Death Penalty Reform
Should there be Death Penalty Reform?
There’s a saying that two wrongs don’t make a right. According to the DPIC (Death Penalty
Information Center) where they record statistics on the death penalty, thirty-one out of our fifty states
feel as if the death penalty is a good choice to have in lines to punishment (DPIC, 2017). Killing
someone out of revenge for wrong doing of themselves is not justified with the death penalty. There are
many studies that have been conducted that say the death penalty is not only ineffective, it's also
expensive, and has had innocent people exonerated from it. There has to be a more effective way to
punish someone for wrong doing, a better cause to direct the money saved toward, and with it
abolished it …show more content…
Next, they use a second drug, which is used for muscle paralysis, eventually suffocating the
person. Lastly, it's followed by potassium chloride to eventually stop the heart. (DPIC, 2017). It is said
that the medication Midazolam makes its receiver forget any pain inflicted, but does not take the pain
away. This fact alone would say the death penalty affects the eighth amendment, which protects people
from the government giving them excessive fines, excessive bail, or cruel and unusual punishment,
including torture. If this country is to keep using the death penalty, the government needs to come up
with a better drug to make the process a smoother, more effective transition. If this country decided to
do away with the death penalty a solution could be giving the people who need the maximum
Smith 2
punishment life without parole and maybe even some restitution paid to the people affected by their
crimes. During their stay in prison maybe there can be some good come out of it.
According to the DPIC, death penalty cases cost approximately three times more than a …show more content…
Many people have been exonerated from the death penalty due to evidence proving them
innocent. According to Amnesty International, “Death Penalty and Innocence”, since 1973, 156 people
have been exonerated(2017). In 2003 there were ten exoneration’s alone. These numbers do not include
the ones that were proven innocent a little too late. These facts alone say mistaken eye witness
testimonials are possible, faulty forensic science does happen, and there is such thing as a false
confession. Not everyone pronounced guilty is actually guilty, and giving them a life sentence instead
of the death sentence gives them a chance to prove their innocence.
All this evidence points to the fact that doing away with the death penalty would be
good for everyone involved. Just doing away with the death penalty does not mean that the
guilty don't pay for their actions; they still can get life and be locked between four walls till the end of
Smith 3
their days. The eighth amendment wouldn’t be getting trampled on, the savings could be put toward
better causes, and the innocent would have a chance to prove
There’s a saying that two wrongs don’t make a right. According to the DPIC (Death Penalty
Information Center) where they record statistics on the death penalty, thirty-one out of our fifty states
feel as if the death penalty is a good choice to have in lines to punishment (DPIC, 2017). Killing
someone out of revenge for wrong doing of themselves is not justified with the death penalty. There are
many studies that have been conducted that say the death penalty is not only ineffective, it's also
expensive, and has had innocent people exonerated from it. There has to be a more effective way to
punish someone for wrong doing, a better cause to direct the money saved toward, and with it
abolished it …show more content…
Next, they use a second drug, which is used for muscle paralysis, eventually suffocating the
person. Lastly, it's followed by potassium chloride to eventually stop the heart. (DPIC, 2017). It is said
that the medication Midazolam makes its receiver forget any pain inflicted, but does not take the pain
away. This fact alone would say the death penalty affects the eighth amendment, which protects people
from the government giving them excessive fines, excessive bail, or cruel and unusual punishment,
including torture. If this country is to keep using the death penalty, the government needs to come up
with a better drug to make the process a smoother, more effective transition. If this country decided to
do away with the death penalty a solution could be giving the people who need the maximum
Smith 2
punishment life without parole and maybe even some restitution paid to the people affected by their
crimes. During their stay in prison maybe there can be some good come out of it.
According to the DPIC, death penalty cases cost approximately three times more than a …show more content…
Many people have been exonerated from the death penalty due to evidence proving them
innocent. According to Amnesty International, “Death Penalty and Innocence”, since 1973, 156 people
have been exonerated(2017). In 2003 there were ten exoneration’s alone. These numbers do not include
the ones that were proven innocent a little too late. These facts alone say mistaken eye witness
testimonials are possible, faulty forensic science does happen, and there is such thing as a false
confession. Not everyone pronounced guilty is actually guilty, and giving them a life sentence instead
of the death sentence gives them a chance to prove their innocence.
All this evidence points to the fact that doing away with the death penalty would be
good for everyone involved. Just doing away with the death penalty does not mean that the
guilty don't pay for their actions; they still can get life and be locked between four walls till the end of
Smith 3
their days. The eighth amendment wouldn’t be getting trampled on, the savings could be put toward
better causes, and the innocent would have a chance to prove