The State That Executes Murderers Have Seen The Most Rapid Decline in Murderer Rates,” Weekly Standard, August 13, 2001. Copyright© 2001 by Weekly Standard. Reprinted with permission. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
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