Preview

The Death Penalty Is It Justified

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1827 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Death Penalty Is It Justified
Is the death penalty a service that is justified and valid form punishment? One would say there are two arguments to this topic with several different reasons or explanations. One being prevention, while the other side is saying there is a potential execution of an innocent man; and the other says justice and punishment; and last one says execution is murder. Murder as we know is clearly part of our society, and surely it is evident that something needs to be done about it. A variety of felonies has been committed in various parts of the world and has been attributed by the death penalty. The death penalty is it justice? For many centuries ago the death penalty has been practiced by many cultures. There are thirty-four states that current have the death penalty and sixteen states that do not have the death penalty, to include Washington D.C. and United States army. The U. S. Navy allows the death penalty. Laws regarding the death penalty dates back to the tenth century from British influence. The death penalty once it traveled to America it was history after that. The death penalty in states where it is legal is trying to encourage the other sixteen states that do not have the death penalty to re-instate in order to show the effectiveness it would have it they used it as a punishment. Innocent until proven guilty, that has long been our motto in the U.S for years. However, what about the family and the family members that are going through the process of death...An issue that is creating all the tension is our society is whether the death penalty is justifiable and a valid form of punishment (House, 2009). In different parts of the world the death penalty has been assigned to those who commit several offenses from the time of Babylon to present- day America. History on the death penalty (capital punishment), by definition is “the use of death as a legally sanctioned punishment,” is an acceptable and efficient means of


References: Berns, W. (1979). For capital punishment: Crime and the morality of the death penalty (p. 91). New York: Basic Books Bhatti, S. (2012). Death Penalty Pros. Retrieved from: http:www.buzzle.com/articles/death-penalty-pros.html Chaffee, J. (2010). The Philosopher’s Way: Thinking Critically About Profound Ideas. [VitalSource bookshelf version]. Retrieved from http:digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/books/9781256507666/id/ch04figure16 Honeyman, J. C., & Ogloff, J. R. (1996). Capital punishment: Arguments for life and death. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 28(1), 27-35. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview.220518497?accountid=87314 House, R. (2009). The death penalty and the Principle of Goodness. International Journal of Human Rights. 13(5), 680-688. doi:10.1080/13642980802533224 Introduction to the Death Penalty. Dealthpenaltyinfo.org. Retrieved July 17, 2014, from http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/part-i-history-death-penalty Mosser, K. (2010). Introduction to ethics and social responsibility. San Diego, Bridgeport Education, Inc, Inc. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu Van, d. H. (2001, Jun 11). The ultimate penalty…and a just one: The basics of capital punishment. National Review, 53, 32. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/229633092?accountid?=87314 Waller, B. (2008). Consider ethics: theory, readings, and contemporary issues (2nd ed). New York: Pearson/ Longman.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Waller, B. (2008). Consider Ethics: Theory, Readings, and Contemporary Issues. New York: Pearson Education, Inc.…

    • 1775 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Phil 1112 Death Penalty

    • 1930 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Pojman, Louis. "A Defense of the Death Penalty." Issues in Applied Ethics: n. pag. Contemporary Issues in Applied Ethics ebook. Web. 11 Apr. 2011.…

    • 1930 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Julie C. Van Camp, Jeffrey Olen, and Vincent Barry. Applying Ethics: A Text with Readings. Ed. Ian Lague. Tenth Edition. Boston: Clark Baxter, 2011.…

    • 929 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Freeman, S. J. (2000) Ethics: An introduction to philosophy and practice. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.…

    • 2936 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The death penalty has been a criminal sentence imposed in America for hundreds of years, but it have been extremely controversial as Evan Mandery illustrates in “A Wild Justice: The Death and Resurrection of Capital Punishment in America.” Today, the death sentence is strictly used in murder cases and in thirty-two out of the fifty states in America. In these states, it is completely legal to use the ultimate punishment of death to incapacitate a criminal from committing any further harm to society. Throughout American history, many individuals have supported the death penalty because they believe it is an effective way to deter crime and is a form of retribution. Others have strongly advocated against capital punishment because it is not morally correct and it not applied fairly. Also, some argue that it is unconstitutional to use the death penalty because it violates the cruel and unusual punishment provision of the Eight Amendment written in the United States Constitution.…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Life of David Gale

    • 1365 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Kozinski, Alex and Sean Gallagher. “For an Honest Death Penalty.” Current Issues and Enduring Questions. 9th ed. Ed. Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau. Boston: Bedford, 2011. 630. Print.…

    • 1365 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Capital punishment has been a topic that has been talked about for ages. It has been an issue in the adjudication process since the first execution took place in the United States of America in 1608 (Schneider & Smykia, 1991). Today, cases are being brought before the courts constantly, and they are forced to decide what exactly is “cruel and unusual punishment” in accordance with the eighth amendment. This paper will be looking at how the death penalty has evolved and developed in the United States. It will also be evaluating the effects of the death penalty and looking at the issues that are being faced today in regards to capital punishment. Also, does the death penalty have a place in the future for America?…

    • 1629 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Zimring, F.E. (2004). The contradictions of American capital punishment (pp. 89-118). New York: Oxford University Press.…

    • 1242 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Death Penalty

    • 1586 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Has anyone asked your views on capital punishment? The words lethal injection, electrocution, and gas chamber are synonymous with the death penalty. Even in today’s society of die-hard liberals, right-winged republicans, and middle of the road democrats the capital punishment argument is still a squeamish topic that incites strong emotional debate from abolitionists and supporters.…

    • 1586 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    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.…

    • 994 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Paper

    • 1247 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Pojman, L. P. Reiman, J. (1998). The death penalty: for and against. Honolulu: Rowman and Littlefield. Web. 29 Nov. 2011.…

    • 1247 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    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 killing innocent people and is actually not saving any money at all and that it is in fact costing too much and that it is wrong to simply kill someone who commits a crime. There are also questions to the fairness of the death penalty and many who question if it is being applied fairly. Both sides of the debate over the morality and legitimacy of capital punishment will be presented in this paper with this author taking one side. While the thought of having someone put to death is not something that anyone would like, the death penalty is the only way for ultimate justice to be administered for victims provided that it is fairly administered.…

    • 1215 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Capital Punishment

    • 1524 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The death penalty has been around for many centuries and will probably be around for many to come. Although some citizens feel capital punishment is ethically wrong, it is necessary in today 's society for various reasons.…

    • 1524 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    capital punishment paper

    • 1420 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Forni, Raymond, and John Townend. "Counter Point: Two Views of Capital Punishment." Europe.401 (2000): 13-5. ProQuest.Web. 1 May 2014.…

    • 1420 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Death Penalty

    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages

    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.…

    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays

Related Topics