Death penalty Essay

Introduction Over several years, the death penalty has existed among various countries, and used to eliminate killers who are considered extremely dangerous in the society. According to various sources, the fear associated with the death penalty discourages individuals with the propensity of conducting such inhumane crimes. Application of the death penalty, however, comes with mixed reactions from the society since some people support it while others are against it due to various reasons. Therefore, this essay seeks to justify the rightfulness of the death penalty since it is associated with a significant level of reduction in malicious murders. Arguments against Death Penalty In a number of cases, the death penalty has resulted in various disputes; for example, where innocent individuals have been convicted despite the fact that they were not involved in such crimes. Unfortunately, some of these victims were executed, or put on the death row just before the truth was established, and their innocence proven (Harris, 2012). From 1973, 11 Texans and 128 others across the United States have been set free and cleared from the death penalty as a result of proof of their wrongful conviction (All Voices, 2012). Generally, the death penalty is considered as the harshest sentence for any known felony. More so, it is the only punishment that will remain irreversible after the sentence has been made. When an inmate is found not guilty of committing the crime that led to his imprisonment, they can always be set free and have their names cleared. However, where the convict had already been put to death, the punishment can never be reversed: In no circumstance will saying – sorry, we had the wrong person – help the family of the victim, but will only increase their pain. Several people are usually against the idea of the death penalty due to the possibility of executing innocent people. Such people would never want to imagine the risk of executing innocent people; in fact – for nearly ten years now – innocence has resulted in the creation of a strong argument in death penalty dialogue. In this fight, abolitionists have played an important role especially where they have successfully pointed out the innocence in some convicts with the aid of post conviction DNA tests (Aronson & Simon, 2009). Arguments in Favor of Death Penalty On the other hand, the death penalty is considered as an eye for an eye and that all convicted killers should be executed in order to attain evenness. The most horrible felony warrants no less than the most horrible sentence, which should mean an eye for an eye. As such, the victim’s family should feel that the offender was given the most intense judgment other than just being locked up in a prison and keep enjoying their life. In many unfortunate cases, the murderers have been given a life sentence without a possibility of parole, and they have managed to live for longer periods than their actual victims actually lived on earth. To make the situation worse, such inmates live a comfortable life in prison, getting three meals per day and an afternoon to practice, while the victim’s family lives a life of anguish. Denis Rader (BTK), born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, was an excellent example of a very notorious serial killer that used to bind, torture and kill his victims without any mercy (Harris, 2012). In one of his dreadful attacks, he killed an 11-year old girl called Josephine Otero by hanging her from a drain pipe (Harris, 2012). Unfortunately, the murderer was given a 175 years sentence despite the fact that he killed an entire family, as well as other innocent people (Harris, 2012). Actually, it is not justified for a murderer to live while innocent people suffer death: Rader did not have the right to torture and kill his victims, so it is not justified that he was granted a right to his life. In several cases, some of the most dangerous killers have only spent their life in prison. As such, is there anything, or a particular sentence that could assist in reducing the intensity of murders within the society? Several studies have indicated that the fear of death discourages people from committing various targeted crimes. Capital punishment would serve as an excellent solution since it would assist in lowering murder crimes; hence, it would serve as a perfect crime preventive solution. As such, most criminals would think twice before killing their victims since they would realize the fact that their lives were at stake for any murder act. I would say that the use of the death penalty could certainly lower the incidences of violent murders since this would play a crucial part in the elimination of cruel repeat offenders. In connection, statistics show that there are approximately 20,000 murders every single year within the United States, which drastically increased from 10,000 deaths per year after the death penalty was dropped in some states (Boys, 2012). The elimination of the death penalty, 1965; therefore, led to increase in the number of murders by about 10,000 people per year (Boys, 2012). With these statistics, it is evident that murderers commit more murders due to the knowledge that the worst they could get for murder is life imprisonment. This means that bringing back the death penalty would help in the reduction of brutal murders by repeat offenders. However, the death penalty should be implemented where the evidence for murder can be proved beyond any reasonable doubt so as to avoid executing innocent victims. Conclusion It is evident that the arguments in favor of implementing the death penalty far much outweigh those against its implementation. I would then mention the fact that the death penalty will assist in lowering cases of malicious murders within the society, as well as serve as the best sentence when compared the affliction of the victim’s family. Hence, I conclude this essay by supporting the fact that implementation of the death penalty is justified because it assists in the reduction of malicious murders; at the same time, remains the best punishment for convicted murderers.