Abolishing the Death Penalty

Paper Summary:

Some people may question why the death penalty is still a topic of debate in America. After all, the Supreme Court has determined that the death penalty does not violate the Constitution's prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment. However, the Supreme Court has also acknowledged that "death is different". Because there is no appeal from an execution, it is essential to examine whether or not the death penalty is an effective form of punishment and whether there are any alternatives that would accomplish the same goals as capital punishment. After examining the relevant issues, this paper shows that the death penalty is ineffective. It argues that the death penalty does not deter future murders. Furthermore, it argues that the death penalty is unfair; it is applied inconsistently. In addition, the death penalty is dramatically more expensive than alternative punishments. Finally, the death penalty carries the risk that innocent or incompetent people will be punished. Given the flaws inherent in capital punishment, the paper argues that life imprisonment is a more appropriate punishment option.

From the Paper:

"For example, mental health experts suggest that the mentally ill are inherently more likely to confess to capital crimes ("Mental Retardation"). Despite that fact, it was only recently in Atkins v. Virginia that the U.S. Supreme Court decided that executing the mentally retarded was unconstitutional. While some states have hurried to comply with the decision in Atkins, others have not. For example, 7 percent of Texas convicts are mentally retarded, but Texas has not instituted any way of determining whether or not a defendant currently on death row is retarded prior to executing them ("Mental Retardation")."

More papers on Abolishing the Death Penalty:

• Argumentative Essay # 94221 : "Abolishing the Death Penalty"
• Argumentative Essay # 69595 : "Abolishing the Death Penalty"
• Persuasive Essay # 87241 : "The Death Penalty"
• Persuasive Essay # 70568 : "The Death Penalty"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: