Essay on Death Penalty in the USA

The death penalty, which is commonly referred to as Capital punishment, is the practice that is approved by the government as the sentence for the offenders who have committed particular crimes. It involves execution of an individual who has been found guilty of a specified crime that is in line for a death sentence. In the United States, the death penalty is a legal practice that is presently sanctioned in 31 different states, in conjunction with the federal government. In between 1967 and 1977, there was no instance of the death penalty to the offenders in the whole country (Stearman 6). Apparently, the Supreme Court in 1972 opted to bring down all death sentence statutes, which led to a reduction of any death penalty at that into life imprisonment. However, later developments reintroduced new death capital punishment laws thus affirming the legality of the death sentence in the United States. Due to multiple controversies associated with the death penalty, it is imperative to handle the issue delicately to avoid raising conflicts across the divided camps in the United States, regarding the capital punishment.

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Argument against Death Sentence

Death sentence denies the offenders the second chance. It is asserted that human beings are imperfect creatures. It is imperative to give different law offenders an opportunity to correct their ways or behaviors as a way of helping them to be socially fit in the society. According to Holy Scriptures, the aspect of forgiveness is highly emphasized (Robertson 31). If given a chance, law offenders facing death penalty can be transformed into useful members of the society through the use of appropriate corrective measures other than execution. This implies that alternatives of the capital sentence should be explored. The options will allow individuals who are expected to face capital punishment to be given another chance to be law-abiding citizens in the community.

Capital punishment is deemed to be less-deserving. Capital punishment is mainly granted to individuals who have committed critical crimes that can be informed of the murder, terrorism, rape or even treason. From the magnitude of such offenses, it is essential that offenders be given a severe and stiff punishment that matches the crimes they have committed (Robertson 33). Apparently, the death penalty does not fall under that category since it takes away the life of an offender in less than 20 seconds. Commonly, individuals facing death sentence are always on the suicide mission. This implies that death is the least of their worries. It is important that such people be awarded life imprisonment, which can give them an opportunity to expiate for their crimes but also to repent and transform.

The death penalty can lead to a wrongful or unfair execution. Just like human beings are imperfect and vulnerable to unlawful judgments, so is the judiciary. There are escalating incidences where innocent people have faced illegal execution. This has tainted the image of the magistracy, consequently dwindling the faith of individuals towards the law and the justice system (Bedau 92). Inappropriate procedures and practices can amount to unfair and unjust execution which in turn puts the life of an innocent person at stake. This indicates that death penalty should be banned in the United States since it is susceptible to human error, paving the way to irreversible consequences.

Capital punishment is also a way of denying individuals their fundamental human rights. Through execution, a person is deprived of his right to life. Furthermore, the death penalty is an irrevocable act which does not dissuade crime but rather a way of escaping from reality. It is imperative to exercise other forms of punishment as opposed to a death sentence due to its implications on the human rights. According to the principles of the human rights, every person is entitled to leading a respectable life (Bedau 93). The right to life is a fundamental right of a person. It follows that no person is liable to violate the right to life, notwithstanding of his/her actions.

Argument for Death Penalty

Capital punishment should also be viewed as a positive gesture in the society as far as the administering of justice is concerned. According to the judiciary statutes and the ethics, real justice can only be achieved if people will be punished according to their misdeeds. Those involved in criminal activities are expected to face the wrath of the law, irrespective of their status in the society (Stearman 8). The retribution, which is the core principle of justice, requires that a law offender should be punished for his wrongdoings. If a person opts to deprive others of their liberty, lives, and peace, then the theory of justice directs that the same comforts should also be snatched away from him.

A death penalty is an appropriate approach when it comes to dissuasion of crime. Psychology of human behaviors entails that the suitable method to deter someone from committing a crime is through creating the fear regarding the consequences. The use of the death penalty imparts fear in people, making them think twice before engaging in any criminal activity. As compared to a life sentence, death punishment is mostly concerned it ends the life of offender (Bedau 99). The costs of implementing capital punishment are lesser than those incurred in the facilitation of the life imprisonment, especially when costs of food, security, and healthcare are put into consideration. The absence of capital punishment can lead to an escalation of crime rates in the country. Weak measures to curb crimes can make criminals to be reckless and uncontrolled, which can be detrimental to the country. This indicates the need for supporting the death penalty in the United States as a way of curbing the increase in crime rates.

What is the way forward for the death penalty in the United States? That should be a question in all forums that seek to resolve the issue. Capital punishment remains to be a volatile issue in America. Since its introduction, hundreds of crime offenders have been executed. This indicates the countrys efforts towards eradication of the offense. It is imperative to find the lasting balance between those in support and against capital punishment to ensure the United States is united to fight against all forms of crimes.

Works Cited

BIBLIOGRAPHY Bedau, Hugo Adam. The Death Penalty in America: Current Controversies. Oxford University Press, 1998. print.

Robertson, Diane P. Tears from Heaven, Voices from Hell: The Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty as Seen Through the Eyes of the Victims of Violent Crime and Death Row Inmates Throughout America. iUniverse, 2002. print.

Stearman, Kaye. The Debate about the Death Penalty: Ethical Debates. The Rosen Publishing Group, 2007. print.