Death Penalty
America has embraced the death penalty since the colonial times and who knows probably before that. Through time that has passed the methods of execution have changed, and we no longer crucify criminals or even stone them to death. Today Americans most controversial issues and debated subjects in society is the death Penalty. According to research conducted in 1995 there were 56 executions in the United States but a 12 percent drop in murder rate (Rubin). Even though 76 percent of America support the death penalty there are still a few that believe that it would only increase the violence. The question continually brought up is, does the death penalty deter crime? I will be addressing the validity of the death penalty's ability to deter crime, and why some of the experts believe that it doesn't deter crime and how execution delivers reasonable retribution.Many people in America believe that the death penalty does deter crime. "Between 1965 and 1982, when there were very few executions in the United States, the homicide rate steadily increased. Consistent correlation between homicide rates and execution is not a result of coincidence -it is proof that the capital punishment works" (Johan
Like in the case Of 1995, and appalling miscarriage of justice occurred when Texas executed Jesse Dewayne Jacobs. "A prisoner named Lemuel Smith, who, while serving four life sentences for murder (plus two life sentences for Kidnapping and robbery) in New York's Green Haven Prison, lured a woman corrections officer into the chaplain's office and strangled her. "No other major democracy uses the death penalty - in fact other countries of any description - are plagued by a murder rate such as that in the United States"(Koch 559). A murderer has been in jail for life if we think about the murderer he or she is still in a far better position than the victim. Because New York has no death penalty statue, Smith has effectively been given a license to kill. So why even have the death penalty? Many think that the death penalty is inhuman. Some times it happens but is very rare to execute some one by mistake. If America wouldn't be taking risks they wouldn't be any government. He then mutilated and dismembered her body. Although most of the time our group exercises turned into a debate during class, most of the time during class meetings our group shared ideas. Death penalty also serves justice to Victims. We kept coming out with different ideas that would make it even more interesting and exciting I think I couldn't have picked a better group they where all great to work with and very funny. Some prisoners are sentence for life in jail but that doesn't guarantee that is going to stop them from continuing violence for example. Although it took the group a long period of time to agreed with every one, we all finally agreed on what to do for our group presentation.
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