CapitalPunishment Essay, Research Paper

Capital Punishment in America

The murderer and rapist of an eight-year-old girl was sentenced to death and then released after an appeal case only to commit nearly the exact some crime again. Is this justice? Why was it so easy for this menace to society to go out and rape and kill again?

This is but one of the many tragic stories that have occurred over the last 50 years. Those sentenced to death row rarely ever make it to the electric chair or gas chamber. The question is why and how. Why do we let these crimes occur over and over again? How can we make them stop? The answer is to make our system, namely capital punishment, more effective.

Capital punishment is one of the oldest institutions in our country and is still in existence today. It has not only been used here in America but around the world for many centuries. There is even biblical reference to the death penalty. However debates have arisen on whether or not capital punishment is actually effective. The death penalty is very controversial in the US. And some states have even outlawed it. Capital punishment could and would be a highly effective form of punishment if the government would be more consistent in its use.

Capital punishment is defined as the execution by the state of those who have committed a crime. Methods of execution include the electric chair, lethal injection, and the gas chamber. Each of these methods are designed so that no pain is felt. The convict is killed almost immediately and feels nothing.

However, the death penalty is still highly controversial and remains a source of argument among American’s today. Some say it is cruel and inhuman, however over 60% of the American population believe in the implementation of the death penalty in our court’s judicial system. They feel the act of execution of a criminal is ok. If the execution of a guilty capital murderer deters the murder of an innocent life, the execution is justified.

Murderers commit such violent acts of crime with almost complete disregard for what the consequences may be. If a person expected to be killed for killing another they would probably think twice about the crime. Recently, a poll of inmates was taken and over 75% agreed that the thought of being executed for their crime did not cross their minds. Instead they expected a jail sentence if they were caught.

There is not enough evidence to prove whether or not the capital punishment is effective however, that due to the inconsistency in which it is implemented and used on our judicial system. The law is very vague when it comes to matters of the death penalty. If the government would implement laws that clearly stated the ground rules for those who committed acts of murder we would be able to see more clearly the benefits of capital punishment.

Rehabilitation should be the main goal of American’s judicial system, but in certain cases the system cannot rehabilitate these criminals. Statics have shown that one in ten death row inmates have been convicted of minor crimes and a first-degree murder. Which means that some inmates have been given a chance to rehabilitate themselves and have failed only to return to a life of violent crimes. These convicts are a menace and a burden to society and serve no purpose for existence, which therefore means they should not exist.

Capital punishment is very costly. This is due mainly to the long and multiple appeal cases presented in court. Inorder to reduce the cost of a death row inmate lawmakers should perhaps create laws strictly limited and defining the appeal process. If a man is found guilty of murder more than once by a court of law and is sentenced should he not be executed?

The death penalty has been surrounded by controversy because its benefits have not been proven due largely to the ineffective manner in which the government implements it. Reforming the capital punishment rather than abolishing it would be more beneficial to society. If the government would implement stronger laws and limited the amount of appeals the death penalty could become a very efficient method of punishment. Those who commit murder and are repeated offenders cannot and should

not be trusted to be a part of our society and therefore should not be apart of society. Capital punishment could truly benefit our society if it were used to its full potential.