Essay Capital Punishment vs. Life Imprisonment - 2197 Words

There are always two sides to every issue and capital punishment or life imprisonment is no different. This has been a very controversial issue for decades and still is today. Capital Punishment also known as the death penalty is defined as being the penalty of death for a crime. Some feel that capital punishment should be abolished because it is cruel; others believe life in prison is just as cruel. There are many reasons for the support of Capital Punishment and for Life in Prison. Capital punishment is the death penalty, or execution which is the sentence of death upon a person by judicial process as a punishment for a crime like murdering another human and being found guilty by a group of jurors who have listen to a court hearing†¦show more content†¦Life in prison is thought to be a more humane and less cruel sentence than the death penalty. Life in prison still offers a person a chance to enjoy parts of their life, by still being able to keep it touch with their families. Someone who is placed in prison in their twenties has a chance to grow up and see what they did was wrong. This is where the problem comes in for most people, because some people change. The history of the death penalty is not new it’s been around for hundreds of years. The death penalty was used in American by the start of the American Revolution; the death penalty was used in all 13 colonies. Rhode Island was the only colony that did not have at least 10 crimes punishable by death. (Reggio, 2009) It should come at no real shock that Rhode Island was the first state to outlaw the death penalty for all crimes. At one point in our history public executions, such as hangings, where thought to be cruel so it was then changed to private exactions. Our Founding Fathers allowed for death penalty when writing the constitution in 1787. At one point in our history public executions, such as hangings, where thought to be cruel so it was then changed to private exactions. On August 6, 1890, New York State used an electric chair to carry out the first execution by electrocution. As it turned out, the process was hardly quick or painless. Despite the gruesome procedure, people still thought electrocution was more humane and efficient than previousShow MoreRelatedThe Integral Role Sentencing Plays in the Criminal Justice Process904 Words   |  4 PagesThese philosophies are: Retribution- Retribution is a philosophy that a wrong doer who has freely chosen to violate society’s rules must be punished. Retribution relies on the principal of â€Å"just deserts†, this holds that the severity of the punishment hold to the severity of the crime. This philosophy is not the same as revenge because retribution is more concerned with the rules of society as a whole, rather than the individualism revenge has had on the victim or victims the offender. MostRead MoreIs the Death Penalty an Effective Deterrent?1677 Words   |  7 PagesResearch Question: Is the Death Penalty an Effective Deterrent? Honeyman, J. C., Ogloff, J. P. (1996). Capital punishment: Arguments for life and death. Canadian Journal Of Behavioural Science/Revue Canadienne Des Sciences Du Comportement, 28(1), 27-35. The main purpose of this article was to investigate the effects of the death penalty and the justification for the punishment. A key question the authors looked to answer was whether or not the participants arguments of what sentenceRead MoreDeath Penalty vs Life Imprisonment874 Words   |  4 PagesDeath Penalty vs. Life Imprisonment The death penalty is a widely discussed issue in the United States. Should the government still impose the death penalty for certain crimes? Or should the punishment be life imprisonment? This essay will discuss the different viewpoints on the death penalty and life imprisonment. 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Before Carlson’s sister’s death, he said he didRead MoreEssay about 8th Amendment1153 Words   |  5 PagesThe Eighth Amendment The 8th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, as well as the setting of excessive bail or the imposition of excessive fines. However, it has also been deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States (according to the Eighth Amendment)to inflict physical damage on students in a school environment for the purpose of discipline in most circumstances. The 8th Amendment stipulates that bail shall notRead MoreThe Moral, Legal, and Economical Aspects of Capital Punishment1509 Words   |  7 PagesCapital punishment has long been a topic for heated debate throughout the United States of America and the civilized world. For many politicians, the death penalty has been a key pillar to winning a state or election; and, to some extent, politics have been a key influence in America’s justice system. 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Capital punishment has more negative aspects than it has positive. The states that have legalized the death penalty face the excessive costs associated with it, which can be damaging to their economies. In addition, there is always the chance of executing an innocent person when carrying out capital punishment