Capital Punishment Is Not A Better Than Life Imprisonment

Capital punishment is the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime. Although capital punishment is wrong and is the killing of a human being, capital punishment is legal in thirty-two of the fifty states in the United States, meaning that the other eighteen states outlaw it as a punishment for crime. States that capital punishment is legal in all have different guidelines for what is punishable by death, but mostly murder or other capital offenses are what is punished. Capital punishment is not a better answer than life imprisonment. Capital punishment is wrong because there is a possibility of killing an innocent or mentally ill person, there is no evidence that it is deters crime, the cost is extremely expensive, and there is inconsistency in choosing a punishment for crime. Many people have been sentenced to death for a crime they did not commit. Innocent people are put to death more often than people would assume. The results from â€Å"a recent study by Columbia University Law School found that two thirds of all capital trials contained serious errors† (Arguments), which could eventually lead to a potentially innocent person being put to death if the error of the case was not caught before the time of execution. If the error is caught and the person is proven innocent while they are still on death row, they will be released and free to go back to their normal lives outside of prison, but not all falsely accused people are that lucky. EvenShow MoreRelatedThe Merits and Pitfalls of Capital Punishment Today1482 Words   |  6 Pages Capital punishment is an age-old practice. It has been used in civilizations for millennia, and will continue to be used for millennia to come. Whether used for the right or wrong reasons, capital punishment is unmistakable in its various forms. From hangings, to firing squads, to lethal injections, capital punishment and the associated proceeding have evolved over time. There have been many a rguments against capital punishment, many of which still hold true. As capital punishment has evolved overRead MoreAbolishing the Death Penality743 Words   |  3 Pagesmodern times, execution of criminals is being used by every country in the world. Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is the execution of a person by a government for serious crimes committed. Capital punishment has been used by almost all societies. Currently 58 nations support the death penalty, and 140 countries have abolished it. Abolish the death penalty because, first, it costs more for a death penalty than keeping a criminal alive. Second, the death penalty, or killing, is not right. ItRead MoreCapital Punishment1186 Words   |  5 PagesCapital punishment is the execution of a perpetrator for committing a heinous crime (homicide), and it is a hotly debated topic in our society. The basic issue is whether capital punishment should be allowed as it is today, or abolished in part or in whole. My argume nt is that: 1) Capital punishment is not an effective deterrent for heinous crimes. 2) Life imprisonment can be worse of a punishment than death, not as costly as execution, and better for rehabilitation. 3) The innocent canRead MoreEssay on Capital Punishment in America1180 Words   |  5 PagesCapital Punishment in America Capital punishment is the execution of a perpetrator for committing a heinous crime (homicide), and it is a hotly debated topic in our society. The basic issue is whether capital punishment should be allowed as it is today, or abolished in part or in whole. My argument is that: 1) Capital punishment is not an effective deterrent for heinous crimes. 2) Life imprisonment can be worse of a punishment than death, not as costly as execution, and better forRead MoreThoughtful Reasoning For The Ultimate Punishment1613 Words   |  7 PagesUltimate Punishment Only the most dangerous criminals in the world are faced with society’s ultimate penalty, or at least that is the theory. Capital punishment, commonly referred to as the Death Penalty has been debated for many decades regarding if such a method is ethical. While there are large amounts of supporters for the death penalty as a form of retribution, the process is avoidable financially as taxing for all parties involved. The financial expenses may be better off saved for life imprisonmentRead MoreArguing Against Capital Punishment1591 Words   |  7 Pagesdebate over capital punishment, the opponents argue that capital punishment should not be practiced because it has a civilizing effect and practicing capital punishment has do deterrent effect. On the other side of the debate, the supporters argue that capital punishment should not be abolished because it is just retribution and has a deterrent effect. In this paper, I will argue that capital punishment should not be practiced. In the article titled, â€Å"The Folly of Capital Punishment,† Jeffrey ReimanRead MoreThe History of Capital Punishment1239 Words   |  5 PagesThe clock ticks to 10:53. The late night has grown longer, and Troy Davis is strapped down to a gurney. If he is scared, he does not show it; he appears strong and resolute in what is undoubtedly a very daunting situation. â€Å"For those about to take my life,† he says, â€Å"may God have mercy on your souls† (â€Å"Georgia†). Davis has been on death row for over twenty years for killing a police officer. After every request and appeal has failed, the time has come for Davis to be executed by the state of GeorgiaRead MoreArguments Against The Death Penalty Essay1482 Words   |  6 Pagestake someones life anymore than they? Many individuals have been executed without physical evidence, how are we to know that the individual is actually guilty? Till this day, there are thirty-one states with the death penalty a nd nineteen without. There are many reasons why the death penalty should be abolished, it violates the offender’s rights to life and the offense of human dignity. Yet many individuals still insist on the death penalty. Bedau argues against capital punishment through his argumentRead MoreLife Imprisonment1378 Words   |  6 Pages| LIFE IMPRISONMENT IS A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT | Can life imprisonment be a good alternative to death penalty? The issue remains unresolved. Even the US Supreme Court that had abolished ‘Death Penalty’ reversed its decision when new and less cruel methods of execution were introduced.  Why does a society punish its members for certain acts that are offensive and unacceptable to its laws and codes? This can be a starting point of exploring our dilemma about death penalty vs. lifeRead MoreCapital Punishment And Life Effects On Society And The Justice System1528 Words   |  7 Pagesforced to face with, and the punishment of these offenders can cause great debate among society and the justice system. The criminal justice field is heavily influenced by these rare offenders because there is no concrete course of action that is taken in these cases. The most frequent consequences used for these offenders includes the offender being given a capital punishment charge, or given a life imprisonment charge. Both capital punis hment and life imprisonment have their own set of advantages