Abstract This paper examines the question, "Is the use of the death penalty an effective social response to deal with those who commit murder intentionally?". The author argues against it . The paper states that the death penalty is morally wrong, does not deter murder and that murders and crime in general are committed for complex issues; furthermore, there is always the possibility that an innocent person will be killed by mistake.
From the Paper "Capital punishment is the lawful infliction of death as a punishment for a crime. Since ancient times it has been used for a wide variety of felonies. Today, it is mostly the punishment for murder, although in some countries it is also the penalty for drug-trafficking, terrorism and some other crimes, including ' political opposition' in some countries. Capital punishment is no longer practiced in Canada. The last execution in this country was in 1963. The situation is similar in most of Europe."
Abstract This paper discusses the death penalty as a deterrent for potential murderers, especially in the case of second premeditated murder. The paper also takes a look at those wrongly accused of a crime they did not commit, who sat on Death Row. This paper further discusses the moral dilemma of the death penalty from a US and Canadian perspective.
From the Paper "The death penalty is morally acceptable in cases of premeditated murder, and especially, a second premeditated murder, if evidence confirms guilt. People opposed to the death penalty, in moral terms, often state the possibility of the wrong person being convicted of a serious crime. This can occur, as in several well-publicized cases of persons to serve many years in prison who were, later, found innocent. Several of the American states that have the death penalty feature dozens of persons on Death Row, awaiting appeals, or results of new evidence, and with some discovered to be not guilty as charged."
Abstract This paper discusses the argument that capital punishment functions as a deterrent that satisfies the public's sense of justice, while at the same time acknowledging that its value as a deterrent is most limited, given the fact that homicide is often not a rational or premeditated act. The paper also points out, however, that if a criminal justice system is to demonstrate that it is an institution to produce justice, and help to avoid a scenario of public vigilantism, it must present indication of a terminal punishment for extremes of criminality.
