Capital Punishment A Controversial Topic - 1929 Words

Iris I. Castillo Professor McGowan ENC 1101 CRN 31446 27 July 2014 Abolishing Capital Punishment in United States The capital punishment is a controversial topic that has been unresolvable for years in the United States. The heated debate over capital punishment has been divisive between groups that support the practice and others that condemn it. Currently about 70% of Americans support the death penalty, but do they know the realities of the death penalty? Capital punishment has been in existence for centuries, marked by many historical events (Henderson 7). It is a derivative of slavery, lynching and racial discrimination which have been, â€Å"the darkest aspect of the American history† (Bright 152). The death penalty is not implemented in every killing; it is only executed in 1% of all murder cases (Bright 153). Capital punishment should be abolished because it is a violation to human rights, it is inflicted arbitrarily, and unfair when innocent people were mistakenly punished at times. Although many believe the death penalty is an a ppropriate punishment for criminals, it is actually degrading to the society partaking in the same animalistic behavior that the delinquents did. The death penalty is a denial to human rights because it violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Right that was adopted in 1948 by the United Nations. The declaration proclaims, â€Å"The rights of every individual to protection from deprivation of life† [and] â€Å"noShow MoreRelatedCapital Punishment : A Controversial Topic Within The Legal System And The General Public2097 Words   |  9 PagesCapital punishment is a highly controversial topic within the legal system and the general public. The death penalty is controversial because many people believe that there is no justification for putting a person to death, even if that person is a convicted murderer. Many also believe that it violates the eighth amendment of the Constitution which says, â€Å"Excessive bail shall not be required, n or excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted†. Although the overall percentageRead MoreThe Death Penalty Of Capital Punishment1480 Words   |  6 Pagesrights, and punished fairly based on their crimes. However, despite that, there are many controversial topics regarding the criminal justice system, such as the death penalty. Capital punishment has been used many times in history all around the world, and it was quite popular. Many people argue that capital punishment is useful in deterring crime and that it is only fair that criminals receive death as punishment for a heinous crime. On the contrary, others see the death penalty as a violation of theRead MoreThe Death Penalty And Wrongful Convictions980 Words   |  4 Pageshas been a controversial topic among society for ages. An issue often brought up when discussing the legality of capital punishment is wrongful convictions. Advocates of the death penalty say that, while wrongful convictions are an issue, those few cases do not outweigh the need for lawful execution of felons who are, without a doubt, guilty. On the other hand, the opponents argue that the death penalty is wrong from both a legal and moral standpoint, an ineffective form of punishment, and shouldRead MoreCapital Punishment And The Death Penalty1403 Words   |  6 PagesCapital Punishment, in other words, is another way referring to the death penalty. Since 1997 the death penalty was reinstated and is now currently used by thirty-one states. The death penalty has always been a controversial topic in the United States for several reasons. The argument is split between those who believe it should be kept as a form of punishment in our criminal justice system and then there are others who believe it should be banned as a possible form of punishment. Capital punishmentRead MoreThe Death Penalty As A Form Of Punishment1491 Words   |  6 Pagesdeath penalty as a form of punishment. The death penalty, also know n as Capital Punishment, is a punishment for criminals who have committed murder other capital crimes. It is Congress or any state legislature that can prescribe execution as a form of punishment. In order to be sentenced to the death penalty the crime has to be parallel as the U.S supreme court has determined, otherwise the crime has violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments. When analyzing what actionsRead More Is the Death Penalty Ethical? Essay1235 Words   |  5 Pagesunderstanding of many worldly controversial topics. One of those topics is the death penalty. When a question is raised on such a topic, there are many ideas that are sparked. One controversial question that people ponder on is; is the death penalty an ethical way of reducing crime? It is interesting not only to see different opinions but to see data that supports and complements those opinions. Searching for information I came across three different arguments concerning the topic of the death penalty andRead MoreIn Recent Years, The Death Penalty Has Been A Controversial1750 Words   |  7 PagesIn recent years, the death penalty has been a controversial topic when it comes to sentencing criminals that have committed serious crimes. Some believe that the death penalty is absolutely necessary and serves proper justice to those who commit unthinkable acts of violence. Advocates also believe that the whole argument is a matter of faith not fact and the death penalty, â€Å"honors human dignity by treating the defendant as a free individual able to control their own destiny for good or for worseRead MoreEssay on The Benefits of the Death Penalty1109 Words   |  5 PagesWhether it had been by lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging or even the firing squad was it the correct thing to do? This is a commonly asked question concerning this controversial topic. Should these criminals, murders, and rapists have be put to death? Is the deat h penalty a proper form of punishment? As Sellin stated, Whenever hurt is done you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth... (9). Is the death penalty morally wrong? Anti Death penalty advocates argueRead MoreCapital Punishment Is Deterring Future Crimes814 Words   |  4 Pages The death penalty remains one of the most controversial topics in the study of criminal justice. Hundreds of convicted criminals have seen their fate by the hands of capital punishment in the course of United States history. Hundreds of others are still awaiting the day their sentence will be carried out. However, even though many of Americans still believe the principal role of capital punishment is deterring future crimes, thousands of others condemn the United States criminal justice system forRead MoreThe Issue Of Capital Punishment1383 Words   |  6 Pages Culminating Paper 30 Mar. 2015 Capital Punishment Every year as a result of the United States judicial system, a multitude of American citizens are put to death for murder, rape, and other such heinous crimes. This modus of punishment, otherwise referred to as capital punishment, is one used by the United States, her military, and most of her states. Most of the developed countries in this world have voided this coarse method of punishment, but the United States situation poses many complex issues