Kaitlyn Lemaire

Mrs. Frere

English 1010

May 2nd, 2017

The Death Penalty

The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, is defined as the punishment of

execution administered to someone legally convicted of a capital crime (ProCon). In todays

society, the death penalty has become a very controversial issue about whether it should be

abolished or stay a part of our criminal justice system. For the overall well-being of America, the

death penalty should not be abolished. Keeping capital punishment a part of our American

criminal justice system actually benefits us in many ways. These ways include the deterrence of

crime, saving money, and the equality of justice.

The first argument draws attention to the fact that capital punishment will deter crime.

This is true for not only the US but for other countries too. For example, Japan. It is known as

the country with the lowest crime rate. This is possible because of their strict justice system,

which includes harsh prison conditions and the death penalty (Engel). If the US adopted this

system then our crime rates would be significantly lower as well. Another fact that supports this

argument is data stated by the Washington Post which proves that for every execution in a

criminal case 5 fewer homicides take place (Tanner). This is also true in reverse, they stated that

for every case that resulted in a prison sentence 5 more homicides take place. The bottom line is

if people arent afraid of the consequences then what is really stopping them from committing

the crime?
 The next benefit talks about the fact that the death penalty actually saves money. This is

one of the bigger disputes against this issue because confusion can happen when case prices are

discussed. A website called DeathPenalty.org (which discusses both the liberal and conservative

sides of the issue) states that, yes, the original cases that include capital punishment are more

expensive than cases with a life term. This is because more expensive attorneys, and judges, etc.

need to be used to make sure an innocent man or women isnt put to death. However, taxpayers

will eventually pay more to support prisoners in jail for the rest of their lives. Depending on what

state the prisoner is in the average annual price per inmate ranges from $30,000 to $60,000

(Sharp). These prices to keep inmates supported, and the amount of the original case, are paid by

taxpayers. The yearly price per inmate (multiplied by the amount of years they will actually be in

prison), plus the case cost, will equal a number way more expensive than a case that ends in

capital punishment. Through math, the confusion of this is solved: the death penalty is cheaper.

The final fact discusses how the death penalty promotes equality of justice. We have all

heard the saying an eye for an eye (The Holy Bible).This term actually comes from the bible

meaning a law of retaliation. This means that what you have done to someone else the same will

be done to you. The bible actually includes 78 versus that promote the equality of this. This is

exactly what the death penalty stands for, putting a criminal, murderer, terrorist, etc. to death.

They have brought death upon other people now it will be brought upon them. This makes it

equal. One thing that is confusing, however, is that one of the Democratic Partys main ideas is

that everyone should be equal. So the fact that they oppose the death penalty makes them

contradict themselves. Capital punishment is basically the definition of equality.

One popular opposing viewpoint that can be found is in a 2014 Gallup Poll that

calculated data of the top reasons why people are against capital punishment (Eye for an Eye).
The top reason people stated was it is wrong to take someones life. What they fail to see,

obviously, is that someone in line for the death penalty has taken someones life. This should

cause Democrats to hate this person (whether theyre a murderer, rapist, or terrorists) as much as

they hate the death penalty, and not care if this person dies because they have already broken

their morals. Saying that "its wrong to take someones life" then sparing the life of a murderer

doesnt make much sense.

To conclude, the abolishment of the death penalty would overall harm our criminal

justice system. This process has been around since Eighteenth Century B.C. (History of the

Death Penalty), and it shouldnt stop now just because of peoples sensitivity. Capital punishment

should stay.
 Works Cited

Engel, Pamela. "How Japan's Murder Rate Got To Be So Incredibly Low." Business Insider.

Business Insider, 11 Apr. 2014. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

Part I: History of the Death Penalty." Part I: History of the Death Penalty | Death Penalty

Information Center. DPIC, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Sharp, Dudley. "Does the Death Penalty Cost Less Than Life in Prison without Parole? - Death

Penalty - ProCon.org." Should the Death Penalty Be Allowed? ProCon, 24 Jan. 2017.

Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

Swift, Art. "Americans: "Eye for an Eye" Top Reason for Death Penalty." Gallup.com. Gallup,

23 Oct. 2014. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

Tanner, Robert. "Studies Say Death Penalty Deters Crime." The Washington Post. WP Company,

11 June 2007. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan House, 1984. Print

What Is the Death Penalty and Capital Punishment? - Death Penalty - ProCon.org." Should the

Death Penalty Be Allowed? ProCon, 20 May 2008. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.