Should the death penalty be banned as a form of punishment?
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Overview/Background
The United States remains in the minority of nations in the world that still uses death as penalty for certain crimes. Many see the penalty as barbaric and against American values. Others see it as a very important tool in fighting violent pre-meditated murder. Two things have once again broughtthis issue to national debate. One is the release of some highly publicized studies that show a number of innocents had been put to death. The second is the issue of terrorism and the need to punish its perpetrators.Yes
- Financial costs to taxpayers of capital punishment is several times that of keeping someone in prison for life.
Most people don't realize that carrying out one death sentence costs 2-5 times more than keeping that same
criminal in prison for the rest of his life. How can this be? It has to do with the endless appeals, additional
required procedures, and legal wrangling that drag the process out. It's not unusual for a prisoner to be on death row
for 15-20 years. Judges, attorneys, courtreporters, clerks, and court facilities all require a substantial investment
by the taxpayers. Do we really have the resources to waste?
- It is barbaric and violates the "cruel and unusual" clause in the Bill of Rights.
Whether it's a firing squad, electric chair, gas chamber, lethal injection, or hanging, it's barbaric to allow
state-sanctioned murder before a crowd of people. We condemn people like
Ahmadinejad, Qaddafi, and Kim JongIl when they
murder their own people while we continue to do the same (although our procedures for allowing it are obviously
more thorough). The 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prevents the use of "cruel and unusual punishment". Many
would interpret the death penalty as violating thisrestriction.
- The endless appeals and required additional procedures clog our court system.
The U.S. court system goes to enormous lengths before allowing a death sentence to be carried out. All the appeals,
motions, hearings, briefs, etc. monopolize much of the time of judges, attorneys, and other court employees as well
as use up courtrooms & facilities. This is time & space that could be used for other unresolved matters. The court
system is tremendously backed up. This would help move things along.
- We as a society have to move away from the "eye for an eye" revenge mentality if civilization is to advance.
The "eye for an eye" mentality will never solve anything. A revenge philosophy inevitably leads to an endless cycle
of violence. Why do you think the Israeli-Palestine conflict has been going on for
60+ years? Why do you think gang
violence in this country never seems to end? It is important to send a message to society that striking back at your
enemy purely for revenge will always make matters worse.
- It sends the wrong message: why kill people who kill people to show killing is wrong.
Yes, we want to make sure there is accountability for crime and an effective
deterrent in place; however, the death penalty has a message of "You killed one of us, so we'll kill you". The
state is actually using amurder to punish someone who committed a murder. Does that make sense?
- Life in prison is a worse punishment and a more effective deterrent.
For those of you who don't feel much sympathy for a murderer, keep in mind that death may be too good for them. With a
death sentence, the suffering is over in an instant. With life in prison, the pain goes on for decades. Prisoners are
confined to a cage and live in an internal environment of rape and violence where they're treated as animals. And
consider terrorists. Do you think they'd rather suffer the humiliation of lifelong prison or be "martyred" by a
death sentence? What would have been a better ending for Osama bin
Laden, the bullet that killed him instantly, or a life of
humiliation in an American prison (or if he was put through
rendition to obtain more information).
- Other countries (especially in Europe) would have a more favorable image of America.
It's no secret that anti-Americanism is rampant around the world. One of the reasons is America's continued use of the
death penalty. We're seen as a violent, vengeful nation for such a policy. This is pretty much the same view that
Europeans had of America when we continued the practice of slavery long after it had been banned in Europe.
- Some jury members are reluctant to convict if it means putting someone to death.
Many states require any jury members to be polled during the pre-trial examination to be sure they have the stomach
to sentence someone to death before they're allowed to serve. Even if they're against the death penalty, they still
may lie in order to get on the panel. The thought of agreeing to kill someone even influences some jury members to
acquit rather than risk the death. Some prosecutors may go for a lesser charge rather than force juries into a
death-or-acquit choice. Obviously, in all these situations, justice may not beserved.
- The prisoner's family must suffer from seeing their loved one put to death by the state,
as well as going through the emotionally-draining appeals process.
One victim's innocent family is obviously forced to suffer from a capital murder, but by enforcing a death sentence, you
force another family tosuffer. Why double the suffering when we don't have to?
- The possibility exists that innocent men and women may be put to death.
There are several documented cases where DNA testing showed that innocent people were put to death by the government. We
have an imperfect justice system where poor defendants are given minimal legal attention by often lesser qualified
individuals. Some would blame the court system, not that death
penalty itself for the problems, but we can't risk mistakes.
- Mentally ill patients may be put to death.
Many people are simply born with defects to their brain that cause them to act a certain way. No amount of drugs,
schooling, rehabilitation, or positive reinforcement will change them. Is it fair that someone should be murdered just
because they were unluckyenough to be born with a brain defect.
Although it is technically unconstitutional to put a mentally ill
patient to death, the rules can be vague, and you still need to be
able to convince a judge and jury that the defendant is in fact,
mentallyill.
- It creates sympathy for the monstrous perpetrators of the crimes.
Criminals usually are looked down upon by society. People are disgusted by the vile, unconscionable acts
they commit and feel tremendous sympathy for the victims of
murder, rape, etc. However, the death penalty has a way of shiftingsympathy
away from the victims and to the criminals themselves. An excellent example is the execution
a few years ago of former
gang leader "Tookie" Williams. He was one of the original members
of the notorious Crips gang, which has a long legacy of
robbery,assault, and murder. This is a man who
was convicted with overwhelming evidence of the murder of four people, some of whom he shot in
the back and then laughed at the sounds they made as they died.
This is a man who never even took responsibility for the crimes or apologized
to the victims-- NOT ONCE!
These victims had kids and spouses, but instead of sympathy for them, sympathy shifted to Tookie. Candlelight
vigils were held for him. Websites like savetookie.org sprang up.
Protests and a media circus ensued trying to prevent the execution, which eventually did
take place --26 years after the crime itself! There are many cases like this, which
make a mockery of the evil crimes these degenerates commit.
- It often draws top talent laywers who will work for little or no cost due to the publicity of
the case and their personal beliefs against the morality of the death penalty, increasing the chances a
technicality or a manipulated jury will release a guilt person.
Top attorneys are world-classmanipulators. They know how to cover up facts and misdirect thinking. They know how
to select juries sympathetic to their side. They know how to find obscure technicalities and use any other means
necessary to get their client off without any punishment. Luckily, most criminal defendants cannot afford to hire these
top guns; they must make do with a low-paid public defender or some other cheaper attorney. However, a death penalty
case changes everything. First of all, a death penalty case almost always garners significant media attention. Lawyers
want that exposure, which enhances their name recognition & reputation for potential future plantiffs anddefendants. Second of
all, thousands of attorneys have made their personal crusade in life the stomping out of the death penalty.
Entire
organizations have sprung up to fight death penalty cases, often
providing all the funding for a legal defense. For an example, look no further than the Casey Anthony trial, in which a pool of top attorneys took on a high profile death penalty case and used
voir dire and peremptory challenges to
craft one of the stupidest juries on record, who ended up ignoring facts and common sense or release an obviously guilty
woman who killed her daughter. After the "not guilty" verdict wasrendered, defense attorneys such as Cheney Mason
went into long-winded speeches for the media about the evils of the death penalty.
- It is useless in that it doesn't bring the victim back to life.
Perhaps the biggest reason to ban the death penalty is that it doesn't change the fact that the victim is gone and will
never come back. Hate, revenge, and anger will never cure the emptiness of a lost loved one. Forgiveness is the only
way to start the healing process, and this won't happen in a revenge-focused individual.
No
- The death penalty gives closure to the victim's families who have suffered so much.
Some family members of crime victims may take years or decades to recover from the shock and loss of a loved one. Some
may never recover. One of the things that helps hasten this recovery is to achieve some kind of closure. Life in prison
just means the criminal is still around to haunt the victim. A death sentence brings finality to a horrible chapter
in the lives of these family members.
- It creates another form of crime deterrent.
Crime would run rampant as never before if there wasn't some way to deter people from committing the acts. Prison time
is an effective deterrent, but with some people, more is needed. Prosecutors should have the option of using a variety
of punishments inorder to minimize crime.
- Justice is better served.
The most fundamental principle of justice is that the punishment should fit the crime. When someone
plans and
brutally murders another person, doesn't it make sense that the punishment for the perpetrator also bedeath?
- Our justice system shows more sympathy for criminals than it does victims.
It's time we put the emphasis of our criminal justice system back on protecting the victim rather than the accused.
Remember, a person who's on death row has almost always committed crimes before this. A long line of victims have been
waiting for justice. We need justice for current and past victims.
- It provides a deterrent for prisoners already serving a life sentence.
What about people already sentenced to life in prison. What's to stop
them from murdering people constantly while in prison? What are they going to do--extend
their sentences? Sure, they
can take away some prison privileges, but is this enough of a deterrent to stop the killing? What about a person
sentenced to life who happens to escape? What's to stop him from killing anyone who might try to bring him in orcurb his
crime spree?
- DNA testing and other methods of modern crime scene science can now effectively
eliminate almost all uncertainty as to a person's guilt or innocence.
One of the biggest arguments against the death penalty is the possibility of error. Sure,
we can never
completely eliminate all uncertainty, but nowadays, it's about as close as you can get. DNA testing is over 99
percent effective. And even if DNA testing and other such scientific methods didn't exist, the trial and
appeals process is so thorough it's next to
impossible to convict an innocent person.Remember, a jury of 12 members must unanimously decide there's not even a
reasonable doubt the person is guilty. The number of innocent people that might somehow be convicted is no greater
than the number of innocent victims of the murderers who are set free.
- Prisoner parole or escapes can give criminals another chance to kill.
Perhaps the biggest reason to keep the death penalty is to prevent the crime from happening again. The parole system
nowadays is a joke. Does it make sense to anyone outside the legal system to have multiple "life" sentences + 20 years or
other jiverish? Even if a criminal is sentenced to life without possibility of parole, he still has a chance to kill
while in prison, or even worse, escape and go on a crime/murder spree.
- It contributes to the problem of overpopulation in the prison system.
Prisons across the country face the problem of too many prisoners and not enough space & resources. Each additional prisoner
requires a portion of a cell, food, clothing, extra guard time, and so on. When you eliminate the death penalty as an
option, it means that prisoner must be housed for life. Thus, it only adds to the problem of an overcrowded prison system.
- It gives prosecutors another bargaining chip in the plea bargain process, which is essential in
cutting costs in an overcrowded court system.
The number of criminal cases that are plea bargained (meaning the accused admits guilt in return for a lesser sentence
or some other concession) can be as highas 80 or 90 percent of cases. With the time, cost, and personnel requirements
of a criminal case, there really isn't much of a choice. The vast majority of people that are arraigned are in fact
guilty of the crime they are accused. Even if you believe a defendant only deserves life in prison, without the
threat of adeath sentence, there may be no way to get him to plead guilty and accept the sentence. If a case goes to
trial, in addition to the enormous cost, you run the chance that you may lose the case, meaning a violent criminal
gets off scot free. The existence of the death penalty gives prosecutors much more flexibility and power to ensure
just punishments.
Related Links
Death Penalty Information Center
ProDeathPenalty.com
Death Penalty Organization - Pro and Con
Criminal Justice: Capital Punishment Focus
Miscellaneous Death Penalty Links
National Coalition to Ban the Death Penalty
DeathPenalty.org
NoDeathPenalty.org
ReligiousToleragance.org
Written by: Joe Messerli
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