The Morality Of The Death Penalty

The Morality Of The Death Penalty

Parker Hitchcock

Salt Lake Community College

Criminal Justice 1010

The Morality Of The Death Penalty

The death penalty in America dates back centuries. The death plenty is

also know as capital punishment, this is defined as a legally authorized way of

killing someone. The death penalty was created as punishment for those who have

committed a serious crime, it is also used as a deterrent to protect and benefit so-

ciety. Centuries ago, capital punishment had sever execution method’s and it was

justified. Some methods included: being buried alive, crucified, hanged, stoned

and burned.

European settlers brought the practice of capital punishment to America as

far back as the year 1608. The first recored execution in the new colonies was that

of Captain George Kendall in the Jamestown colony of Virginia 1680. Kendall

was executed for being a spy for Spain.

According to Baker, D. (n.d.). Part I: History of the Death Penalty. Retrieved from History Of

the Death Penalty:

In The Tenth century A.D, Hanging became the usual method of execution

in Britain. In the following century, William the Conqueror would now allow per-

sons to be hanged or otherwise executed for any crime, except in times of war.

This trend would not last, for in the sixteenth Century, under the reign go Henry

VII, as many as 72,000 people are estimated to have been executed. Some com-

mon methods of execution at the time were boiling, burning at the stake, hanging,

beheading, and drawing and quartering. Executions were carried out for such cap-

ital offenses as marrying a Jew, not confessing to a crime, and treason.

The Morality Of The Death Penalty

Today in the U.S capital punishment also known as the death penalty is

used primarily for murders.

The debate of the death penalty is divided by two sides. Those who sup-

port the death penalty and those who oppose. Capital punishment is believed too

protected and benefit society. The threat of death is to deter violent crimes. Others

debate that no one has the right to take a life of an other for any reason, and that

living with the crime that they have committed is punishment enough. Some ar-

gue that criminals are not getting the message, they debate that there is no evi-

dence to support the claim that the death penalty is more effective at deterring vi-

olent crimes than life imprisonment. It is also argued that these criminals are often

high on drugs or alcohol, and are not thinking of the consequences. It is also be-

lieve that risk of executing an innocent person is too high. The debate between

these to sides are ofter intense. A worldwide poll conducted in 2006 indicates that

52% of the world’s population supports the death penalty. In the US, that number

is 65%. Information from The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

states that, In the state of Utah we have executed 7 people and there are 9 cur-

rently on death row now. Every state handles what method they want to use to put

a person to death according to the state.

In American death sentences are declining. Scholars and journals have

speculate as to what may be causing the drop. But reachers have to examined it.
The Morality Of The Death Penalty

As reported by (Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology. Fall 2017, Vol 107. Is-

sue 4, P526, -642 82.) The American Death Penalty Decline; Brandon L. Garrett,

Alexander Jakubow, & Ankur Desai.

“We examine state and county level changes in murder rates, population,

victim race, demography, and other characteristics that might explain shifting

death sentencing patterns. We find that death sentences are strongly associated

with urban, densely populous counties. Second, we find that death sentences are

strongly associated with counties that have large black populations. Third, we find

homicide rates are related to death sentencing in three ways: within and between

death sentencing counties; within and between death sentencing counties follow-

ing a lag to account for the time it can take for a case to proceed to a sentencing;

and that counties with more white victims of homicide have more death sentenc-

ing. Fourth, we find that death sentencing is associated with inertia or the number

of prior death sentences within a county. These results suggest what remains of

the American death penalty is fragile and reflects a legacy of racial bias and idio-

syncratic local preferences.”

It is also argued that cost plays a big role in the debate over the death pen-

alty. Those opposed feel that it is too costly for our already struggling government

budget.

According to Criminal Justice degrees schools website:

The Morality Of The Death Penalty

On average, it costs $620,932 per trial in federal death cases, which is

eight times higher than that of a case where the death penalty is not sought.

On average, it costs $620,932 per trial in federal death cases, which is

eight times higher than that of a case where the death penalty is not sought. A lot

of the cost has to do with appeals, which requires legal wrangling and draws out

the process. Judges, Court reports, Clerks, and court officials coast tax payers in-

vestments. Overall, the death penalty is more expensive in almost every aspect

than simply incarcerating a criminal for the rest of their life.

Those who are in favor of the death penalty feel that the justice system

shows more sympathy for the criminals than it does the the victims. In using capi-

tal punishment as a sentencing allows victim’s family some small closure.

Capital punishment effectively ends a criminal’s life, making it impossible

for them to re-offend. This benefits society by removing a dangerous person from

the streets, and protects their potential victims. The death penalty also allows

more space in prisons, which means there will be more space for minor offenders.

It is up to us to decide on how we as a society what to punish our crimi-

nals. There are numerous pros and cons with the debate on the death penalty,

some feel that the capital punishment should be abolished immediately other feel

as though the capital punishment is a form of justice. The debate on the death pen-

alty has been one that is long-lasting, it is difficult to see an end in sight. Our jus-

tice system has come a long way and it is continuing to grow and learn as we go.

We should appreciate that the amendments and the Constitution that protect us
The Morality Of The Death Penalty

and our rights. The death penalty works to uphold the Constitution of liberty and

justice for all.

(High Cost of Death Row) September 27,2009 https://www.ny-

times.com/2009/09/28/opinion/28mon3.html

https://www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/criminal-justice-re-

sources/criminal-justice-capital-punishment-focus/

http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.libprox1.slcc.edu:2048/eds/detail/de-

tail?vid=3&sid=552863e3-9d05-4e2e-bd68-ee2ef1adbf3c%40ses-

sionmgr120&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=125935995&db=f6h

Joe Messerli Death Penalty (Pros & Cons, Arguments for and agains, ad-

vantages & Disadvantages.

https://www.balancedpolitics.org/death_penalty.htm

https://deathpenaltyinfo.org (Death Penalty Information Center)

The American Death Penalty Decline; Brandon L. Garrett, AlexanderJaku-

bow, & Ankur Desai. (Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology. Fall 2017, Vol

107. Issue 4, P526, -642 82.) The American Death Penalty Decline; Brandon L.

Garrett, Alexander Jakubow, & Ankur Desai

http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.libprox1.slcc.edu:2048/eds/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=552863e3-9d05-
4e2e-bd68-ee2ef1adbf3c%40ses-
sionmgr120&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=125935995&db=f6h