Should USA abolish death penalty already? I mean, the arguments against it are really strong?

Question

And the arguments in favour are weak. In my opinion, the best 3 arguments death penalty supporters are using, are
1. It decreases crime
2. "At least then the murderer wont kill again"
3. It costs less than life in prison

BUT, actually...
1. False. It simply doesn't decrease crime. The murder stats are actually higher in the states that use death penalty compared to non-death penalty states.

2. Well, kind of true. But then again, innocent people are being executed too, so it's not 100% sure, since the real murderer is still out there...AND since it seems to increase the amount of murderers, it kind of...backfires. Which one is worse, to let 1 murderer walk out free, or to create 3 more? AND....we've got prisons, remember? Let's keep them there if it seem like they'll murder again.

3. False. Death penalty actually costs 2-5 times MORE than life without parole. Mostly because there are more pre-trials, more experts, more lawyers, two trials instead of one will be conducted and the trial is longer. North Carolina spends $2.16 million(!) per execution more than the costs of a non-death penalty murder case. In Texas, the death penalty costs an average of $2.3 million per execution, three times more(!) expensive than imprisoning someone in a single cell at the highest security level for 40 years. In California, The additional cost of confining an inmate to death row, as compared to life in prison without parole, is $90,000/year per inmate. With state budgets in crisis, some states are looking at ending the death penalty, entirely for economic reasons. New Jersey took that step in 2007

However, the arguments AGAINST death penalty:
1. Innocent people are being executed. Since 1973 over 100 people have been exonerated and released from death rows around the country. Also mentally ill patients may be put to death. That alone should be enough.

2. It doesn't decrease crime, it actually seems to increase the amount of murders

3. Like I said, it costs more

4. The studies show that it doesn't work as a deterrent. Life in prison is a worse punishment and a more effective deterrent.

5. The death penalty is premeditated murder, demeans the state and makes society more violent. By executing a person, the state commits a murder and shows the same readiness to use physical violence against its victim as the criminal. Moreover, studies have shown that the murder rate increases immediately after executions. It simply arouses and legitimizes our own murderous impulses.

6. It's inhumane, barbaric and violates the "cruel and unusual" clause in the Bill of Rights, even the lethal injection. In some cases, the ones being executed had been awake while given the injection that paralyzes your lungs.

7. The death penalty denies the capacity of people to mend their ways and become a better person.

8. The death penalty cannot provide social stability nor bring peace to the victims.

9. It makes the country look like it's living in the (really) dark ages. We as a society have to move away from the "eye for an eye" revenge mentality if civilization is to advance.

10. It sends the wrong message: why kill people who kill people to show killing is wrong.

11. The prisoner's family must suffer from seeing their loved one put to death by the state, as well as going through the emotionally-draining appeals process.

12. It's racist. The number of white inmates on death row (45%) slightly exceeds the number of black inmates (42%), but these numbers are way out of proportion with the population. A study in Philadelphia showed that when black and white defendants were convicted of comparable crimes, black defendants were 38% more likely to receive the death penalty.


Can you deny any of those?

Answer 1

Of course. You covered many of the reasons - here's another:



People assume that families of murder victims want the death penalty imposed. It just isn't so. Some are against it on moral grounds. But even families who have supported the death penalty in principle have testified to the damage that the death penalty process does to families like theirs and that life without parole is an appropriate alternative.



And, for anyone who doesn't get why and at what stage the death penalty costs skyrocket:



Study after study confirms that the largest part of the costs is upfront, at the pre trial and trial stages, and apply whether or not there is a conviction, let alone a death sentence.



Here is part of one report that explains it well:



“The study counted death penalty case costs through to execution and found that the median death penalty case costs $1.26 million. Non-death penalty cases were counted through to the end of incarceration and were found to have a median cost of $740,000. For death penalty cases, the pre-trial and trial level expenses were the most expensive part, 49% of the total cost. The investigation costs for death-sentence cases were about 3 times greater than for non-death cases. The trial costs for death cases were about 16 times greater than for non-death cases ($508,000 for death case; $32,000 for non-death case).” (Kansas: Performance Audit Report: Costs Incurred for Death Penalty Cases: A K-GOAL Audit of the Department of Corrections)



Some of the factors:

• more pre-trial time will be needed to prepare: cases typically take a year to come to trial

• more pre-trial motions will be filed and answered

• more experts will be hired

• twice as many attorneys will be appointed for the defense, and a comparable team for the prosecution

• jurors will have to be individually quizzed on their views about the death penalty, and they are more likely to be sequestered

• two trials instead of one will be conducted: one for guilt and one for punishment

• the trial will be longer: a cost study at Duke University estimated that death penalty trials take 3 to 5 times longer than typical murder trials



Specific cases (California.)

People v. Scott Peterson, Death Penalty Trial

$3.2 Million Total

People v. Rex Allen Krebs Death Penalty Trial

$2.8 Million Total

People v. Cary Stayner, Death Penalty Trial

$2.368 Million Total

People v. Robert Wigley, Non-Death Penalty Trial

$454,000 Total



This data is for cases where the best records are kept.



http://aclunc.org/issues/criminal_justice/death_penalty/frequently_asked_questions_about_the_costs_of_california%27s_death_penalty.shtml

Answer 2

Your "Question" make no real sense. That is unless they have let you use the prison library computer. 1. Society has the RIGHT to protect it's self and that includes from those that would commit murder for any reason. 1a. For those that like to misquote the Bible, "Thou shall not murder... " It does not say thou shall not kill! 2. The state has a RIGHT to not impose the death sentence based on the vote of the people (not a judge or Governor or an Attorney General, That means Jerry Brown!). 3. As to deterrence, if you execute someone - that person will never kill again. 4. As to the cost, the cost is high and should be. But the expense comes not from the actual review of a case but from the ACLU and others that bring up nonsensical arguments. That is what cost money. 5. In California, each death row inmate has two court appointed lawyers at $200,000.00 each as a retainer. That is not the entire cost. Do the math, 25 year on death row???? Why do you think the lawyers lake the system? 6. There is NO chance a millionaire will even be charged with Capital 1. That is the biggest problem, the prosecutor has that much power in the process and that is wrong part of the system!

Answer 3

Well I agree we should abolish the death penalty and should used jail as a purpose for rehabilitation and used life without parole as an alternative. I used to support the death penalty for a long time until i educated myself a little more. It's sad that America(Except 15 states) is the only first world western nation to hold a death penalty. And religion and media brainwashed most of Americans to think that death penalty reduced crime. No government should had to right whether they should put the person to death or not. i think society is a lot worse than having criminals in jail. People who got out jail for parole was often discriminated based on their jail status and chances are they commit crime again. That why life w/o parole is an alternative. Does death penalty help the murder of the family victims? ask them yourself. they don't like it.



Death penalty does not deter crime and crime rate is still very high in America even the states who had a death penalty. You must not forget there also innocents on death row and could be wrongfully executed. Too many appeals on death rows drives up taxpayers cost. Cameron Todd Willingaham for example. this is an issue that never touched the pro death penalty supporters and will continue to used the mentality of" Oh rapist and murderers should get a death penalty". They should use a jail as a rehabilitation rather than a punishment. The "King of the world" that we Americans have imply for "we don't give a damn" attitude and the world despise us for that. People who support death penalty need more education before making judgments.

Answer 4

1. Murder rates are not higher because they kill murders. Murder rates are higher in areas with higher murder rates because they want to quit housing murders.

2. It does NOT increase the amount of murders

3. The cost could be argued. This is a varying amount based on a case to case basis.

4. It isn't supposed to deter the individual, it is supposed to kill them. You don't need a deterrent for someone on death row or life in prison - so it makes no difference.

5. Murder is defined as UNLAWFUL killing. The death penalty is lawful, therefore is not a 'murder'.

6. Violates the cruel and unusual? Didn't they violate that first by killing someone? Once they violated that right, their rights fail to have importance to me.

7. Some people cannot be rehabilitated. Sorry, if you killed once, you probably will do it again. I don't want a convicted murderer living next door to me. If you are crazy enough to do it once, you lose in the game of life. I have no sympathy for you, or think you have the right to 'mend your ways'. You took LIFE from someone. Murders are scum.

8. The victims cannot not achieve peace because they are dead. Social stability WHAT?

9. Personally, I feel the 'eye for an eye' works. If you cut the hands off of theives, they wouldn't do it again.

10. Sends the wrong message? I think it sends a good one. Look what happens when you kill someone.

11. Yes, the prisoners family suffers, not nearly as much as the 5 yr old girls family who had to hear their little daughter had been raped and dismembered for the kicks of a sicko.

12. Not my problem if black men commit more crime than white men. The numbers actually seem pretty fair to me. Plus you said comparable crimes. You just can't recreate a trial and the same jury. These studies are flawed.





Saying that - I don't know whether I agree or disagree with the death penalty. But I do disagree with your arguments.

Answer 5

Agreed on all (or at least most) points.



Another I would add is in response to those "Christians" who justify capital punishment by citing "an eye for an eye." I would recommend that they brush up on their New Testament, wherein they'll find that Jesus HIMSELF was against the death penalty:



- Matthew 5:7 (Jesus praises mercy)

- Matthew 5:38-39 (Jesus rejects "an eye for an eye")

- James 4:12 (only GOD can take a life in the name of justice)

- Romans 12:17-21 (do not answer evil with evil; God will see to justice in the afterlife)

- John 8:7 (all humans are imperfect, and thus unqualified to decide whether someone lives or dies)

- James 1:20 (my personal favorite: "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.")

Answer 6

As a rule, the arguements against the death penalty are false or quite weak.



The death penalty is a just and appropriate sanction and it saves additional innocent lives.



ETHICAL/RELIGIOUS SUPPORT FOR THE DEATH PENALTY



"Death Penalty Support: Religious and Secular Scholars"

http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/07/death-penalty-support-modern-catholic.html



"The Death Penalty: More Protection for Innocents"

http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/05/the-death-penalty-more-protection-for-innocents.aspx



DETERRENCE



All prospects of a negative outcome deter some. It is a truism. The death penalty, the most severe of criminal sanctions, is the least likely of all criminal sanctions to violate that truism.



25 recent studies finding for deterrence, Criminal Justice Legal Foundation,

http://www.cjlf.org/deathpenalty/DPDeterrence.htm



"Deterrence and the Death Penalty: A Reply to Radelet and Lacock"

http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/02/deterrence-and-the-death-penalty-a-reply-to-radelet-and-lacock.aspx



"Death Penalty, Deterrence & Murder Rates: Let's be clear"

http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/03/death-penalty-deterrence-murder-rates.html



INNOCENCE



"The Innocent Executed: Deception & Death Penalty Opponents"

http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/10/08/the-innocent-executed-deception--death-penalty-opponents--draft.aspx



The 130 (now 139) death row "innocents" scam

http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/03/04/fact-checking-issues-on-innocence-and-the-death-penalty.aspx



COST



"Death Penalty Cost Studies: Saving Costs over LWOP"

http://homicidesurvivors.com/2010/03/21/death-penalty-cost-studies-saving-costs-over-lwop.aspx



BIAS



"Death Penalty Sentencing: No Systemic Bias"

http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/07/death-penalty-sentencing-no-systemic.html





Other Issues



"Death Penalty Polls: Support Remains Very High - 80%"

http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/07/death-penalty-polls-support-remains.html



"Killing equals Killing: The Amoral Confusion of Death Penalty Opponents"

http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/02/01/murder-and-execution--very-distinct-moral-differences--new-mexico.aspx



A Death Penalty Red Herring: The Inanity and Hypocrisy of Perfection, Lester Jackson Ph.D.,

http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=102909A



"The Death Penalty: Neither Hatred nor Revenge"

http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/20/the-death-penalty-neither-hatred-nor-revenge.aspx



"The Death Penalty: Not a Human Rights Violation"

http://homicidesurvivors.com/2006/03/20/the-death-penalty-not-a-human-rights-violation.aspx



"Sister Helen Prejean & the death penalty: A Critical Review"

http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/05/04/sister-helen-prejean--the-death-penalty-a-critical-review.aspx





More essays supporting the death penalty and refuting the anti death penalty claims



http://homicidesurvivors.com/categories/Death%20Penalty.aspx

http://prodpinNC.blogspot.com/

Answer 7

I'd be just as happy to live in a state or country without it as one with it IF it were always administered fairly. We know that has never been the case so perhaps we should just put it on the shelf for now.



As for denying your 12 assertions? Yes I can, most are just value judgments.

Answer 8

Well, let's see. Who imposes the death penalty? The five countries with the most executions in 2009 were Iran (388+), Iraq (120+), Saudi Arabia (69+), the United States (52), and China, which executed more people than the rest of the world combined, according to Amnesty International. Who has abolished it?

ALBANIA

ANDORRA

ANGOLA

ARGENTINA

ARMENIA

AUSTRALIA

AUSTRIA

AZERBAIJAN

BELGIUM

BHUTAN

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

BULGARIA

BURUNDI

CAMBODIA

CANADA

CAPE VERDE

CHILE

COLOMBIA

COSTA RICA

COTE D'IVOIRE

CROATIA

CYPRUS

CZECH REPUBLIC

DENMARK

DJIBOUTI

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

ECUADOR

ESTONIA

FINLAND

FRANCE

GEORGIA

GERMANY

GREECE

GUINEA-BISSAU

HAITI

HONDURAS

HUNGARY

ICELAND

IRELAND

ITALY

KIRIBATI

LIBERIA

LIECHTENSTEIN

LITHUANIA

LUXEMBOURG

MACEDONIA

MALTA

MARSHALL ISLANDS

MAURITIUS

MEXICO

MICRONESIA (Federated States)

MOLDOVA

MONACO

MONTENEGRO

MOZAMBIQUE

NAMIBIA

NEPAL

NETHERLANDS

NEW ZEALAND

NICARAGUA

NIUE

NORWAY

PALAU

PARAGUAY

PHILIPPINES

POLAND

PORTUGAL

ROMANIA

RWANDA

SAMOA

SAN MARINO

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

SENEGAL

SERBIA

SEYCHELLES

SLOVAKIA

SLOVENIA

SOLOMON ISLANDS

SOUTH AFRICA

SPAIN

SWEDEN

SWITZERLAND

TIMOR-LESTE

TOGO

TURKEY

TURKMENISTAN

TUVALU

UKRAINE

UNITED KINGDOM

URUGUAY

UZBEKISTAN

VANUATU

VATICAN CITY STATE

VENEZUELA



Which group seems the more reasonable one to join?

Answer 9

i think we should abolish the expensive appeals process instead.



No one becomes a better person in jail. And no one serving a life sentence will ever get out to show off their rehabilitation.

Answer 10

on the cost--- it only costs more to keep them because of all the court fees, appeals and all that other sh*t you have to go through



and it's not really a deterrent because we do not use it consistently enough.





too many appeals

too many "exceptions"



there needs to be a list of crimes

you do one, you get capital punishment

Answer 11

Well, let's see, let some criminal rape and murder YOUR child, then let's see where you stand on that one.