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 :)