Is the Death Penalty Applied Fairly - 1215 Words

Running head: The Death Penalty Is the death penalty just and applied fairly? Michael Wirth PHI103: Informal Logic Instructor Philip Bence 2 December, 2012 The Death Penalty Capital punishment has been used around the world for many thousands of years as a way of enforcing justice when someone has done wrong by what standards that the cultures have. Over the past few centuries capital punishment has started to be questioned by many people in Europe and in the United States. Many people who support the death penalty cite reasons such as deterrence and not wanting to spend money a person who will never be a productive member of society again. Many who are in opposition to the death penalty say that the death penalty is†¦show more content†¦There actually has been some statistical numbers which do in fact support this. In 1973, after the Supreme Court had declared Capital Punishment unconstitutional the number of homicides began to increase to numbers not seen since 1933 (Zimmerman, 2009). Homicide rates peaked in 1974, 1980, and 1990-92 (Zimmerman, 2009). The Supreme Court did legalize capital punishment in 1978 but some believe that it took time for people to realize what their crimes could do to them (William, 2000). In 1999, homicide rates finally fell to those not seen since the 1960’s. As much as these numbers help support the deterrent theory, this author considers them a weak argument that does not tell the whole story. Many believe that most people do not always think about the punishment prior to actually committing their crimes. These are called crimes of passion and they happen when people do not think about the consequences of their actions. There is also sociological data that shows crimes in relation to population age and unwanted pregnancies (Zimmerman, 2009). What has been learned is that we do not fully know how effective of a deterrence the death penalty has on society. Nobody wants to see innocent people get the death penalty but to get rid of death penalty all together is also not right because the death penalty is the only way for ultimate justice to be administered for victims provided that it is fairly administered. Now that opposing views have been shown one thing is clear,Show MoreRelatedIs the Death Penalty Applied Fairly?1852 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Is Death Penalty Applied Fairly The death penalty has been a controversy in the United States justice system since its commencement (Bakken Morris, 2010). Although extremely controversial, it has stood the test of time as the definitive penalty. Numerous countries are at present bring an end their death penalty law. Contrary to that, the United States has thirty eight out of its fifty states with death penalty still operational. It seems the United States needs the death penalty more thanRead MoreIs the Death Penalty Just and Fairly Applied1039 Words   |  5 PagesIS THE DEATH PENALTY JUST AND APLIED FAIRLY? BY a234h eireie34 Informal Logic: PHI103 Tanya Martin AUGUST 9th 2012 Introduction- Thesis Statement Capital punishment has been used worldwide for at least the last two thousand years and it was not until this century that its use has come under considerable scrutiny here in the U.S. There have been some highly publicized trails that have brought Capital punishment out of the shadows and into the spot light, most notably were the NurembergRead MoreArgumentative Essay On The Death Penalty1112 Words   |  5 PagesDeath Penalty First and foremost, the death penalty is defined as the punishment of execution, administered to someone who has committed a terrible crime (Capital Punishment 1). This is also known as capital punishment, which is known for disregarding the human rights. Although many countries continue to enforce the death penalty, some countries think it should not be practiced. According to the United States, the death penalty continues to be a charged and controversial political and legal issue(CapitalRead More Cost of the Death Penalty Essay1190 Words   |  5 Pages Costs and Consequences of the Death Penalty, written by Mark Costanzo, neatly lists reasons for opposition, and abolishment of, the death penalty. Costanzo provides a review of the history of the death penalty, a review of how the death penalty process is working today, questions on whether or not if the death penalty is inhumane and cheaper than life imprisonment. He also questions if the death penalty is fairly applied and the impact, if any, that it has on deterrence. He closely examines theRead MoreThe Death Penalty Should Not Be Applied975 Words   |  4 PagesCourt ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional, removing over 600 prisoners from death row. The justices described the application of the death penalty as arbitrarily, random, and discriminatory. Justice Potter Stewart remarked that the death penalty like being â€Å"struck by lightning† and that â€Å"if society s ultimate punishment cannot be applied fairly, it should not be applied at all†  ¹. Of the 22,000 homicides committed every year, less than 100 people are sentenced to death, and politics, theRead MoreCapital Punishment Essay666 Words   |  3 PagesDoes this man deserve to die? Capital punishment, if applied in this hypothetical situation, would serve its purpose in getting retribution for this crime. Capital punishment is a controversial subject but is an effective punishment for serious crimes such as this. Right now, only one percent of murderers who have committed serious crimes such as this are on death row. â€Å"Every nation with industrial democracies has abolished the death penalty, excluding Japan and the United States,† (Honeyman andRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System Within Criminal Offenders1361 Words   |  6 PagesIf the defendant wishes, he or she can then appeal the guilty verdict and sentencing, thus beginning the trial process again. Police officers, detectives, prosecutors, and defense attorneys make great efforts to ensure justice is served swiftly and fairly, thus creating a strong and effective criminal justice system. Jodi Arias was arrested in July 2008 for the brutal murder of her boyfriend, Travis Alexander. Travis was stabbed twenty-seven times; his throat was cut, and he was shot in the head inRead MoreThe Constitutionality Of Capital Punishment1625 Words   |  7 Pagescapital punishment cases require a separate penalty trial to be made, at which time the jury reviews if there is the need for capital punishment. In 1982, the first lethal injection execution was performed in Texas. Some other common methods of execution used are electrocution, a firing squad, and lethal gas. In recent years, the US Supreme Court has made it more difficult for death row prisoners to file appeals. Nearly 75 percent of Americans support the death sentence as an acceptable form of punishmentRead MoreCapital Punishment : The Death Penalty932 Words   |  4 PagesCapital punishment is unjust because of the eighth amendment which wherein is written, â€Å"[no] cruel and unusual punishments [is to be] inflicted.â € , the possibility of being innocent, and the prejudice against minorities (U.S. Constitution.). The death penalty is cruel due to the process of execution. Cruel is defined as causing pain or suffering (The Definition). â€Å"Cruel†¦ punishments† are against the constitution (U.S. Constitution.). The most common ways of execution are lethal injection and electrocutionRead MoreSupport of the Death Penalty Essay689 Words   |  3 PagesI do support the death penalty and I do not consider it cruel or unusual treatment. The Constitution itself indicates that the death penalty can be used. Amendment V of the Constitution states that â€Å"†¦no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law†¦.† (U.S. Const., amend V). In other words, once a person has gone through the due process of law, his life can be taken if he is found guilty. There is a common misconception that murderers do not think about the