Paper Example on Capital Punishment

Introduction

Capital punishment is a significant subject of social and political debates as the majority of Americans strive to have their voices heard on the issue. The stance of each citizen is clear and precise and challenges the criminal justice system to incorporate the public perception on the subject (Von, 2015). The advocates of the legal framework argue that capital punishment is a deterrent to crime, which serves justice to the victims involved. My personal view on capital punishment is that it is an outdated practice which brings more harm than common good to the larger society.

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To begin with, statistical evidence shows that federal and state governments spend a high amount of public funds in funding the death row agenda. The Death Penalty Information Center indicates that the state of California has spent over $4 billion since 1976; about 232.7 million annually, in financing the capital punishment model. The costs include the funds allocated on the incarnation of death row inmates, pre-trial and trial processes, state petitions and automatic appeal cases. The state agencies spend a lot of money on a system that contributes the bare minimum to crime reduction within the American society. These funds should get invested in more practical solutions such as improving the economic empowerment of the local communities through relevant projects and policies (Ramirez, 2013).

Pursuing this further, Von (2015) reports that at least 4. 1 percent of the persons that get convicted for murder is later proven innocent. Since 1992, DNA evidence has enhanced the exoneration of about 20 wrongfully convicted death row inmates across America. Washington DC leads with at least two cases in every 100,000, closely followed by California and Colorado. Official misconduct is the primary cause of wrongful convictions and accounts for at least 64 percent of the cases. This fact contributes to the moral question of what level the American citizens can trust court decisions on their loved ones. These statistics prove that there could be more innocent persons among the death row inmates. Each day that American society supports capital punishment, there could be chances that an innocent person is taken away from their family for a lifetime. A wrongfully incarnated person for the death penalty, what explanation does the criminal justice system and broader American community to the family that they leave behind? The system should do away with the death penalty and implement relevant policies that enhance public confidence and impartially in law enforcement (Ramirez, 2013).

The advocates of capital punishment strongly base their argument on the notion that death penalty restores law and order in a society. Imposing punishment on members of a community helps to administer justice and prevent the violation of moral and legal standards. Murders break essential social bonds and weaken governance, and thus, capital punishment conveys a deterrent and retributive message to the society. Approximately 71% of Americans agree that the sentence eliminates heinous criminals such as rapists and murders, hence serving the best interests of a peaceful and secure social environment (Von, 2015).

Conclusion

Based on the facts and perceptions analyzed above, capital punishment is morally wrong, and the criminal justice system should abolish the system. Life is precious, and the right to live is a fundamental universal human right that should be upheld and promoted (Ramirez, 2013). Capital punishment is not a viable solution to crime or any other social problems that the society faces. Law enforcement agencies should implement practical strategies which promote law and order while enhancing the quality of life for all American citizens.

References

Ramirez, M. D. (2013). Americans' Changing Views on Crime and Punishment. Public Opinion Quarterly, 77(4), 1006-1031.

Von Drehle, D. (2015). Bungled executions. Backlogged courts. And three more reasons the modern death penalty is A Failed Experiment. (Cover story). Time, 185(21), 26-33.