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Pros of Capital Punishment A person who has committed a crime like killing or raping another person should be given death penalty, which is as severe punishment as the act. It is said that when a criminal is given a capital punishment, it dissuades others in the society from committing such serious crimes. They would refrain from such crimes due to fear of losing their lives. This would definitely help in reducing crime rate in society. If a criminal is jailed, he may again commit the same crime after being released from prison. Giving him capital punishment would make sure that the society is safe from being attacked by criminals. It seems to be an appropriate punishment for serial killers and for those who continue to commit crimes even after serving imprisonment. Some believe that instead of announcing life imprisonment for the convicts, where they would have to live a futile life behind closed bars, it is better to kill them. It is said that imprisoning someone is more expensive than executing him. Rather than spending on a person who may again commit terrifying crime, it is better to put him to death. Capital punishment is equated as revenge for pain and suffering that the criminal inflicted on the victim. Some people strongly believe that a person who has taken the life of another person does not have a right to live. Sentencing such a criminal can give relief to the family members of the victim that their loved one has obtained justice. It is also important for the safety of fellow prison inmates and guards, as people who commit horrifying crimes like murder are believed to have a violent personality and may, in future, attack someone during imprisonment. These reasons emphasize the importance of capital punishment for the betterment of human society. However, there is another section of people who believe that it is an immoral and unethical act of violence.

Cons of Capital Punishment If we execute a person, what is the difference between us and the criminal who has committed the horrifying crime of killing another individual. Capital punishment is not always just and appropriate. Usually, it has been seen that poor people have to succumb to death penalty as they cannot afford good lawyers to defend their stance. There are very rare cases of rich people being pronounced capital punishment. Also, an individual from minority communities are more likely to be given death penalty. Every human being is entitled to receive a second chance in life. Putting a convict behind bars is always a logical option than killing him, as there is a chance that he may improve. People who have served life sentences are reported to have bettered their earlier ways of living and have made worthwhile contribution to the society. There is also a chance that an individual is innocent and is wrongly charged for a crime he has never committed. There have been cases where individuals were released after being given death sentence, because they were proved innocent. There are also cases where a person's innocence was proved after he was put to death. Hence, it is best to avoid executing a person. It is reported that there is no relation between capital punishment and crime rate i.e giving death penalty does not decrease crime rate in the society. Crimes are prevalent in countries where capital punishment exists and also where it has been abolished.

The question whether capital punishment is a moral or an immoral act in a cultured society, does not have a definite answer. Whether to give capital punishment to a criminal or not, may depend on his previous criminal records and the seriousness of the crime he has committed. But, do we really have the right to take the life of our fellow human beings?

http://americanaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_pros_and_cons_of_the_death_penalty
Some Arguments for Capital Punishment Some argue that the death of a criminal gives closure to their victim's (if they are stiil alive) and their families. The death penalty serves as a deterrent to criminals who may be considering committing a capital offence. One of the main principals of punishment and the judicial system is that the penalty fits the crime. If someone violently murders another individual or numerous people, then it makes sense for the punishment to be death. Some anti-death penalty campaigners describe examples of people on death row, or people have already been killed have then been proved innocent. Today, the accuracy of modern forensics and DNA testing makes it very unlikely for an innocent person to be put on death row. Furthering this point, it is argued that the number of innocent people that may be killed is equalised by the number of actual criminals that are set free.

Putting people in prison, as opposed to executing them gives them a chance of parole (or the small chance of escape), meaning they can commit more crimes. Capital punishment means there is no chance of the criminal committing another crime. Some Arguments Against the Death Penalty The financial cost of putting people to death, once you consider extra appeals, additional procedures etc, can often be more than the cost of putting a criminal in prison for life. The death penalty violates the "cruel and unusual" clause of the Bill of Rights. It is simply immoral and barbaric to allow people to be killed by the state even if they have committed violent crimes. The appeals and additional procedures required to deal with criminals that have been condemned to death fill up the US legal system which could be put to better use. It can be viewed that, life in prison with little freedom and poor quality of life is a better punishment and deterrent to criminals than death row. There is always the possibility that innocent men and women are put to death without ever having committed a crime. There will always be failings in the judicial and conviction system. There will always be debate over whether capital punishment is an effective form of penalty for criminals for as long as it exists. A number of US states do not have the death penalty and instead use life imprisonment. Sources: Pro's and Con's of the Death Penalty-Deborah White, About.com Should the death penalty be banned as a form of punishment? -Balanced Politics.org Read more at Suite101: The Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty: What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Capital Punishment? http://americanaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_pros_and_cons_of_the_death_penalty#ixzz0mQsKtl52

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Pros and Cons to Capital Punishment For many years the death penalty has been the sentence for murders, rapists, and other serial criminals. But, in recent months it has been an issue in whether the death penalty should or should not be legal. There are many people that think that capital punishment should be used and there are others that feel that it should not be used. Also there are some in the middle that think that it doesn't really matter because they feel that whatever happens will be right because it was brought up and decided in a court of law. Capital punishment is the only way to be sure the killing will at least end with that criminal. Prisons are not hard enough on there inmates. For example, citizens feel that capital punishment is only fair to those that have committed the crime such as murder. This shows that you have to find and prove that the criminal is truly guilty. This could take days, months, even years and in that time they are treated nice and not like prisoners. For example the inmates are allowed to attend school and watch TV in case that they are released. But then, are the guards even thinking? These are men that committed series crimes, capital crimes. They killed people, and if there not going to be killed they sure better not be released to do it again. It seems like they dont remember that the inmate had no mercy when they were raping, or killing that innocent person, yet we feel sorry for them. There are lots of issues that arise with the death penalty, such as moral issues and innocent lives being taken, when may be they shouldnt. For example there is a lot that needs to be done before the initial action is taken place. This shows that their needs to be clear and correct evident on the suspect in custody. There fore the new technology that has been presented to society, such as DNA testing, many mistakes shouldnt be made in these life-threatening decisions. New Technology should be used as a sure way that the judgement to death is correct. There are people that believe that the death penalty is morally wrong because they feel that only god should have the final authority in death. This shows that the death penalty is just a form of cruel and

unusual punishment. There fore they believe that the criminal should not be punished with death, even though, the criminal had no mercy on hisher victim. For example in July of 1999, Allan Lee Davis was electrocuted in the Florida electric chair. During the time of his electrocution he suffered a nosebleed and pictures were posted all over the Internet. This shows and helped ones against capital punishment prove it was a form of cruel and unusual punishment. Now the Supreme Court has agreed to review all electric chairs to see whether or not it is a form of physical violence, disfigurement, and or torment. Right now there is still quit a few forms of civilized forms to kill. First is lethal injection, electric chair, gas, hanging, and shooting. Most citizens feel lethal injection should be the only form of capital punishment. Overall capital punishment seems like the only way to assure criminals that the justice system is for real. This will allow the criminals to see the consequences of taking the lives of others. This method will not only assure they will not kill again but also reassure the phrase, An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.