Why Capital

Punishment Should Be
Reinstated in Canada

Kyle Van Hell

4242608
COMM 1133

Should the death penalty be brought back to Canada? Capital punishment

should be reinstated because it has a deterrent effect, it saves lives, and although
its costly to have the death penalty instated, its worth it because of the lives it
saves.

Firstly, based on previous studies having the death penalty instated is

known to have a deterrent effect. In those studies it is clear that a deterrent
effect is present for not only homicide crimes, but for crime as a whole [1]. In
2003, for instance, there were more than 16,000 homicides but only 153 death
sentences and 65 executions [2]. Although the number of death sentences
compared to the homicide number is low, its because only 153 of the murderers
that were caught were found to be guilty of a homicide worthy of being given the
death penalty and in states that have the death penalty instated. The results of
these studies show and prove a deterrent effect is present when capital
punishment is instated. With a deterrent effect present, it ultimately saves lives.

Also, with a deterrent effect proven to be present, it shows that capital

punishment saves lives. According to roughly a dozen recent studies, executions
save lives. For each inmate put to death, the studies say, 3 to 18 murders are
prevented [2]. These results prove that the deterrent effect of having the death
penalty in place saves lives. Those who object to capital punishment, and who do
so in the name of protecting life, must come to terms with the possibility that
failure to inflict capital punishment will fail to protect life, said Professor
Sunstein and Adrian Vermuele [2]. After hearing about a deterrent effect that
saves lives, a problem that comes to mind is the cost of it all.

Despite the death penalty being a costly process, its ultimately worth it. Some
facts to keep in mind are that in the state of California, tax payers have spent $4
billion since 1978 on death row inmates, and on average, pay $90,000 more per
death row prisoner yearly as opposed to prisoners in regular confinement [3].
Although it may be up to $90,000 more per death row inmate, the cost of housing
and feeding regular inmates can be from $31,000 to $167,731 in states like New
York [4]. With all this being said, keep in mind that the death penalty isnt just
handed out to the average criminal, but to people who commit heinous crimes.
On a side note, the government is spending millions on programs like welfare and
the salaries of government officials when the death penalty involves a life or
death decision for criminals. Overall, the money put into the capital punishment
program will deter the crime rate, save lives, and decrease the number of inmates
incarcerated which saves money in the end.

In conclusion, capital punishment should be brought back to Canada

because there is an evident deterrent effect which saves lives and although it may
cost more to house and feed a death row inmate, its worth it because it reduces
the overall inmate number which saves money in the long run. Like Nancy Reagan
once said, I believe that more people would be alive today if there were a death
penalty.