Pro Death Penalty

5 Pages 1255 Words

Capital punishment has been in effect since the 1600's . However, in 1972 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was cruel and unusual punishment, which was unconstitutional according to the Eighth amendment. It was public opinion that the current methods of execution, hanging, electrocution, and facing a firing squad, were too slow and painful upon the person to be executed. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed this decision when a "cleaner" way to bring about death was found in 1976. This "cleaner" way is death by lethal injection, which is quick and painless if administered right (Cole 450).
The death penalty is a good form of justice because only about 250 people a year get the death penalty and they are guilty beyond a doubt and don't deserve living with the possibility of parole. The sentencing judge or juries are ordered by the Supreme Court to look for "specific aggravating and mitigating factors in deciding which convicted murderers should be sentenced to death" (Cole 451). Some of these mitigating factors are the defendant's motivation, character, personal history, and most of all remorse (Costanzo). First, this paper will show the expense we can save be execution. Second, is how capital punishment does not deter crime. And third, is capital punishment cruel and unusual?

First argument against the death penalty is that it costs less to imprison someone for life than to execute them. This is a good point that has a lot of impact on a lot of people’s views regarding capital punishment since they are the ones footing the bill through taxes. I personally would not mind paying the little bit extra just so I know for sure that there's one less murderer on our planet. If the death penalty was done away with, prisoners who should have been executed will be mixed in with other inmates. It would be possible and not too doubtful for them to kill another inmate or even a prison guard.
If someone is lined up for execution...