persuasive essay for death penalty

Persuasive Essay Writing

Persuasive Essay About Death Penalty

Craft an Effective Argument: Examples of Persuasive Essay About Death Penalty

Published on: Jan 27, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 29, 2024

What Do We Mean by a Persuasive Essay?

A persuasive essay is a type of writing that attempts to persuade the reader or audience.

This essay usually presents an argument supported by evidence and examples. The main aim is to convince the reader or audience to take action or accept a certain viewpoint.

Persuasive essays may be written from a neutral or biased perspective and contain personal opinions.

To do this, you must provide clear reasoning and evidence to support your argument. Persuasive essays can take many forms, including speeches, letters, articles, and opinion pieces.

It is important to consider the audience when writing a persuasive essay. The language used should be tailored to their understanding of the topic.

Read our comprehensive guide on persuasive essays to know all about crafting excellent essays.

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Let's move on to some examples so that you can better understand this topic.

Persuasive Essay About Death Penalty Examples

Are you feeling stuck with the task of writing a persuasive essay about the death penalty?

Looking for some examples to get your ideas flowing?

Youâre in luck â weâve got just the thing! Take a look at these free downloadable examples.

Example of a Persuasive essay about death penalty

Persuasive essay about death penalty in the Philippines

Short Persuasive essay about death penalty

Persuasive essay about death penalty should be abolished

The death penalty pros and cons essay

Looking for some more examples on persuasive essays? Check out our blog about persuasive essay examples !

Argumentative Essay About Death Penalty Examples

We have compiled some of the best examples to help you start crafting your essay.

These examples will provide dynamic perspectives and insights from real-world legal cases to personal essays.

Have a look at them to get inspired!!

Argumentative essay about death penalty in the Philippines

Argumentative essay about death penalty with introduction body conclusion

Argumentative essay about death penalty should be abolished

Argumentative essay about death penalty conclusion

6 Tips To Write an A+ Persuasive Essay

We know it can be daunting to compose a perfect essay that effectively conveys your point of view to your readers. Worry no more.

Simply follow these 6 tips, and you will be on your way to a perfect persuasive essay.

1. Understand the assignment and audience

Before you start writing your essay, you must understand what type of essay you are being asked to write. Who your target audience should be?

Make sure you know exactly what youâre arguing for and against, as this will help shape your essay's content.

2. Brainstorm and research

Once you understand the topic better, brainstorm ideas that support your argument.

During this process, be sure to do additional research on any unfamiliar points or topics.

3. Create an outline

After doing your initial research, create an outline for your essay that includes all the main points you want to make.

This will help keep your thoughts organized and ensure you cover all the necessary points cohesively.

Check out our extensive guide on persuasive essay outlines to master the art of creating essays.

4. Make an argument

Use persuasive language and techniques to construct your essay. Strong evidence, such as facts and statistics, can also help to strengthen your argument.

5. Edit and revise

Before you submit your essay, take the time to edit and revise it carefully.

This will ensure that your argument is clear and concise and that there are no grammar or spelling errors.

6. Get feedback

Lastly, consider asking someone else to read over your essay before you submit it.

Feedback from another person can help you see any weaknesses in your argument or areas that need improvement.

Summing up,

Writing a persuasive essay about the death penalty doesnât have to be overwhelming. With these examples and tips, you can be sure to write an essay that will impress your teacher.

Whether itâs an essay about the death penalty or any other controversial topic, you can ace it with these steps!

Remember, the key is to be creative and organized in your writing!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most persuasive argument for the death penalty.

The most persuasive argument for the death penalty is that it is a deterrent to violent crime.

The idea is that by punishing criminals, other potential criminals will be less likely to act out of fear of similar punishment.

How do you start a persuasive speech on the death penalty?

When starting a persuasive speech on the death penalty, begin by introducing and defining the topic. Provide an overview of the controversial issue.

Outline your points and arguments clearly, including evidence to support your position.

What are good topics for persuasive essays?

Good topics for persuasive essays include

Whether or not the death penalty is a fair punishment for violent crime
Whether harsher punishments will reduce crime rates
Will capital punishment is worth the costs associated with it
How rehabilitation should be taken into consideration when dealing with criminals.

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Persuasive Essay

Persuasive Essay About Death Penalty

Last updated on: Jan 2, 2024

Crafting a Compelling Persuasive Essay About Death Penalty

By: Donna C.

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: Jan 27, 2023

Writing a persuasive essay about the death penalty can be difficult. You want to make sure that your argument is convincing and well-reasoned.

It's important to get your persuasive essay about death row right because it's a topic that people feel passionately about.

You don't want to risk alienating your readers with a poorly written argument.

We can help you write an excellent persuasive essay about the death penalty. Our experienced writers know how to craft an argument to persuade your readers.

Let’s get started!

On this Page

What is a Persuasive Essay?

A persuasive essay is used to convince a reader about a particular idea or focus that you believe in. Your persuasive essay could be based on anything about which you can make a clear argument.

Whether you're arguing against junk food at school or petitioning for the removal of the death penalty, persuasive skills are essential.

When writing a persuasive essay, you need to think about what kind of evidence can support the death penalty argument.

Depending on your topic, this could include facts and data, examples from real life, or quotes from experts.

You want to convince them that your opinion is the one that matters most. After all, persuasion is at the heart of any successful essay.

So make sure you research and think carefully about presenting your argument!

Take a look at these persuasive essay topics and select the one that interests you the most!

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Persuasive Essay About Death Penalty Examples

The death penalty is a highly controversial and polarizing topic. It is an issue that has been debated for centuries, with passionate advocates on both sides of the debate.

Unfortunately, there are still many countries in the world that practice capital crimes. This raises some very important ethical and moral questions for society.

One of the best ways to share their opinions is through persuasive essays. You can use the following essay samples as inspiration for writing an essay.

Example of a Persuasive essay about death penalty

Persuasive essay about death penalty in the Philippines

Short Persuasive essay about death penalty

Persuasive essay about death penalty should be abolished

The death penalty pros and cons essay

Argumentative Essay About Death Penalty Examples

In some countries, death penalties are still used as capital punishment to deter crimes.

However, there are also many people who argue that the death penalty should be abolished because it's inhumane.

The easiest way is to convey your thoughts through an argumentative essay. Check out these examples to see how you can structure your arguments.

Argumentative essay about death penalty in the Philippines

Argumentative essay about death penalty with introduction body conclusion

Argumentative essay about death penalty should be abolished

Argumentative essay about death penalty conclusion

Need more samples? Check out these persuasive essay examples !

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Persuasive Essay Writing Tips

Writing a persuasive essay is all about making sure your opinion is heard. Be sure to create a persuasive essay outline before you start writing!

Here are some tips to help you make your argument convincing.

First, always start with an interesting introduction. Use creative language to capture the reader's attention and introduce the subject of your essay.
Second, back up your opinion with solid evidence. Provide facts, statistics, and quotes from reliable sources that can help strengthen your argument.
Third, make sure your prose is clear and concise. Don’t let long-winded sentences or complex language get in the way of getting your point across.
Finally, create a strong conclusion. Restate your argument and provide a call to action if appropriate. Ensure the reader knows exactly what you want them to do with this essay.

Need help with facts? Check out this video debate about the death penalty.

Time to wrap it up!

Writing a persuasive essay about the death penalty can be difficult, but it's important to get it right.

Since people feel passionate about the issue on both sides of the argument, your argument needs to be convincing.

If you're unsure how to do this, you can use our examples as inspiration.

Are you looking to create a powerful argument that will captivate your readers?

Our experienced writers will work with you to craft an argument to convince your readers.

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Our essay writing service provides persuasive essays crafted by expert writers backed up with compelling evidence and research.

Our essay writer will create arguments that can make your reader understand and agree with your narrative.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most persuasive argument for the death penalty.

When it comes to the death penalty, few arguments are as persuasive as this:

"Innocent persons have been put to death before - and it might continue to happen unless we do something about it".

That's why proponents of the death penalty often bring up the concept of "just deserts." This asserts that those guilty of a heinous crime deserve to receive a cruel and unusual punishment.

How do you start a persuasive speech on the death penalty?

You can start a persuasive speech through a hook statement, this will help pique the listeners attention. However, be sure to avoid biasness.

To start, establish why the audience should care about this. Present facts that highlight how unjust form of punishment it is.

What are good topics for persuasive essays?

Here is a list of inspiring persuasive essay topics:

Should people be punished for the crimes committed in rage?
Should unjustly arrested people be sentenced to death without getting the benefit of doubt?
Should government-funded jails in the United States stop considering a death penalty as morally just?
Do the wrongly executed people deserve an eye for an eye?
Is gun control necessary in society today?

Law, Education

Donna writes on a broad range of topics, but she is mostly passionate about social issues, current events, and human-interest stories. She has received high praise for her writing from both colleagues and readers alike. Donna is known in her field for creating content that is not only professional but also captivating.

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The Case for the Death Penalty: Ensuring Justice and Deterrence

This essay is about the arguments in favor of the death penalty, highlighting its role in delivering justice and acting as a deterrent. It discusses how the death penalty provides closure for victims’ families, matches the severity of heinous crimes, and prevents reoffending by dangerous individuals. The essay also addresses the deterrent effect of capital punishment and the advancements in forensic science and legal safeguards that reduce the risk of wrongful convictions. Additionally, it touches on economic considerations, suggesting that the death penalty can be a more efficient use of resources compared to life imprisonment without parole. Overall, the essay supports the death penalty as an essential component of the criminal justice system.

How it works

The issue of capital punishment has perpetually ignited fervent discussions, sparking impassioned dialogues concerning ethics, jurisprudence, and fundamental liberties. Proponents contend that it stands as an indispensable instrument in ensuring retributive justice for the most egregious transgressions and functions as a potent deterrent against prospective offenses. Despite the contentious nature of the discourse, there exist compelling rationales to advocate for the retention of capital punishment as an intrinsic facet of the judicial apparatus.

A primary contention in favor of the death penalty lies in its function as a dispenser of justice.

For bereaved families and kin of victims, capital punishment proffers a semblance of closure and redress. It acknowledges the gravity of the transgression and the irreplaceable void inflicted upon the bereaved. In instances of particularly heinous crimes, such as premeditated homicide or acts of terrorism, the death penalty is perceived as the sole commensurate recompense commensurate with the severity of the offense. It attests to society’s repudiation of the most abominable deeds and underscores the sanctity attributed to human life.

Moreover, an argument of significant import centers on the deterrent efficacy of capital punishment. The specter of facing the ultimate sanction can exert a formidable deterrent effect on prospective malefactors. While studies proffer disparate findings concerning the deterrent impact of the death penalty, proponents posit that its mere existence can dissuade certain individuals from engaging in capital crimes out of apprehension of facing capital retribution. The mere specter of capital punishment within the judicial milieu can serve as a stark admonition of the dire ramifications awaiting those who transgress into violent criminality.

Furthermore, the death penalty can serve as a bulwark against future transgressions by ensuring that convicted malefactors are deprived of the opportunity to reoffend. Incarceration for life, while a severe punitive measure, still entails the potential for escape, parole, or perpetration of further violence within the confines of the carceral apparatus. Capital punishment obviates these risks altogether, ensuring that individuals who have perpetrated the most egregious transgressions will never have the opportunity to imperil others anew. This facet of the death penalty assumes heightened significance in cases involving perilous individuals who have evinced a proclivity for extreme violence.

Opponents of capital punishment frequently underscore the perils of erroneous convictions as a paramount concern. While it is incontrovertible that the judicial system is fallible, advances in forensic science, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) scrutiny, and legal safeguards have significantly curtailed the probability of wrongful executions. The juridical process for capital cases typically encompasses multifarious layers of review and appeals, ensuring assiduous scrutiny of each case. These safeguards serve to forestall the execution of innocents while concurrently upholding the probity of the judicial edifice.

Moreover, the death penalty can be construed as a reflection of societal mores and the collective ethos. It serves as a testament that certain infractions are so execrable that they warrant the most draconian punishment available. By upholding the death penalty, society fortifies the moral thresholds that demarcate acceptable comportment and underscores the gravity with which it regards the most odious transgressions. This, in turn, can engender a sense of security and confidence in the judicial system amongst the populace.

Economic contentions also buttress the rationale for capital punishment. Although the costs associated with capital cases may be exorbitant due to protracted legal processes, some contend that the protracted costs of housing, alimentation, and medical provisions for inmates serving life sentences sans the possibility of parole can be equally onerous on the state. Consequently, capital punishment can be construed as a means to allocate resources more judiciously within the ambit of the judicial system.

In summation, capital punishment subsists as an indispensable instrument in the pursuit of retributive justice and deterrence. It affords solace to the kin of victims, acts as a deterrent to prospective malefactors, and ensures that perpetrators of the most egregious crimes are precluded from recidivism. While apprehensions regarding wrongful convictions are warranted, advancements in forensic science and legal safeguards have significantly assuaged these concerns. The death penalty epitomizes society’s commitment to upholding justice and preserving moral rectitude. As such, it merits continued endorsement as an integral component of the judicial apparatus.

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The Case for the Death Penalty: Ensuring Justice and Deterrence. (2024, May 28). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/the-case-for-the-death-penalty-ensuring-justice-and-deterrence/

"The Case for the Death Penalty: Ensuring Justice and Deterrence." PapersOwl.com , 28 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/the-case-for-the-death-penalty-ensuring-justice-and-deterrence/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Case for the Death Penalty: Ensuring Justice and Deterrence . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-case-for-the-death-penalty-ensuring-justice-and-deterrence/ [Accessed: 29 May. 2024]

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Arguments for and Against the Death Penalty

Click the buttons below to view arguments and testimony on each topic.

The death penalty deters future murders.

Society has always used punishment to discourage would-be criminals from unlawful action. Since society has the highest interest in preventing murder, it should use the strongest punishment available to deter murder, and that is the death penalty. If murderers are sentenced to death and executed, potential murderers will think twice before killing for fear of losing their own life.

For years, criminologists analyzed murder rates to see if they fluctuated with the likelihood of convicted murderers being executed, but the results were inconclusive. Then in 1973 Isaac Ehrlich employed a new kind of analysis which produced results showing that for every inmate who was executed, 7 lives were spared because others were deterred from committing murder. Similar results have been produced by disciples of Ehrlich in follow-up studies.

Moreover, even if some studies regarding deterrence are inconclusive, that is only because the death penalty is rarely used and takes years before an execution is actually carried out. Punishments which are swift and sure are the best deterrent. The fact that some states or countries which do not use the death penalty have lower murder rates than jurisdictions which do is not evidence of the failure of deterrence. States with high murder rates would have even higher rates if they did not use the death penalty.

Ernest van den Haag, a Professor of Jurisprudence at Fordham University who has studied the question of deterrence closely, wrote: “Even though statistical demonstrations are not conclusive, and perhaps cannot be, capital punishment is likely to deter more than other punishments because people fear death more than anything else. They fear most death deliberately inflicted by law and scheduled by the courts. Whatever people fear most is likely to deter most. Hence, the threat of the death penalty may deter some murderers who otherwise might not have been deterred. And surely the death penalty is the only penalty that could deter prisoners already serving a life sentence and tempted to kill a guard, or offenders about to be arrested and facing a life sentence. Perhaps they will not be deterred. But they would certainly not be deterred by anything else. We owe all the protection we can give to law enforcers exposed to special risks.”

Finally, the death penalty certainly “deters” the murderer who is executed. Strictly speaking, this is a form of incapacitation, similar to the way a robber put in prison is prevented from robbing on the streets. Vicious murderers must be killed to prevent them from murdering again, either in prison, or in society if they should get out. Both as a deterrent and as a form of permanent incapacitation, the death penalty helps to prevent future crime.

Those who believe that deterrence justifies the execution of certain offenders bear the burden of proving that the death penalty is a deterrent. The overwhelming conclusion from years of deterrence studies is that the death penalty is, at best, no more of a deterrent than a sentence of life in prison. The Ehrlich studies have been widely discredited. In fact, some criminologists, such as William Bowers of Northeastern University, maintain that the death penalty has the opposite effect: that is, society is brutalized by the use of the death penalty, and this increases the likelihood of more murder. Even most supporters of the death penalty now place little or no weight on deterrence as a serious justification for its continued use.

States in the United States that do not employ the death penalty generally have lower murder rates than states that do. The same is true when the U.S. is compared to countries similar to it. The U.S., with the death penalty, has a higher murder rate than the countries of Europe or Canada, which do not use the death penalty.

The death penalty is not a deterrent because most people who commit murders either do not expect to be caught or do not carefully weigh the differences between a possible execution and life in prison before they act. Frequently, murders are committed in moments of passion or anger, or by criminals who are substance abusers and acted impulsively. As someone who presided over many of Texas’s executions, former Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox has remarked, “It is my own experience that those executed in Texas were not deterred by the existence of the death penalty law. I think in most cases you’ll find that the murder was committed under severe drug and alcohol abuse.”

There is no conclusive proof that the death penalty acts as a better deterrent than the threat of life imprisonment. A 2012 report released by the prestigious National Research Council of the National Academies and based on a review of more than three decades of research, concluded that studies claiming a deterrent effect on murder rates from the death penalty are fundamentally flawed. A survey of the former and present presidents of the country’s top academic criminological societies found that 84% of these experts rejected the notion that research had demonstrated any deterrent effect from the death penalty .

Once in prison, those serving life sentences often settle into a routine and are less of a threat to commit violence than other prisoners. Moreover, most states now have a sentence of life without parole. Prisoners who are given this sentence will never be released. Thus, the safety of society can be assured without using the death penalty.

Ernest van den Haag Professor of Jurisprudence and Public Policy, Fordham University. Excerpts from ” The Ultimate Punishment: A Defense,” (Harvard Law Review Association, 1986)

“Execution of those who have committed heinous murders may deter only one murder per year. If it does, it seems quite warranted. It is also the only fitting retribution for murder I can think of.”

“Most abolitionists acknowledge that they would continue to favor abolition even if the death penalty were shown to deter more murders than alternatives could deter. Abolitionists appear to value the life of a convicted murderer or, at least, his non-execution, more highly than they value the lives of the innocent victims who might be spared by deterring prospective murderers.

Deterrence is not altogether decisive for me either. I would favor retention of the death penalty as retribution even if it were shown that the threat of execution could not deter prospective murderers not already deterred by the threat of imprisonment. Still, I believe the death penalty, because of its finality, is more feared than imprisonment, and deters some prospective murderers not deterred by the thought of imprisonment. Sparing the lives of even a few prospective victims by deterring their murderers is more important than preserving the lives of convicted murderers because of the possibility, or even the probability, that executing them would not deter others. Whereas the life of the victims who might be saved are valuable, that of the murderer has only negative value, because of his crime. Surely the criminal law is meant to protect the lives of potential victims in preference to those of actual murderers.”

“We threaten punishments in order to deter crime. We impose them not only to make the threats credible but also as retribution (justice) for the crimes that were not deterred. Threats and punishments are necessary to deter and deterrence is a sufficient practical justification for them. Retribution is an independent moral justification. Although penalties can be unwise, repulsive, or inappropriate, and those punished can be pitiable, in a sense the infliction of legal punishment on a guilty person cannot be unjust. By committing the crime, the criminal volunteered to assume the risk of receiving a legal punishment that he could have avoided by not committing the crime. The punishment he suffers is the punishment he voluntarily risked suffering and, therefore, it is no more unjust to him than any other event for which one knowingly volunteers to assume the risk. Thus, the death penalty cannot be unjust to the guilty criminal.”

Full text can be found at PBS.org .

“Persons who commit murder and other crimes of personal violence either may or may not premeditate their crimes.

When crime is planned, the criminal ordinarily concentrates on escaping detection, arrest, and conviction. The threat of even the severest punishment will not discourage those who expect to escape detection and arrest. It is impossible to imagine how the threat of any punishment could prevent a crime that is not premeditated….

Most capital crimes are committed in the heat of the moment. Most capital crimes are committed during moments of great emotional stress or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, when logical thinking has been suspended. In such cases, violence is inflicted by persons heedless of the consequences to themselves as well as to others….

If, however, severe punishment can deter crime, then long-term imprisonment is severe enough to deter any rational person from committing a violent crime.

The vast preponderance of the evidence shows that the death penalty is no more effective than imprisonment in deterring murder and that it may even be an incitement to criminal violence. Death-penalty states as a group do not have lower rates of criminal homicide than non-death-penalty states….

On-duty police officers do not suffer a higher rate of criminal assault and homicide in abolitionist states than they do in death-penalty states. Between l973 and l984, for example, lethal assaults against police were not significantly more, or less, frequent in abolitionist states than in death-penalty states. There is ‘no support for the view that the death penalty provides a more effective deterrent to police homicides than alternative sanctions. Not for a single year was evidence found that police are safer in jurisdictions that provide for capital punishment.’ (Bailey and Peterson, Criminology (1987))

Prisoners and prison personnel do not suffer a higher rate of criminal assault and homicide from life-term prisoners in abolition states than they do in death-penalty states. Between 1992 and 1995, 176 inmates were murdered by other prisoners; the vast majority (84%) were killed in death penalty jurisdictions. During the same period about 2% of all assaults on prison staff were committed by inmates in abolition jurisdictions. Evidently, the threat of the death penalty ‘does not even exert an incremental deterrent effect over the threat of a lesser punishment in the abolitionist states.’ (Wolfson, in Bedau, ed., The Death Penalty in America, 3rd ed. (1982))

Actual experience thus establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that the death penalty does not deter murder. No comparable body of evidence contradicts that conclusion.”

Click here for the full text from the ACLU website.

Retribution

A just society requires the taking of a life for a life.

When someone takes a life, the balance of justice is disturbed. Unless that balance is restored, society succumbs to a rule of violence. Only the taking of the murderer’s life restores the balance and allows society to show convincingly that murder is an intolerable crime which will be punished in kind.

Retribution has its basis in religious values, which have historically maintained that it is proper to take an “eye for an eye” and a life for a life.

Although the victim and the victim’s family cannot be restored to the status which preceded the murder, at least an execution brings closure to the murderer’s crime (and closure to the ordeal for the victim’s family) and ensures that the murderer will create no more victims.

For the most cruel and heinous crimes, the ones for which the death penalty is applied, offenders deserve the worst punishment under our system of law, and that is the death penalty. Any lesser punishment would undermine the value society places on protecting lives.

Robert Macy, District Attorney of Oklahoma City, described his concept of the need for retribution in one case: “In 1991, a young mother was rendered helpless and made to watch as her baby was executed. The mother was then mutilated and killed. The killer should not lie in some prison with three meals a day, clean sheets, cable TV, family visits and endless appeals. For justice to prevail, some killers just need to die.”

Retribution is another word for revenge. Although our first instinct may be to inflict immediate pain on someone who wrongs us, the standards of a mature society demand a more measured response.

The emotional impulse for revenge is not a sufficient justification for invoking a system of capital punishment, with all its accompanying problems and risks. Our laws and criminal justice system should lead us to higher principles that demonstrate a complete respect for life, even the life of a murderer. Encouraging our basest motives of revenge, which ends in another killing, extends the chain of violence. Allowing executions sanctions killing as a form of ‘pay-back.’

Many victims’ families denounce the use of the death penalty. Using an execution to try to right the wrong of their loss is an affront to them and only causes more pain. For example, Bud Welch’s daughter, Julie, was killed in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Although his first reaction was to wish that those who committed this terrible crime be killed, he ultimately realized that such killing “is simply vengeance; and it was vengeance that killed Julie…. Vengeance is a strong and natural emotion. But it has no place in our justice system.”

The notion of an eye for an eye, or a life for a life, is a simplistic one which our society has never endorsed. We do not allow torturing the torturer, or raping the rapist. Taking the life of a murderer is a similarly disproportionate punishment, especially in light of the fact that the U.S. executes only a small percentage of those convicted of murder, and these defendants are typically not the worst offenders but merely the ones with the fewest resources to defend themselves.

Louis P. Pojman Author and Professor of Philosophy, U.S. Military Academy. Excerpt from “The Death Penalty: For and Against,” (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1998)

“[Opponents of the capital punishment often put forth the following argument:] Perhaps the murderer deserves to die, but what authority does the state have to execute him or her? Both the Old and New Testament says, “’Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Prov. 25:21 and Romans 12:19). You need special authority to justify taking the life of a human being.

The objector fails to note that the New Testament passage continues with a support of the right of the state to execute criminals in the name of God: “Let every person be subjected to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment…. If you do wrong, be afraid, for [the authority] does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13: 1-4). So, according to the Bible, the authority to punish, which presumably includes the death penalty, comes from God.

But we need not appeal to a religious justification for capital punishment. We can site the state’s role in dispensing justice. Just as the state has the authority (and duty) to act justly in allocating scarce resources, in meeting minimal needs of its (deserving) citizens, in defending its citizens from violence and crime, and in not waging unjust wars; so too does it have the authority, flowing from its mission to promote justice and the good of its people, to punish the criminal. If the criminal, as one who has forfeited a right to life, deserves to be executed, especially if it will likely deter would-be murderers, the state has a duty to execute those convicted of first-degree murder.”

National Council of Synagogues and the Bishops’ Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Excerpts from “To End the Death Penalty: A Report of the National Jewish/Catholic Consultation” (December, 1999)

“Some would argue that the death penalty is needed as a means of retributive justice, to balance out the crime with the punishment. This reflects a natural concern of society, and especially of victims and their families. Yet we believe that we are called to seek a higher road even while punishing the guilty, for example through long and in some cases life-long incarceration, so that the healing of all can ultimately take place.

Some would argue that the death penalty will teach society at large the seriousness of crime. Yet we say that teaching people to respond to violence with violence will, again, only breed more violence.

The strongest argument of all [in favor of the death penalty] is the deep pain and grief of the families of victims, and their quite natural desire to see punishment meted out to those who have plunged them into such agony. Yet it is the clear teaching of our traditions that this pain and suffering cannot be healed simply through the retribution of capital punishment or by vengeance. It is a difficult and long process of healing which comes about through personal growth and God’s grace. We agree that much more must be done by the religious community and by society at large to solace and care for the grieving families of the victims of violent crime.

Recent statements of the Reform and Conservative movements in Judaism, and of the U.S. Catholic Conference sum up well the increasingly strong convictions shared by Jews and Catholics…:

‘Respect for all human life and opposition to the violence in our society are at the root of our long-standing opposition (as bishops) to the death penalty. We see the death penalty as perpetuating a cycle of violence and promoting a sense of vengeance in our culture. As we said in Confronting the Culture of Violence: ‘We cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing.’ We oppose capital punishment not just for what it does to those guilty of horrible crimes, but for what it does to all of us as a society. Increasing reliance on the death penalty diminishes all of us and is a sign of growing disrespect for human life. We cannot overcome crime by simply executing criminals, nor can we restore the lives of the innocent by ending the lives of those convicted of their murders. The death penalty offers the tragic illusion that we can defend life by taking life.’1

We affirm that we came to these conclusions because of our shared understanding of the sanctity of human life. We have committed ourselves to work together, and each within our own communities, toward ending the death penalty.” Endnote 1. Statement of the Administrative Committee of the United States Catholic Conference, March 24, 1999.

The risk of executing the innocent precludes the use of the death penalty.

The death penalty alone imposes an irrevocable sentence. Once an inmate is executed, nothing can be done to make amends if a mistake has been made. There is considerable evidence that many mistakes have been made in sentencing people to death. Since 1973, over 180 people have been released from death row after evidence of their innocence emerged. During the same period of time, over 1,500 people have been executed. Thus, for every 8.3 people executed, we have found one person on death row who never should have been convicted. These statistics represent an intolerable risk of executing the innocent. If an automobile manufacturer operated with similar failure rates, it would be run out of business.

Our capital punishment system is unreliable. A study by Columbia University Law School found that two thirds of all capital trials contained serious errors. When the cases were retried, over 80% of the defendants were not sentenced to death and 7% were completely acquitted.

Many of the releases of innocent defendants from death row came about as a result of factors outside of the justice system. Recently, journalism students in Illinois were assigned to investigate the case of a man who was scheduled to be executed, after the system of appeals had rejected his legal claims. The students discovered that one witness had lied at the original trial, and they were able to find another man, who confessed to the crime on videotape and was later convicted of the murder. The innocent man who was released was very fortunate, but he was spared because of the informal efforts of concerned citizens, not because of the justice system.

In other cases, DNA testing has exonerated death row inmates. Here, too, the justice system had concluded that these defendants were guilty and deserving of the death penalty. DNA testing became available only in the early 1990s, due to advancements in science. If this testing had not been discovered until ten years later, many of these inmates would have been executed. And if DNA testing had been applied to earlier cases where inmates were executed in the 1970s and 80s, the odds are high that it would have proven that some of them were innocent as well.

Society takes many risks in which innocent lives can be lost. We build bridges, knowing that statistically some workers will be killed during construction; we take great precautions to reduce the number of unintended fatalities. But wrongful executions are a preventable risk. By substituting a sentence of life without parole, we meet society’s needs of punishment and protection without running the risk of an erroneous and irrevocable punishment.

There is no proof that any innocent person has actually been executed since increased safeguards and appeals were added to our death penalty system in the 1970s. Even if such executions have occurred, they are very rare. Imprisoning innocent people is also wrong, but we cannot empty the prisons because of that minimal risk. If improvements are needed in the system of representation, or in the use of scientific evidence such as DNA testing, then those reforms should be instituted. However, the need for reform is not a reason to abolish the death penalty.

Besides, many of the claims of innocence by those who have been released from death row are actually based on legal technicalities. Just because someone’s conviction is overturned years later and the prosecutor decides not to retry him, does not mean he is actually innocent.

If it can be shown that someone is innocent, surely a governor would grant clemency and spare the person. Hypothetical claims of innocence are usually just delaying tactics to put off the execution as long as possible. Given our thorough system of appeals through numerous state and federal courts, the execution of an innocent individual today is almost impossible. Even the theoretical execution of an innocent person can be justified because the death penalty saves lives by deterring other killings.

Gerald Kogan, Former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Excerpts from a speech given in Orlando, Florida, October 23, 1999 “[T]here is no question in my mind, and I can tell you this having seen the dynamics of our criminal justice system over the many years that I have been associated with it, [as] prosecutor, defense attorney, trial judge and Supreme Court Justice, that convinces me that we certainly have, in the past, executed those people who either didn’t fit the criteria for execution in the State of Florida or who, in fact, were, factually, not guilty of the crime for which they have been executed.

“And you can make these statements when you understand the dynamics of the criminal justice system, when you understand how the State makes deals with more culpable defendants in a capital case, offers them light sentences in exchange for their testimony against another participant or, in some cases, in fact, gives them immunity from prosecution so that they can secure their testimony; the use of jailhouse confessions, like people who say, ‘I was in the cell with so-and-so and they confessed to me,’ or using those particular confessions, the validity of which there has been great doubt. And yet, you see the uneven application of the death penalty where, in many instances, those that are the most culpable escape death and those that are the least culpable are victims of the death penalty. These things begin to weigh very heavily upon you. And under our system, this is the system we have. And that is, we are human beings administering an imperfect system.”

“And how about those people who are still sitting on death row today, who may be factually innocent but cannot prove their particular case very simply because there is no DNA evidence in their case that can be used to exonerate them? Of course, in most cases, you’re not going to have that kind of DNA evidence, so there is no way and there is no hope for them to be saved from what may be one of the biggest mistakes that our society can make.”

The entire speech by Justice Kogan is available here.

Paul G. Cassell Associate Professor of Law, University of Utah, College of Law, and former law clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. Statement before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights Concerning Claims of Innocence in Capital Cases (July 23, 1993)

“Given the fallibility of human judgments, the possibility exists that the use of capital punishment may result in the execution of an innocent person. The Senate Judiciary Committee has previously found this risk to be ‘minimal,’ a view shared by numerous scholars. As Justice Powell has noted commenting on the numerous state capital cases that have come before the Supreme Court, the ‘unprecedented safeguards’ already inherent in capital sentencing statutes ‘ensure a degree of care in the imposition of the sentence of death that can only be described as unique.’”

“Our present system of capital punishment limits the ultimate penalty to certain specifically-defined crimes and even then, permit the penalty of death only when the jury finds that the aggravating circumstances in the case outweigh all mitigating circumstances. The system further provides judicial review of capital cases. Finally, before capital sentences are carried out, the governor or other executive official will review the sentence to insure that it is a just one, a determination that undoubtedly considers the evidence of the condemned defendant’s guilt. Once all of those decisionmakers have agreed that a death sentence is appropriate, innocent lives would be lost from failure to impose the sentence.”

“Capital sentences, when carried out, save innocent lives by permanently incapacitating murderers. Some persons who commit capital homicide will slay other innocent persons if given the opportunity to do so. The death penalty is the most effective means of preventing such killers from repeating their crimes. The next most serious penalty, life imprisonment without possibility of parole, prevents murderers from committing some crimes but does not prevent them from murdering in prison.”

“The mistaken release of guilty murderers should be of far greater concern than the speculative and heretofore nonexistent risk of the mistaken execution of an innocent person.”

Full text can be found here.

Arbitrariness & Discrimination

The death penalty is applied unfairly and should not be used.

In practice, the death penalty does not single out the worst offenders. Rather, it selects an arbitrary group based on such irrational factors as the quality of the defense counsel, the county in which the crime was committed, or the race of the defendant or victim.

Almost all defendants facing the death penalty cannot afford their own attorney. Hence, they are dependent on the quality of the lawyers assigned by the state, many of whom lack experience in capital cases or are so underpaid that they fail to investigate the case properly. A poorly represented defendant is much more likely to be convicted and given a death sentence.

With respect to race, studies have repeatedly shown that a death sentence is far more likely where a white person is murdered than where a Black person is murdered. The death penalty is racially divisive because it appears to count white lives as more valuable than Black lives. Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, 296 Black defendants have been executed for the murder of a white victim, while only 31 white defendants have been executed for the murder of a Black victim. Such racial disparities have existed over the history of the death penalty and appear to be largely intractable.

It is arbitrary when someone in one county or state receives the death penalty, but someone who commits a comparable crime in another county or state is given a life sentence. Prosecutors have enormous discretion about when to seek the death penalty and when to settle for a plea bargain. Often those who can only afford a minimal defense are selected for the death penalty. Until race and other arbitrary factors, like economics and geography, can be eliminated as a determinant of who lives and who dies, the death penalty must not be used.

Discretion has always been an essential part of our system of justice. No one expects the prosecutor to pursue every possible offense or punishment, nor do we expect the same sentence to be imposed just because two crimes appear similar. Each crime is unique, both because the circumstances of each victim are different and because each defendant is different. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that a mandatory death penalty which applied to everyone convicted of first degree murder would be unconstitutional. Hence, we must give prosecutors and juries some discretion.

In fact, more white people are executed in this country than black people. And even if blacks are disproportionately represented on death row, proportionately blacks commit more murders than whites. Moreover, the Supreme Court has rejected the use of statistical studies which claim racial bias as the sole reason for overturning a death sentence.

Even if the death penalty punishes some while sparing others, it does not follow that everyone should be spared. The guilty should still be punished appropriately, even if some do escape proper punishment unfairly. The death penalty should apply to killers of black people as well as to killers of whites. High paid, skillful lawyers should not be able to get some defendants off on technicalities. The existence of some systemic problems is no reason to abandon the whole death penalty system.

Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. President and Chief Executive Officer, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Inc. Excerpt from “Legal Lynching: Racism, Injustice & the Death Penalty,” (Marlowe & Company, 1996)

“Who receives the death penalty has less to do with the violence of the crime than with the color of the criminal’s skin, or more often, the color of the victim’s skin. Murder — always tragic — seems to be a more heinous and despicable crime in some states than in others. Women who kill and who are killed are judged by different standards than are men who are murderers and victims.

The death penalty is essentially an arbitrary punishment. There are no objective rules or guidelines for when a prosecutor should seek the death penalty, when a jury should recommend it, and when a judge should give it. This lack of objective, measurable standards ensures that the application of the death penalty will be discriminatory against racial, gender, and ethnic groups.

The majority of Americans who support the death penalty believe, or wish to believe, that legitimate factors such as the violence and cruelty with which the crime was committed, a defendant’s culpability or history of violence, and the number of victims involved determine who is sentenced to life in prison and who receives the ultimate punishment. The numbers, however, tell a different story. They confirm the terrible truth that bias and discrimination warp our nation’s judicial system at the very time it matters most — in matters of life and death. The factors that determine who will live and who will die — race, sex, and geography — are the very same ones that blind justice was meant to ignore. This prejudicial distribution should be a moral outrage to every American.”

Justice Lewis Powell United States Supreme Court Justice excerpts from McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279 (1987) (footnotes and citations omitted)

(Mr. McCleskey, a black man, was convicted and sentenced to death in 1978 for killing a white police officer while robbing a store. Mr. McCleskey appealed his conviction and death sentence, claiming racial discrimination in the application of Georgia’s death penalty. He presented statistical analysis showing a pattern of sentencing disparities based primarily on the race of the victim. The analysis indicated that black defendants who killed white victims had the greatest likelihood of receiving the death penalty. Writing the majority opinion for the Supreme Court, Justice Powell held that statistical studies on race by themselves were an insufficient basis for overturning the death penalty.)

“[T]he claim that [t]his sentence rests on the irrelevant factor of race easily could be extended to apply to claims based on unexplained discrepancies that correlate to membership in other minority groups, and even to gender. Similarly, since [this] claim relates to the race of his victim, other claims could apply with equally logical force to statistical disparities that correlate with the race or sex of other actors in the criminal justice system, such as defense attorneys or judges. Also, there is no logical reason that such a claim need be limited to racial or sexual bias. If arbitrary and capricious punishment is the touchstone under the Eighth Amendment, such a claim could — at least in theory — be based upon any arbitrary variable, such as the defendant’s facial characteristics, or the physical attractiveness of the defendant or the victim, that some statistical study indicates may be influential in jury decision making. As these examples illustrate, there is no limiting principle to the type of challenge brought by McCleskey. The Constitution does not require that a State eliminate any demonstrable disparity that correlates with a potentially irrelevant factor in order to operate a criminal justice system that includes capital punishment. As we have stated specifically in the context of capital punishment, the Constitution does not ‘plac[e] totally unrealistic conditions on its use.’ (Gregg v. Georgia)”

The entire decision can be found here.

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Abolishing The Death Penalty: a Persuasive Call for Justice

Categories: Death Penalty Personal Beliefs

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Death Penalty Persuasive Essay Example

Death penalty persuasive essay introduction.

In the present time, the death penalty is rarely used in society. One supposes that it is an inhuman, immoral, unethical and barbaric way of punishment. However, earlier, when the death penalty had been widespread there were not so many murders. People were afraid to kill, steal or do other illegal actions. It means that the death penalty helped prevent killing. Religion forbids depriving another person of life. When it comes to capital punishment, people's opinions do not coincide. There are those who think that the death penalty is immoral and unethical. They suppose that people cannot decide who should live or die. However, the problems in the criminal justice system of America can be solved through the implementation of capital punishment. It can root out violence and decrease crime rates.

Arguments Pros the Death Penalty

People support the death penalty due to an increase in violence and cruelty in the society. There are many cases when murderers kill many individuals intentionally. They are serial maniacs. As a result, they deserve the capital punishment as they commit other violent actions as well. Speaking about the forms of execution in ancient times, one should mention the following fact. They were extremely torturing and violent. One can distinguish such forms of execution: lethal injection, the firing squad, gas chamber, electrocution, and hanging (Anckar, 2014, p. 9).

Serial maniacs and murderers are eligible to receive the death penalty as they kill other people intentionally. They do not regret about their violent actions as cruelty brings pleasure to them. Even after the imprisonment such people if they deserve to be called so continue their criminal activity. The capital punishment can be applied fairly to those whose crime is intentional, shocking and outrageous (Anckar, 2014).

Criminals Deserve Capital Punishment

It is evident that morality is not an argument against capital punishment. The death penalty is justified and moral when it comes to the crimes of larceny, murder, kidnapping, treason, torture, and rape. Such criminals deserve capital punishment as even life imprisonment will not make them follow moral principles. The pardoning of murderers can lead to anarchy and degradation of society. One cannot find moral assumptions in criminal activities. It means that criminal justice should use capital punishment as a way of decreasing violence and promoting some ethical principles (Anckar, 2014). One should analyze the problem of capital punishment from philosophical, cultural, social and political perspectives.

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Political Perspective

Political perspective presupposes constitutionality that defines whether a state should or should not apply the death penalty. It is subjective to think that constitutionality condemns capital punishment. On the contrary, it justifies it as murdering and violent actions being not less cruel than execution. In ancient times, the ways of execution were more torturing and outrageous. Modernization has originated new forms of execution that may not result in pain and suffering. For example, Kentucky offers new methods of the death penalty that are shared by 35 other states. Capital punishment uses innovative and more human ways of punishment (Banner, 2002).

“91% of respondents said politicians support the death penalty in order to appear tough on crime – and 75% said that it distracts legislatures on the state and national level from focusing on real solutions to crime problems” (Death Penalty Information Center, 2015). Old preventive measures (like community works and imprisonment) do not work. That is why the criminal justice system of America seeks innovation and programs that will help decrease the crime rate. The incarcerated population can be divided into lifers (3, 7%) and death row (96%) (Death Penalty Information Center, 2015). If to analyze the data in one prison the percent of incarcerated black people is higher than white ones. 37, 447 is a total number of incarcerated persons; 28, 280 inmates are black people; 9, 094 inmates are white people; and 70 inmates are of other races and ethnicity (Death Penalty Information Center, 2015). The average sentence for adults is the term of 21 years. These statistics prove the racial issue in the criminal justice system of Louisiana (Baze v. Rees, 2008).

The Deterrence Effect of Capital Punishment

One should not generalize speaking about the deterrence effect of capital punishment. The death penalty deters murders and statistics together with the common sense proving this. Firstly, one should say that people are afraid of death. Therefore, fear of death can deter them from murdering or raping. Life imprisonment has less evident influence. The execution brings sufferings and pain and results in death. Consequently, life imprisonment can be a paradise for serial maniacs. One should execute murderers to protect citizens from new murders and guarantee safety to society (Radelet, 1996).

Philosophical Perspective of Capital Punishment

Philosophical perspective refers to feelings and thoughts of people about retribution.

Retribution is inevitable when it comes to criminal justice. As a result, the death penalty is justified to a full extent. Capital punishment is only a way of punishing those who spread cruelty and do not want to follow legislation. It is difficult to build just order in the community. However, capital punishment is one of the ways of improvement (Kayser, 2011). The government cannot constantly feed criminals who have been sentenced to imprisonment. It is unfair when murderers deprive people of their liberties, peace, lives, and worldly good as well as receive the only imprisonment as a punishment. After amnesty, they can continue their illegal activities. One should say that deserved punishment is a way of moral protection of the community. It should be done by means of making an offender pay a price for the crime and restoring the just order. One should not confuse retribution and revenge as they have different motives. Retribution presupposes a just punishment (Soss, Langbein, & Metelko, 2003).

One should say that such irrevocable mistakes in criminal justice are rare. As a result, capital punishment can be justified. It is evident that criminal justice cannot be 100% perfect. Human testimony for proof can cause mistakes that will serve as a way of improvement. Besides, criminal justice should be vigilant to avoid and uncover possible errors. Death penalty cases demand a higher standard to achieve perfection in the system of justice. Small percent in death penalty cases cannot be credible evidence for refusing from it. A risk of making mistakes exists in any sphere (Banner, 2002).

One should not rely on the thoughts of opponents. The cost of the death penalty is high ($2 million per case). However, the life of the criminal who murdered many people cannot be valuable even when it comes to the cost of $1 million for 50 years. Evaluating capital punishment one should take into account the costs spent on imprisonment. Life in prison presupposes costs for food and clothes (Baze v. Rees, 2002).

Cultural Perspective

Race cannot be crucial when one decides upon capital punishment. Indeed, African Americans and Hispanics are charged with capital punishment, according to the committed crimes. The probability of the punishment of innocent African American people is the same as among the whites. The statistics show that African Americans are more likely to commit crimes and offenses. People can be criminals despite their race, social class or ethnicity (Lambert, Clarke, & Lambert, 2004).

Social Perspective

Income level is not the indicator of innocence. For example, in the present time, Louisiana is one of the most dangerous states in the USA. It is evident that problems in the criminal justice system are inevitable. This state occupies the first place, according to the prison incarceration rate. 74.4% are black state prisoners; and 48.3% are white state prisoners (Death Penalty Information Center, 2015). These statistics are alarming and provokes taking juveniles in custody, execution and death sentences. 102, 275 persons are imprisoned on probation and parole (Death Penalty Information Center, 2015). It is the population of Los Angeles. Adults are imprisoned for violent crimes (37.6%), drug crimes (31.8%), and property-related crimes (20.6%) (Death Penalty Information Center, 2015).

Arguments Cons the Death Penalty

Taking into consideration morality, many researchers of law condemn the death penalty as an unethical way of preventing crimes. They suppose that the state and federal governments should not decide whether criminals deserve to die. Capital punishment cannot be an example of moralism and ethical principles of criminal justice (Gudorf, 2013). The legislation concerning the death penalty in America relies on ethnic and racial discrimination. Those who are against capital punishment insist that such a decision is applied more often to poor and innocent rather than guilty and rich. They also suggest that the death penalty is an immoral condition that deprives the person of self-improvement and defense (Eren, 2015).

Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the USA

According to constitutionality, death is a severe punishment for any crime. It is characterized by enormity, finality, pain, and severity. Capital punishment treats people as objects and non-humans who deserve discarding. Persons who are against capital punishment indicate the fatal constitutional infirmity of the death penalty and deprival of common human dignity. The Clause should not regard humans as those who should be subjected to death. In the present time, the Clause forbids capital punishment as an unusual and cruel means of punishment that violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.

The opponents of capital punishment deny its efficacy in decreasing the crimes within the community. They object that the death penalty deters murders and rapes more effectively than life imprisonment. The statistics show that states that use capital punishment do not have lower crime rates than others that have no laws in regard to the death penalty (Eren, 2012). The same situation is with the states that have canceled this punishment. As a result, the death penalty does not provide a deterrence effect. The opponents of capital punishment insist that there is no credible evidence that will prove a decrease in crimes due to the application of the death penalty (Kayser, 2011).

The opponents of capital punishment believe that the cost of death is too high for any crime. Life in prison deprives criminals of a happy and rewarding life. Living in jail presupposes net expenses and taxpaying. However, those who support the death penalty ignore this fact insisting that one should not kill another person to make the community better. Besides, they state that capital punishment demands additional costs. It combines complicated and lengthy capital punishment trials (Shen, 2014).

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Death Penalty Persuasive Essay Conclusion

In conclusion, one should say that capital punishment is justified due to the criteria of morality, income level, deterrence, constitutionality, retribution, the cost of death and life in prison, irrevocable mistakes, race, attorney quality, and physicians at executions. One should not doubt the morality of the death penalty as the crimes of larceny, murders, kidnapping, treason, torture, and rapes destroy all ethical principles. The constitutionality makes the death penalty a new form of the execution depriving criminals of pain and suffering. The government saves money spent on imprisonment using capital punishment. Another advantage of the death penalty is deterrence that prevents juveniles from committing crimes. This punishment deters murders and statistics together with the common sense proving this.

Problems in the criminal justice system of America can be solved through the implementation of capital punishment. It is difficult to root out crimes due to their popularity among juveniles. The public correctional policy of the criminal justice system does not work properly as incarceration. It only results in the degradation of humans rather than the prevention of further crimes. The death penalty can be used as deterrence from future crimes. The income level and race are not the most crucial aspects in terms of choosing a proper way of punishment. As a result, those who are in favor of the death penalty have created a stereotypical vision of the death penalty depriving it of any sense and efficacy. However, with the help of capital punishment, the American criminal justice system can be improved.

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Death Penalty Persuasive Essay

This assignment instructed students to write a persuasive essay which argues for a specific viewpoint or a specific action to be taken on a societal issue. I argued for a specific stance to be taken on the issue of the death penalty.

The audience for this essay is the opinion section of the Sunday New York Times. This publication has a wide readership. The largest percentage of readers are between the ages of 35 and 44, and the majority of readers have either a college degree or a graduate degree. This essay argues for a question of value.

The death penalty is an issue that has the United States quite divided. While there are many supporters of it, there is also a large amount of opposition. Currently, there are thirty-three states in which the death penalty is legal and seventeen states that have abolished it (Death Penalty Information Center). I believe the death penalty should be legal throughout the nation . There are many reasons as to why I believe the death penalty should be legalized in all states, including deterrence, retribution, and morality; and because opposing arguments do not hold up, I will refute the ideas that the death penalty is unconstitutional, irrevocable mistakes are made, and that there is a disproportionality of race and income level.

The use of capital punishment greatly deters citizens from committing crimes such as murder. Many people’s greatest fear is death; therefore if they know that death is a possible consequence for their actions, they are less likely to perform such actions. Ernest van den Haag, a professor at Fordham University, wrote about the issue of deterrence:

“…capital punishment is likely to deter more than other punishments because people fear death more than anything else. They fear most death deliberately inflicted by law and scheduled by the courts….Hence, the threat of the death penalty may deter some murderers who otherwise might not have been deterred. And surely the death penalty is the only penalty that could deter prisoners already serving a life sentence and tempted to kill a guard, or offenders about to be arrested and facing a life sentence.” (Death Penalty Curricula for High School)

van den Haag brings forth the argument that capital punishment is the strongest deterrent society has against murder, which has been proven in many studies. “Since society has the highest interest in preventing murder, it should use the strongest punishment available to deter murder…” (Death Penalty Curricula for High School). In a study conducted by Isaac Ehrlich in 1973, it was found that for each execution of a criminal seven potential victim’s lives were saved (Death Penalty Curricula for High School). This was due to other possible murderers being deterred from committing murder after realizing thatother criminals are executed for their crimes. Ehrlich’s argument was also backed up by studies following his that had similar results. Capital punishment also acts as a deterrent for recidivism (the rate at which previously convicted criminals return to committing crimes after being released); if the criminal is executed he has no opportunity to commit crimes again. Some may argue that there is not enough concrete evidence to use deterrence as an argument for the death penalty. The reason some evidence may be inconclusive is that the death penalty often takes a while to be carried out; some prisoners sit on death row for years before being executed. This can influence the effectiveness of deterrence because punishments that are carried out swiftly are better examples to others. Although the death penalty is already effective at deterring possible criminals, it would be even more effective if the legal process were carried out more quickly instead of having inmates on death row for years.

The death penalty also carries out retribution justly. “Deserved punishment protects society morally by restoring this just order, making the wrongdoer pay a price equivalent to the harm he has done.” (Budziszewski). When someone commits a crime it disturbs the order of society; these crimes take away lives, peace, and liberties from society. Giving the death penalty as a punishment simply restores order to society and adequately punishes the criminal for his wrongdoing. Retribution also serves justice for murder victims and their families. Some may see this as revenge, but this retribution is not motivated by malice, rather it is motivated by the need for justice and the principle of lex talionis (“an eye for an eye”) (Green). This lack of malice is proven in the simple definition of retribution: “retribution is a state sponsored, rational response to criminality that is justified given that the state is the victim when a crime occurs” (“Justifications for Capital Punishment). The death penalty puts the scales of justice back in balance after they were unfairly tipped towards the criminal.

The morality of the death penalty has been hotly debated for many years. Those opposed to the death penalty say that it is immoral for the government to take the life of a citizen under any circumstance. This argument is refuted by Immanuel Kant who put forth the idea that, “a society that is not willing to demand a life of somebody who has taken somebody else’s life is simply immoral” (ProCon.org). It is immoral to not properly punish a person who has committed such a horrendous crime. The criminal is also executed humanely; in no way is he subjected to torture or any form of cruelty. All states that use the death penalty use lethal injection; the days of subjecting a prisoner to hanging or the electric chair are long gone in the US. Inmates are first given a large dose of an anesthetic so they do not feel any pain (Bosner); this proves that the process is made as humane as possible so the inmates do not physically suffer. Although the issue of morality is very personal for many people, it is important to see the facts and realize that capital punishment does take morality into account and therefore is carried out in the best way possible.

The eighth amendment to the United States Constitution prevents cruel and unusual punishment. Many opponents of capital punishment say that execution is cruel and unusual punishment and therefore violates the Constitution. As was stated earlier, the recipient of the death penalty is treated humanely and is not tortured in any way, shape, or form. After the anesthetic is administered the person feels no pain; the only part of the process that could be considered painful is when the IV is inserted, but that is done in hospitals on a daily basis and no one is calling it unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the death penalty as constitutional in cases they have presided over. In the case of Furman v. Georgia the court stated, “The punishment of death is not cruel, within the meaning of that word as used in the Constitution. It implies there is something more inhuman and barbarous, than the mere extinguishment of life” (Lowe). The Supreme Court has not found capital punishment to be unconstitutional, and therefore this argument for abolition is invalid.

Another argument put forth by death penalty abolitionists is the possibility of executing an innocent person. Many people that argue this overestimate how often this happens, it is an extremely rare occurrence and has not happened since the death penalty was reintroduced in 1976. Steven D. Stewart, the Prosecuting Attorney for Clark County Indiana, very effectively refutes this argument:

“…No system of justice can produce results which are 100% certain all the time. Mistakes will be made in any system which relies upon human testimony for proof. We should be vigilant to uncover and avoid such mistakes. Our system of justice rightfully demands a higher standard for death penalty cases. However, the risk of making a mistake with the extraordinary due process applied in death penalty cases is very small, and there is no credible evidence to show that any innocent persons have been executed at least since the death penalty was reactivated in 1976…The inevitability of a mistake should not serve as grounds to eliminate the death penalty any more than the risk of having a fatal wreck should make automobiles illegal…” (ProCon.org)

Stewart points out that death penalty cases are held to a much higher standard. Due process in these cases takes much longer so that the court can be absolutely sure that the person is guilty before sentencing him to execution. This helps to eliminate any errors that could lead to executing the wrong person. He also points out that although there is a small possibility for mistakes to be made, this does not mean capital punishment should be abolished. If everything that had the potential for harmful mistakes were outlawed, society would be extremely crippled.

It is true that there is disproportionality when it comes to the races and classes that most frequently receive the death penalty. It has been proven that minorities and those with lower income levels are overrepresented on death row. This is not due to discrimination; this is due to the higher rate at which these groups commit crime (ProCon.org). It has been argued that poverty breeds criminality; if this is true then it makes sense that those at a lower income level would more frequently be sentenced to execution than those at higher income levels (ProCon.org). It has also been proven that minorities are disproportionately poor, and therefore they would also be more likely to receive the death penalty. Ernest van den Haag said it best:

“Punishments are imposed on persons, not on…economic groups. Guilt is personal. The only relevant question is: does the person to be executed deserve the punishment? Whether or not others deserved the same punishment, whatever the economic or racial group, have avoided execution is irrelevant.” (ProCon.org)

It does not matter what race or economic status a person is, if he is guilty he must receive the appropriate punishment, which in some cases may be the death penalty.

Capital punishment can be a difficult topic to approach because people tend to have extreme views on it. The death penalty is an asset to society; it deters potential criminals as well as serves retribution to criminals, and is in no way immoral. The arguments against the death penalty often do not hold up when examined more closely. It is important that the nation is united on this issue, rather than having some states use capital punishment while others do not. The death penalty can be an extremely useful tool in sentencing criminals that have committed some of the worst crimes known to society. It is imperative that we begin to pass legislation making capital punishment legal throughout the United States so that justice can be served properly.

Works Cited

Bosner, Kevin. “How Lethal Injection Works.” How Stuff Works . Web. 29 March 2013. <http://people.howstuffworks.com/lethal-injection5.htm>

Budziszewski, J. “Capital Punishment: The Case for Justice.” OrthodoxyToday.org . August 2004. Web. 29 March 2013. <http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles4/BudziszewskiPunishment.php>

Death Penalty Curricula for High School. “The Death Penalty Prevents Future Murders: Agree.” Michigan State University Comm Tech Lab & Death Penalty Information Center . Web. 30 March 2013. <http://deathpenaltycurriculum.org/node/6?>

Death Penalty Information Center. “States With and Without the Death Penalty”. Death Penalty Information Center . 2013. Web. 28 March 2013. <http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/states-and-without-death-penalty>

Green, Melissa S. “The Death Penalty: Specific Issues.” Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage . 24 March 2005. Web. 28 March 2013. <http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/death/issues.html>

“Justifications for Capital Punishment.” Justiceblind.com. Web. 30 March 2013. <http://www.justiceblind.com/death/dpsupport.html>

Lowe, Wesley. “Pro Death Penalty Webpage.” Wesleylowe.com . Web. 30 March 2013. <http://www.wesleylowe.com/cp.html>

ProCon.org . ProCon.org. Web. 28 March 2013. <procon.org>

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Global Executions Reach Highest Number Since 2015: Iran and Saudi Arabia Lead

I n the Amnesty International (AI) report on the death penalty worldwide, it is noted that at least 1,153 people were executed last year by beheading, hanging, shooting, or poisoning. This is a 31 percent increase compared to 2022 and the highest number since 2015, reports DW .

One reason for the increase in executions in 2023 is the end of the coronavirus pandemic, explains Max Maisauer, a death penalty expert at AI in Germany, to DW: "During the pandemic, the number of executions in the world decreased due to health measures in prisons.

Additionally, there were fewer resources for executions." The number of newly sentenced death penalties worldwide also increased: 2,428 death sentences were handed down in 52 countries in 2023. This is a 20 percent increase compared to the previous year.

As a success, AI notes the reduction in the number of countries carrying out executions. "More and more countries are abandoning the cruel practice of executing the death penalty," says AI's Secretary-General in Germany, Julia Duchrow.

The number of these countries fell from 20 in 2022 to 16 in 2023—no executions were recorded in Belarus, Japan, Myanmar, and South Sudan. To date, 144 countries have abolished the death penalty.

Executions by State

Of the 16 countries that carried out executions, only a few are responsible for the dramatic increase in executions.

AI believes that China still sentences and executes the most people. Since everything in China is conducted in strict secrecy, the report does not contain data on the likely thousands of executions. A similar situation exists in North Korea and Vietnam, where a large number of executions are presumed to be carried out.

"The dramatic increase in executions and the number of executions worldwide is shocking.

AI's data shows only the tip of the iceberg, as we do not have accurate data from some countries," says Renata Alt. This German Liberal (FDP) politician is the chairwoman of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid Committee of the German Parliament Bundestag.

Iran carried out almost three-quarters (at least 853) of all executions, while Saudi Arabia is responsible for 15 percent (172). Additionally, Somalia, with at least 38 executions, and the USA, with 24 executions, have increased the number of death sentences carried out.

Death Penalty for Drug Offenses

Over 60 percent of executions were for offenses that, according to international law, should not be punishable by death—primarily drug-related crimes. In Iran, there were at least 246 executions in 2020, says Maisauer.

"In our current report, we have more than 853. These are numbers that are almost exponentially growing." "A major topic last year was Singapore. They tried to solve the drug problem with excessive use of the death penalty," explains Max Maisauer.

Confessions Extracted by Torture

In Saudi Arabia, the country with the third-largest number of executions, the situation has improved from the perspective of human rights activists only at first glance. Although the number of executions (slightly) decreased by 12 percent, bringing it down to 172, the report states that 'confessions' were extracted under torture and death sentences were handed down contrary to international law and after trials that were neither fair nor just.

The case of Mohamad al-Ghamdi is cited as an example. In July 2023, the former teacher was sentenced to death. His crime: critical posts on social media. Saudi Arabia was the only country last year that executed people by beheading with a sword.

Additionally, in Iran and Saudi Arabia, many executions are for relatively undefined offenses or infractions. "For example, the death penalty is imposed for the vaguely defined crime of enmity against God," explains Max Maisauer.

Concerns About the US and Sub-Saharan Africa

AI is also concerned about the USA, where the number of executions increased from 18 to 24. In the American states of Idaho and Tennessee, laws have been proposed that allow executions by shooting, while Montana is considering expanding the list of poisons and substances for lethal injections.

This trend seems to continue this year. "Kenneth Smith in the state of Alabama was executed in January by a previously untested method of nitrogen gas suffocation. The execution took place 14 months after he survived a failed execution attempt," the report states.

Somalia ranks fifth in executions. AI recorded a "dramatic increase in executions," from 11 in 2022 to 38 in 2023. In the sub-Saharan Africa region, registered death penalties "drastically" increased by 66 percent: 494 lives were taken.

Diplomacy Against the Death Penalty

Germany attempts to pressure countries that carry out the death penalty primarily through bilateral talks, official protests, and raising the issue of death penalties during state visits and international meetings.

Amnesty believes this is not enough. "We want the German government to pay more attention to fighting the death penalty and to ensure clear diplomatic consequences for countries that deviate negatively," says human rights activist Max Maisauer.

In the essay "Reflections on the Guillotine" from 1957, Albert Camus presented strong arguments against the death penalty. For the French writer and philosopher, the death penalty is not a means of justice, but an expression of revenge, retaliation.

Maisauer fully agrees with Camus and concludes: "The death penalty tries to give an appearance of justice. But in reality, it is about satisfying the most primitive instincts in society. It has nothing to do with justice. It is and remains revenge."

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Related: NATO Urges Use of Western Weapons in Russia; Germany Commits €60B in Aid to Ukraine

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In the ‘Demandingly Joyful Company’ of Socrates and Plato

More from our inbox:, wrong, tim scott, political violence: lessons from northern ireland, saving marilyn monroe’s house, fafsa mishap.

An illustration of a student looking in a book and seeing himself.

To the Editor:

Re “ Higher Education Needs More Socrates and Plato ,” by Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Harun Küçük (Opinion guest essay, nytimes.com, May 19):

I applaud Professors Emanuel and Küçük and their call for “more Socrates and Plato” in higher education. I add only that their proposals have long been followed at St. John’s College, which I had hoped would merit a mention, since our practices are uncannily similar to what the professors suggest.

To borrow the words of the professors, we offer a “broad-based” education that spans disciplines and is rooted in Great Books. We do so as preparation for “democratic citizenship,” which we embody in “small seminar discussions” led by teachers who function as guides, not experts.

We even give our students, before their first class, a document that outlines the virtues of brevity, “listening at length” and “being willing to go where the argument leads.” That document, “Notes on Dialogue,” was written by Stringfellow Barr, whose close reading of Plato led him to create the unique program of instruction St. John’s College has offered the American republic for nearly 100 years.

We welcome more Socrates and Plato, but our students have been learning in their demandingly joyful company for quite some time.

Brendan Boyle Annapolis, Md. The writer is associate dean for graduate programs at St. John’s College.

What Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Harun Küçük should have highlighted in their otherwise thoughtful argument for renewing higher education’s commitment to “the liberal arts ideals that have made them great” is a more directed focus on what it means to educate students to be intellectuals.

What Socrates, Plato and all the other philosophers and writers whom the authors mention represent are examples of what is historically called “the intellectual.”

Different in form, yet consistent in their desire to know, to learn, to understand, to engage with the hard problems of their day, to discuss, to challenge, to inquire, to provoke, to awaken, to read, to analyze, to reflect: These are the qualities of the intellectual, and we should be educating our college students to embody and practice these dispositions and habits of mind and body from Day 1.

Civic education, as the authors discuss it, should start in early childhood. But anti-intellectualism has so rooted itself in the fibers of higher education that to argue for a liberal arts education is controversial. To argue for educating students to be intellectuals is radical.

Eric J. Weiner East Hampton, N.Y. The writer is a professor of education at Montclair State University.

As a lifelong educator, I think the great books and the great debates over the great questions should be done in high school or even earlier. Why wait until college to engage young people in citizenship? This way when students graduate the foundation is there already, no matter what path they decide on — college or no.

Wasn’t that the idea of public schooling to begin with? Don’t we want to teach to the imagination of students and not just equip them with functional skills?

Julianne Sumner Lenox, Mass.

Re “ Election Updates: Tim Scott Says That Black Americans Would Be Better Off Under Trump ” (nytimes.com, May 26):

I want Senator Tim Scott to explain how Black Americans would be better off under another Trump administration. Mr. Trump has said that he wants to cut back on federal programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security that a large number of Black Americans rely on. He wants to replace Obamacare — again a program that many Black Americans rely on — with what is not exactly clear. He wants to end diversity and inclusion programs.

The White House Office of Environmental Justice will surely be closed. I can’t even begin to list examples of Mr. Trump’s history of racism, starting with refusing to rent to Black tenants , wanting the death penalty for the Central Park Five , etc., etc.

What is good for Black Americans about this? Does Senator Scott think they are as gullible as he is?

Daniel Fink Beverly Hills, Calif.

“ Threats and Fear Are Transforming U.S. Politics ” (front page, May 20) does an important job of highlighting the “steady undercurrent of violence and political risk that has become the new normal” for our public officials.

I just returned from Northern Ireland, a place that experienced decades of civil war; this spring marks 26 years of peace. I was there with a cross-partisan group of U.S. faith leaders and former politicians to learn how Northern Ireland overcame seemingly intractable, violent, identity-based division.

Three main lessons came through. First, when you hold a mirror to American society, we are much further along the path to normalized violent conflict than we know. Second, prolonged violent conflict leads to immense suffering and destruction. Third, a return to peace is never quick.

And the hopeful lesson is that people who used to hate, bomb and maim one another could find common ground. They found this in exhaustion from the killing and pain, a desire for better lives for their children and a sense of common humanity. By painstaking and determined conversation, they found a way to agree. We, in the U.S., need to do the same.

Tom Crick Atlanta The writer is a project adviser with the Carter Center’s Conflict Resolution Program.

Re “ Homeowners Who Planned to Demolish Marilyn Monroe House Sue Los Angeles ” (news article, nytimes.com, May 8):

Marilyn Monroe’s housekeeper once said that her Brentwood home, with its thick beams and walls, made the actress feel safe. It became her refuge, a place where she could go when the world became too much. It was also the place where Marilyn kept her beloved collection of books and other items she treasured.

The house wasn’t fancy by Hollywood standards, but it was solely hers, and she loved it. If her “spirit” resides anywhere today, it’s there. Marilyn herself has become a global symbol of not only glamour and sex, but also personal perseverance and courage in the face of great odds. All good reasons to save her beloved Brentwood home from the wrecking ball.

Joe Elliott Arden, N.C.

Re “ Documents Show Missteps in Overhaul of College Aid ” (news article, May 21):

I’m grateful for The Times’s investigation into the yearslong struggle to update the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

I serve as the vice president of programs at Chicago Scholars , a nonprofit that serves students from low-income households or who will be first-generation students and want to attend a four-year college. The FAFSA mishap upended the college decision season for everyone in our organization, and finding workarounds has unfairly fallen to our students and counselors.

Roadblocks like this forced students to choose between a provisional financial aid package and a gap year. Unfortunately, we find that Chicago Scholars students who take a gap year are far less likely to earn a degree. For many of our students, a college degree is the most attainable path to economic mobility, and it is a path they have worked hard to access.

Our students deserve more than they’ve been given in this situation. This latest misstep is only further evidence that they continue to be left behind.

Tamara Hoff Pope Chicago

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Persuasive Death Penalty
Some of the drugs needed for the death penalty cost a lot of money. Sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride, drugs needed for the death penalty have went up to $83.55. Another drug called pentobarbital cost $1,286.86 per execution. So, when it comes to prices prison is obviously the cheaper and smarter choice.

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