Death Penalty

Paper Summary:

In this article the writer points out that thirty-eight states in the United States currently have the ability to execute prisoners. The writer notes that Michigan does not, but the suggestion that the death penalty be re-enacted has been discussed from time to time in the state legislature. The writer looks at the history of the death penalty in Michigan. The legal issues of the death penalty are then discussed. The writer concludes with the opinion that Michiganders should think long and hard about re-establishing the death penalty in the state. The writer maintains that it would seem that it may be effective in stemming what has truly been an alarming increase in the rate of violent crime noted both in urban centers and rural areas within the state.

From the Paper:

"The legal issues, which can be used to argue against the death penalty, can generally be divided up into two separate headings. That is, that the provision of the death penalty is arbitrary in its application and generally only applies to people who are poor, or minorities or both. Another is that the death penalty is not useful - executions are expensive and appear to do little to reduce rates of crime. Proponents of the death penalty would argue that the rate of recidivism -of those who kill again - after the death penalty has been applied - is essentially zero. This would seem to reduce the amount of crime possible in the world. To many capital punishment foes, all that the death penalty seems to provide is an extraction of vengeance or revenge upon the perpetrator."

Sample of Sources Used:

• John Paul II, Gospel of Life, the (Evangelium Vitae) (1995) Three Rivers Press
• Quinto, Morgan "Murder Rate in 2001 National Rate = 5.6 Murders per 100,000 Population" Accessed via the World Wide Web on 17 May 2006 at http://www.morganquitno.com/cit01rank.pdf
• No Author Cited "Illinois Suspends Death Penalty Indefinitely" January 30, 2000 accessed via the World Wide Web on 17 May 2006 at http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/01/31/illinois.executions.02/

More papers on Death Penalty:

• Research Paper # 93369 : "Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty"
• Persuasive Essay # 142258 : "The Death Penalty Back in Canada"
• Argumentative Essay # 88589 : "Death Penalty Argument"
• Argumentative Essay # 88667 : "The Death Penalty in 21st Century America"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: