List and briefly discuss the arguments for and against the death penalty.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The most severe sentence used in the United States is capital punishment. In recent years the Supreme Court has limited the death penalty to first-degree murder and only when aggravating circumstances are present. Those in support of the death penalty may use specific deterrence to explain the need for capital punishment because one who is dead can no longer commit a crime. Similarly, from a general deterrent perspective, proponents claim that execution can produce a substantial decline in the crime rate. Supporters also claim that harsh punishment is morally correct and proportionality to the crime is of utmost importance. In today's criminal justice system, we use a system of escalating punishments, so it follows that the most serious punishment should be used to sanction the most serious crime. Additionally, supporters also claim that execution represents the will of the people. Finally, with all of the many legal controls and appeals in place, it makes it impossible or unlikely for error to occur where an innocent person can be executed in a racist or capricious manner. On the other hand, there are many opponents of the death penalty. There is recent scientific evidence based on DNA testing that there are currently and have always been wrongfully convicted death row inmates. With this recent attention and attention to DNA testing leading to exonerations, opponents argue that innocent people are being executed. Because of the chances of error in these cases, a number of states have even placed a moratorium on executions. Critics also point out the death penalty has little deterrent effect and that public support is continuing to go down. Furthermore, there are still gender and race biases in the system. There is a possibility that the death penalty could cause more crime than it deters and especially put cops at risk for violence. The process of appealing death penalty cases is more expensive than holding an inmate for life. Finally, most other countries have banned the death penalty, and the practice itself is cruel and inhuman.