Legal Homicide Essay, Research Paper

Legal Homicide

Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the hardest form of punishment enforced in the United States today. It is a controversial issue that continues to be debated by the American public. Most of the factors people do not agree on the issue of Capital punishment is immoral and for this reason should not be allowed in our society.

On the other hand, there are many reasons for the support of Capital punishment. Capital punishment protects the innocent of society against the violence of criminals. Capital punishment deters crime and helps create peaceful conditions for our society. Capital punishment also serves the purpose of justice for the victims of the crimes. Furthermore, people believe that death penalty reduces serious crimes. Although there are many effective reasons supporting the death penalty, many people still deem that Capital punishment should be abolished because it is cruel, inhumane and barbaric. Moreover, the possibility of innocent death is always there. In addition, some people believe that the most effective punishment to deter crimes is life sentence, not Capital punishment.

Firstly, Capital Punishment is cruel and unusual punishment. Once a jury has convicted a person, they go to the second part of the trial, the punishment phase. If the jury recommends the death penalty and the judge agrees, the criminal will face some form of execution and then a life is ended. The death penalty is cruel because it is the inhumane taking of a human life. The methods by which executions are carried out can involve physical torture. In other words, Capital Punishment is for legally killing people.

Secondly, the possibility of innocent death is always there. There are many cases in the past where an innocent person was killed. The death penalty is irrevocable. In case of a mistake, the executed prisoner cannot be given another chance. Justice can miscarry. On the other hand, if the death penalty is not executed, the offender will have a chance to pay back society, like cleaning breaches, streets. There is no doubt that someone alive can do more than dead can. The offender has a chance to compensate the victim or the victim s family with the offender s own income from employment or community service. By working, the criminal inadvertently pay back society and also the victim or the victim s family. However, there is no reason for the criminal to receive any compensation for his work. In addition, the offenders also have opportunities to think back what they have done wrong.

Another argument for the death penalty is that it deters crimes. Many people think that the murderers in this world will not kill if they know there is Capital punishment. However, professional killers take measures to make sure they do not get caught. They skillfully create their plans to make sure they are not suspected of criminal activity. A person who gets caught for killing another individual is usually someone who did not plan to commit homicide. The actions of these individuals are unplanned and erupt as a result of a rage or anger. The death penalty, it would seem, would logically deter crime, but the problem is that most murderers are unplanned and are not a result of logic.

Finally, many people believe that life sentence is more frightful than Capital punishment and it really deters crimes. Life sentence means living in prison for life. The feeling of no freedom and dark are really more painful than death penalty, just like a bird in a cage which it can only fly within that little and limited area. With the death penalty, the offender will only feel pain for only a split second. However, for the life sentence, the offenders will feel pain and loneliness for their remaining life. They can go nowhere. They can see nothing but the walls.

Capital punishment is immoral in principle. It assures the execution of some innocent people. Moreover, there is no one in the world has the right to take someone s life. That s why Capital punishment should be abolished in our society.