Death Penalty
The argument of whether the death penalty is effective is an age-old and contentious issue. Many people believe that “an eye for an eye” mentality is barbaric and goes against basic human morals. Others are of the opinion that it can be used to prevent further crimes. However, I hold a firm belief that the government should refrain from reinstating the death penalty. The following essay includes solid facts and evidence stating why the death penalty should not be reinstated.
One of the main ideas of using the death penalty is to act as an example to others; however many criminologists agree that the death penalty is not a deterrent to capital crimes. If it does not fulfill one of its basic functions, how could it be effective? It cannot and it is not effective. A society that deals violence with violence will only breed more violence. Amnesty International, which opposes the death penalty, reports that scientific studies have not produced any conclusive evidence showing that capital punishment, is a deterrent for future crimes to be committed.
There are a lot of costs involved in executing a criminal; they need to be kept in maximum security prisons and the long trials will affect the courts of the country. South Africa would not be able to deal with this. It should therefore not be reinstated in South Africa. The death penalty is much more expensive than life without parole because the Constitution requires a long and complex judicial process for capital cases. This process is needed in order to ensure that innocent men and woman are not executed for crimes they did not commit, and even with these protections the risk of executing an innocent person can not be completely eliminated.
One of the strongest arguments against the death penalty is that it is irreversible and irrevocable and, despite the most severe precautions, it may still be inflicted on the innocent. A recent study in the US has produced evidence of 349 US cases in which innocent people were
One of the main ideas of using the death penalty is to act as an example to others; however many criminologists agree that the death penalty is not a deterrent to capital crimes. If it does not fulfill one of its basic functions, how could it be effective? It cannot and it is not effective. A society that deals violence with violence will only breed more violence. Amnesty International, which opposes the death penalty, reports that scientific studies have not produced any conclusive evidence showing that capital punishment, is a deterrent for future crimes to be committed.
There are a lot of costs involved in executing a criminal; they need to be kept in maximum security prisons and the long trials will affect the courts of the country. South Africa would not be able to deal with this. It should therefore not be reinstated in South Africa. The death penalty is much more expensive than life without parole because the Constitution requires a long and complex judicial process for capital cases. This process is needed in order to ensure that innocent men and woman are not executed for crimes they did not commit, and even with these protections the risk of executing an innocent person can not be completely eliminated.
One of the strongest arguments against the death penalty is that it is irreversible and irrevocable and, despite the most severe precautions, it may still be inflicted on the innocent. A recent study in the US has produced evidence of 349 US cases in which innocent people were