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Introduction
Mention the term death penalty and you are most likely going to get a mixture of conflicting opinions or pulled into a heated debate. The question of whether or not punishing criminals by death reduces crime continues to be a longstanding discussion today.
The author in this sample essay believes that the death penalty doesn’t deter crime. He shares why these harsh death sentences don’t result in a safer world and proposes an alternative to this perspective.
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Is Capital Punishment the Best Way to Reduce Crime?
One of the most controversial ways justice is served in various countries is capital punishment. As of 2021, there are still 55 countries that include death penalties for convicted murderers. According to Amnesty International, a minimum of 483 people were known to have been executed in 2020, a figure that is relatively low compared to the previous years.
Of the 55 countries that continue to apply the death penalty in their criminal justice system, four countries compromise the majority of total executions: Iran, Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. The four most popular methods for execution are hanging, shooting, lethal injection, and beheading.
Will the death penalty deter future crimes? This is the question I want to address. It seems that putting convicted felons on death row is perceived as a straightforward way of demotivating people to commit crimes in the first place. If you know that breaking the law will cost you your life, then the answer should be simple: Don’t do it. But is this really the way most violent criminals think?
I believe that death penalty laws don’t deter crimes, and I am not alone in this opinion. Several studies have been conducted over the years on countries where capital punishment is observed, and places where it is not. Most of these studies conclude that there is not much of a marked difference between the imposition of capital punishment versus life imprisonment.
I don’t believe that the death penalty is the best method for sentencing those committing heinous crimes. First of all, if we are going to base our stance on evidence from several studies, we know that it does not really accomplish its purpose of lowering the crime rate. Second, I believe that life imprisonment is actually a more effective punishment than being sentenced to death. I think that for most murderers, death is not the worst thing that could happen to them, especially if they are mentally ill. Killing them would not cause them to realize the gravity of what they’ve done.
Some say that being imprisoned for life is actually a fate worse than dying, and I agree. If they were imprisoned and isolated for the rest of their lives, the actual consequence of what they have done is having their own opportunity to live freely taken away from them.
At the same time, I believe that execution deters criminals from having the opportunity to experience the lifelong consequences of breaking the law and harming another person. Dying is more of an escape and a way for them to avoid punishment altogether. It also prevents them from the chance to make reparations, even in their own jail cell, should they be affected by their conscience.
I believe in rehabilitation, and though for those who committed serious crimes this still means staying in prison for life, it is a second chance for them to turn their lives around and make a difference even inside their jail cells.
Finally, I also think that though our criminal justice system is an excellent one, it is also not perfect. There may be a chance that we will sentence an innocent person to death. It is a terrifying thought. I know that history already contains names of allegedly innocent people who were subjected to capital punishment, and though this is not a relatively large number, it is a risk that I personally do not want to take. With life imprisonment, there is always the chance that they could make an appeal and prove their innocence, although it will be difficult.
Conclusion
While the death penalty seems like a reasonable way to exact justice on people who commit capital crimes, I find that it is largely a symbolic act that shows justice being served. In terms of its effect, it is not really that different from life sentences. So if both have a similar impact on crime rates, I would rather choose the latter because it is more flexible and has more possible outcomes than simply ending a life and being done with it. It also includes the possibility of rehabilitation and reparation without taking away the consequences of breaking the law.
The Death Penalty Does Not Deter Criminals (Short Essay Sample)
I hear a lot of debates about whether or not the death sentence actually achieves its purpose of reducing crime. While I understand the possible reasons why a country may implement or retain capital punishment, I am for abolishing it because I don’t believe that it is as effective as it sounds.
There are several studies that have been conducted in the past few years that already show a minimal to no difference between capital punishment and life sentences. There is simply a lot of symbolism with capital punishment. It is more of a visual experience for the family of the aggrieved party and the country proving that justice has prevailed. But do these convicted felons really see dying as a punishment or an escape from lifelong consequences?
I honestly believe that it is much worse to be sentenced to life in prison than have one’s life ended. Both entail the murderer being robbed of life as he or she knows it, literally or figuratively. However, the latter allows him or her to live with the consequences of breaking the law and not being able to do anything about it.
FAQs
What Are The Pros Of The Death Penalty?
First, it is quick and painless for the convicted murderer. Second, it prevents the murder from the chance of being released from prison and committing more heinous crimes. Third, it is a cost-effective method of exacting justice. Fourth, it provides some sort of psychological release for the families of the victims. Being able to see the perpetrator brought to justice by ending his or her life makes them feel that the death of their family member has been avenged.
What Are The Cons Of The Death Penalty?
The most obvious downside is that there aren’t really any convincing studies proving that this does its job to prevent crime from happening. At the same time, death provides an escape for the criminal from experiencing the long-term consequences of ending someone else’s life in a harsh and brutal way. Also, capital punishment does not provide any possible room for reparation or rehabilitation, which is always a possibility, however small. It also perpetuates the cycle of violence since it is a form of retribution – which is in no way different from revenge.
There are also plenty of religious arguments against this method, so not a lot of people will support it. Finally, there is always the risk of executing the wrong person. There have been instances throughout history that an innocent person was put to death because they were pronounced guilty. Our criminal justice system is a well-oiled machine, but it is imperfect.