As is common in America, many people believe that minorities are more often punished through capital punishment for their crimes. However, statistics show that it is more often white males that are convicted and sentenced to death. Also, all of the people that are involved in a capital punishment case are allowed access to lawyers and experts, often the best in their field, which gives them an added advantage in court. Although it is not reasonable to say that it is fair to convict the white man more than a minority, there is certainly no evidence that proves the process of sentencing and following through with hat sentence is biased or stereotyped in any way.
Statistics:
In 2005, out of the 3,320 people that were executed, about 56% (1856) were white. This proves that the majority of the criminals were white and therefore not a minority so the system is not prejudiced against the minority groups. Also, more percentage of white people are on death row than blacks. So statistically speaking, white people tend to be executed more, which could say that the system is prejudiced against them.
Citation: Capital Punishment, 2005. US Department of Justice. Retrieved February 13, 2009 from Bureau Of Justice Statistics, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cp05.htm
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Is Capital Punishment Good for the Families of Victims?
When I first read this topic, my answer was a resounding yes. But as I researched further, I realized that the long process often causes more trouble and pain for the families than it's worth. In fact, there are now interest groups that support a life-term prison sentence rather than the death penalty. One of these groups, Death Penalty Focus, has sent speakers world wide to communicate their goals in ending the death penalty universally. Also, many victims have come out and said that waiting for the culprit to receive his punishment, besides being too long and traumatizing, often causes them to have to relive the pain of losing their loved one/s all over again. Several groups, including Murder Victim's Families for Reconciliation, California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, and others all aim to educate the public and hope to stop the death penalty all together, even though many of them have been victims of crimes that are considered a capital crime.
All in all, capital punishment could help families of victims to heal, but the process would have to be shortened by years in order to be effective. But, until that happens and the victims and families don't have to endure the long and painful process of waiting for execution, capital punishment doesn't really help them to feel better or heal at all.
Citation: Victims' Perspectives on the Death Penalty. Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from the Death penalty Information Center, http://www.death
penalty.org/article.php?id=56
finish tomorrow :)
All in all, capital punishment could help families of victims to heal, but the process would have to be shortened by years in order to be effective. But, until that happens and the victims and families don't have to endure the long and painful process of waiting for execution, capital punishment doesn't really help them to feel better or heal at all.
Citation: Victims' Perspectives on the Death Penalty. Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from the Death penalty Information Center, http://www.death
penalty.org/article.php?id=56
finish tomorrow :)
Does Capital Punishment Help Protect Society and Prevent Crime?
In some cases, capital punishment DOES help to deter crime and protect society and its citizens. Firstly, when a murderer is brought to justice and their life is ended via capital punishment, they are no longer able to walk the streets and commit their previous crimes. In this way, society is protected from repeat-offenders.
Also, as is stated in previous posts, studies have shown that each execution prevents 18 further murders from occurring on average. However, in order for capital punishment to prevent crime, the criminal offenders must believe that the system is capable of catching them and punishing for their wrong-doings. Furthermore, the cost that is involved in capital punishment could be implemented in other ways, such as crime prevention programs, that may prove better at protecting society and preventing crimes from occurring.
However, there are certain people, usually who have some type of mental issue, that will commit the crime regardless of the potential punishment. For instance, murderers like Ed Gein and other serial killers and rapists, killed for the sheer thrill of it, and ultimately did not care if they were caught or killed for their actions.
Overall, capital punishment does help to deter crime, but not in a big way. Though it may stop some criminals from murdering, there are still those out there who kill to kill, and therefore other measures must be taken in order to ensure public safety.
Citation: Vermeule, A. (2007). Capital Punishment Is Moral to Prevent the Taking of Innocent Lives. Opposing Viewpoints. Retrieved February 15, 2009, from Opposing Viewpoints, http://
find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%
Also, as is stated in previous posts, studies have shown that each execution prevents 18 further murders from occurring on average. However, in order for capital punishment to prevent crime, the criminal offenders must believe that the system is capable of catching them and punishing for their wrong-doings. Furthermore, the cost that is involved in capital punishment could be implemented in other ways, such as crime prevention programs, that may prove better at protecting society and preventing crimes from occurring.
However, there are certain people, usually who have some type of mental issue, that will commit the crime regardless of the potential punishment. For instance, murderers like Ed Gein and other serial killers and rapists, killed for the sheer thrill of it, and ultimately did not care if they were caught or killed for their actions.
Overall, capital punishment does help to deter crime, but not in a big way. Though it may stop some criminals from murdering, there are still those out there who kill to kill, and therefore other measures must be taken in order to ensure public safety.
Citation: Vermeule, A. (2007). Capital Punishment Is Moral to Prevent the Taking of Innocent Lives. Opposing Viewpoints. Retrieved February 15, 2009, from Opposing Viewpoints, http://
find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%
Is the Death Penalty Justified?
Yes, the death penalty provides a means of punishment to those offenders who have committed crimes so heinous that other forms of punishment prove to be insufficient in castigating the criminal. In all of capital punishment cases, those being sentenced to death have committed murder, whether it be of one person, or hundreds of people. Murderers that kill innocent people, not in self defense or for a rational reason, do not deserve to live out their lives with their only punishment being confined to a cell, where TV is still available and they are fed regular meals. Instead, these violent offenders deserve the ultimate penalty for committing murder; they should be sentenced to death.
Also, some of the crimes that these felons commit are so horrible that no other punishment really is severe enough. Furthermore, the death penalty is only used in extreme cases, not for a petty theft or any other minor crime or felony; it is used on criminals who have murdered on purpose. Thus, Hammurabi's Code should take precedence: if someone kills someone, they should be killed, too.
Citation: Kronenwetter, M. (2009). Capital Punishment. The New Book of Knowledge®. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Grolier Online http://nbk.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=a2004545-h
Also, some of the crimes that these felons commit are so horrible that no other punishment really is severe enough. Furthermore, the death penalty is only used in extreme cases, not for a petty theft or any other minor crime or felony; it is used on criminals who have murdered on purpose. Thus, Hammurabi's Code should take precedence: if someone kills someone, they should be killed, too.
Citation: Kronenwetter, M. (2009). Capital Punishment. The New Book of Knowledge®. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Grolier Online http://nbk.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=a2004545-h
Is Capital Punishment Economically Justifiable and Cost Effective?
Capital Punishment is very expensive. In fact, most statistics state that it is cheaper to house a convict in prison for life rather than pay for all of the appeals and other costs associated with enforcing the death penalty. However, if certain steps were taken to remove the long process of appeals and re-appeals and all of the other time-consuming procedures, capital punishment could become a less expensive way to deal with felons.
In California, it costs tax payers 250 million dollars per ONE execution. This cost includes the experts and lawyers hired, the trial fees, and other various costs associated with long trials (and appeals). In fact, the Judicial Conference of the United States estimates that capital punishment is four times more expensive than the alternative (keeping a prisoner for one, or multiple, life terms). However, I think that capital punishment is worth the money in most cases as it prevents serial killers, rapists, and other convicts from potentially getting out on good behavior or escaping from jail only to commit those same crimes again.
Citation: Dieter, R (2007). Costs of the Death Penalty and Related Issues, Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved February 13, 2009, www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty
In California, it costs tax payers 250 million dollars per ONE execution. This cost includes the experts and lawyers hired, the trial fees, and other various costs associated with long trials (and appeals). In fact, the Judicial Conference of the United States estimates that capital punishment is four times more expensive than the alternative (keeping a prisoner for one, or multiple, life terms). However, I think that capital punishment is worth the money in most cases as it prevents serial killers, rapists, and other convicts from potentially getting out on good behavior or escaping from jail only to commit those same crimes again.
Citation: Dieter, R (2007). Costs of the Death Penalty and Related Issues, Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved February 13, 2009, www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty
Are Executions Sometimes Required to Uphold Justice?
Yes, executions are more than often performed to prevent the crime from being committed again by culprit. They are also used to to deter further crimes from being committed by implementing a "scare tactic" to warn other (and future) offenders of the possible retributions of their illegal actions.
Many studies on the potential deterrent effect of capital punishment maintain that the use of capital punishment does help to prevent crime. In one study, the state first suspended the use of capital punishment and then re-enacted it. The evidence showed that during the period of suspension of the death penalty, homicide rates increased by almost 91%. Furthermore, when capital punishment was re-instituted, the murder rate went down in more than 67% of the states participating in the study.
However, this evidence is only correlation and not causation, so it is not right to say that capital punishment does in fact decrease crime. However, keeping culprits off the streets and punishing them for their wrong actions, and so they can never kill again, does help to uphold justice by at least keeping one more killer from killing.
Citation: Capital Punishment. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved February 15, 2009, from Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/93902/capital-punishment
Many studies on the potential deterrent effect of capital punishment maintain that the use of capital punishment does help to prevent crime. In one study, the state first suspended the use of capital punishment and then re-enacted it. The evidence showed that during the period of suspension of the death penalty, homicide rates increased by almost 91%. Furthermore, when capital punishment was re-instituted, the murder rate went down in more than 67% of the states participating in the study.
However, this evidence is only correlation and not causation, so it is not right to say that capital punishment does in fact decrease crime. However, keeping culprits off the streets and punishing them for their wrong actions, and so they can never kill again, does help to uphold justice by at least keeping one more killer from killing.
Citation: Capital Punishment. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved February 15, 2009, from Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/93902/capital-punishment
Is the Death Penalty Cruel and Unusual Punishment?
No, those who have been convicted of a crime and are sentenced to death deserve death. Today, most capital punishment is done by lethal injection, when, if done properly, results in a quick and painful death. Also, in the court case Gregg vs. Georgia, capital punishment is allowed if and only if the punishment isn't cruel and unusual which prevents unethical ways of carrying out the punishment.
A majority of Americans, 69%, agree with enforcing the death penalty. This helps to support the ethics of the punishment because if the death penalty was cruel and unusual, most Americans wouldn't support it.
Citation: Moyers, Bill (2007). Capital Punishment in Perspective. Public Affairs Television. Retrieved February 15, 2009, http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/11092007/capital
punishment.html
A majority of Americans, 69%, agree with enforcing the death penalty. This helps to support the ethics of the punishment because if the death penalty was cruel and unusual, most Americans wouldn't support it.
Citation: Moyers, Bill (2007). Capital Punishment in Perspective. Public Affairs Television. Retrieved February 15, 2009, http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/11092007/capital
punishment.html
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