Death Penalty Ethically Wrong
The death penalty is a method that the justice system uses to punish wrong doers for centuries, but as of late has become a hot issue of debate. There are many reasons that surround the debate of the death penalty one of them being due to the harshness of the punishment itself. People against the death penalty argue that the death penalty is a violation of the 8th amendment due to it being a cruel and an unusual punishment. Others argue that it is not. Some argue if the cost of the death penalty is worth it while others argue that it is. Although both have their own views, in the end, the death penalty is nonetheless a useless tool for safety.
The death penalty is not only morally but also ethically wrong. The United States is the only western …show more content…
For example, cases without the death penalty cost $740,000, while cases where the death penalty is sought cost $1.26 million (http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty) . Maintaining each death row prisoner costs taxpayers $90,000 more per year than a prisoner in general population. In fact, Oregon Department of Administrative Services in 2000 gave a fiscal impact summary that stated that the Oregon Judicial Department alone would save $2.3 million annually if the death penalty were eliminated. It is estimated that total prosecution and defense costs to the state and counties equal $9 million per year (http://oadp.org/facts/13-reasons) . Therefore, the cost would lower to about $6.7 million and the $2.3 million could be used for other things that the state might need other then installing the death penalty. Not only is it costly but the death penalty itself does not deter crime. The fear of a high punishment such as death itself has not cost any criminals to rethink their actions twice. In fact, the FBI found that states that do not have the death penalty have a lower crime rate than those that …show more content…
Since it is such a small percent, the death penalty itself should just be taken out since it is a waste of money and accounts so little but drains so much of our taxpayers pockets. Not only that but since it make such a small amount it cannot be deterrent to crime since in order for it to be, it has to be implemented constantly in order for there to be a fear created for people to not want to commit the crime but since it isn’t it is not able to cause criminals to deter their crimes (Bedau 2012). Not only that, but since fear of extreme punishment is something that “deters” crime then permanent imprisonment is severe enough since criminals will be stuck in prison forever and never be able to live a normal life. Not only that, but they will also never leave that jail and experience many bad things in prison as
The death penalty is not only morally but also ethically wrong. The United States is the only western …show more content…
For example, cases without the death penalty cost $740,000, while cases where the death penalty is sought cost $1.26 million (http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty) . Maintaining each death row prisoner costs taxpayers $90,000 more per year than a prisoner in general population. In fact, Oregon Department of Administrative Services in 2000 gave a fiscal impact summary that stated that the Oregon Judicial Department alone would save $2.3 million annually if the death penalty were eliminated. It is estimated that total prosecution and defense costs to the state and counties equal $9 million per year (http://oadp.org/facts/13-reasons) . Therefore, the cost would lower to about $6.7 million and the $2.3 million could be used for other things that the state might need other then installing the death penalty. Not only is it costly but the death penalty itself does not deter crime. The fear of a high punishment such as death itself has not cost any criminals to rethink their actions twice. In fact, the FBI found that states that do not have the death penalty have a lower crime rate than those that …show more content…
Since it is such a small percent, the death penalty itself should just be taken out since it is a waste of money and accounts so little but drains so much of our taxpayers pockets. Not only that but since it make such a small amount it cannot be deterrent to crime since in order for it to be, it has to be implemented constantly in order for there to be a fear created for people to not want to commit the crime but since it isn’t it is not able to cause criminals to deter their crimes (Bedau 2012). Not only that, but since fear of extreme punishment is something that “deters” crime then permanent imprisonment is severe enough since criminals will be stuck in prison forever and never be able to live a normal life. Not only that, but they will also never leave that jail and experience many bad things in prison as