Sarah Bernard
Professor Raymond Greenwood
Introduction to Criminology 215s
29 October 2017
Pro-Death Penalty
I whole-heartedly believe in the use of the death penalty in cases where the defendant is guilty without a shadow of a doubt. As usual, most criminals that are given the death penalty have committed a homicide. Criminals convicted of rape as well as child molestation also deserve the punishment of death. While the lives of the victims of rape and child molestation do not always end in death, their lives are pretty much taken away from them during these acts. By that I mean the torture, embarrassment, and mental devastation that these victims go through can result in a lifeless and empty shell of a person. It is my belief that the …show more content…
The use of the death penalty dates all the way back to the 18th Century. While back then the use was not as stringent as current times, it was still effective like it can be today. “A recent study by Professor Michael Radelet and Traci Lacock of the University of Colorado found that 88% of the nation’s leading criminologists do not believe the death penalty is an effective deterrent to crime (“Study”)”. Most do not believe that the penalty is effective in deterring crime due to its misuse. “Since 1976, when the death penalty was reinstated by the U.S. Supreme Court, 1,458 people have been executed (as of July 28, 2017) (“Death”)”. Research is not needed to know that there have been thousands of criminals convicted of homicides (which is the case that most results in the use of the penalty) since …show more content…
The authors conclude that the estimates claiming that the death penalty saves numerous lives "are simply not credible." In fact, the authors state that using the same data and proper methodology could lead to the exact opposite conclusion: that is, that the death penalty actually increases the number of murders (“Discussion”)”. It is very true that in current times, the misuse of the death penalty leads to an increase, instead of a decrease, in murders. This is due to the belief of the criminals that even if/when they do get convicted, they get to sit in their cushy death row cells for years upon years. It is fairly common knowledge that if given the death penalty, the criminal will probably never be executed. The criminals are given free healthcare, internet, television and more instead of being punished for the horrible crimes they have committed. The knowledge of this cushy treatment almost makes people want to commit murder for the simple fact that they will have everything provided for them, without them having to do anything. If used correctly, the death penalty really can reduce crime. That means that the convicted is executed in a matter of months and not years so as to reduce the amount of death row inmates sitting in there for years and years. Also, nothing except
Professor Raymond Greenwood
Introduction to Criminology 215s
29 October 2017
Pro-Death Penalty
I whole-heartedly believe in the use of the death penalty in cases where the defendant is guilty without a shadow of a doubt. As usual, most criminals that are given the death penalty have committed a homicide. Criminals convicted of rape as well as child molestation also deserve the punishment of death. While the lives of the victims of rape and child molestation do not always end in death, their lives are pretty much taken away from them during these acts. By that I mean the torture, embarrassment, and mental devastation that these victims go through can result in a lifeless and empty shell of a person. It is my belief that the …show more content…
The use of the death penalty dates all the way back to the 18th Century. While back then the use was not as stringent as current times, it was still effective like it can be today. “A recent study by Professor Michael Radelet and Traci Lacock of the University of Colorado found that 88% of the nation’s leading criminologists do not believe the death penalty is an effective deterrent to crime (“Study”)”. Most do not believe that the penalty is effective in deterring crime due to its misuse. “Since 1976, when the death penalty was reinstated by the U.S. Supreme Court, 1,458 people have been executed (as of July 28, 2017) (“Death”)”. Research is not needed to know that there have been thousands of criminals convicted of homicides (which is the case that most results in the use of the penalty) since …show more content…
The authors conclude that the estimates claiming that the death penalty saves numerous lives "are simply not credible." In fact, the authors state that using the same data and proper methodology could lead to the exact opposite conclusion: that is, that the death penalty actually increases the number of murders (“Discussion”)”. It is very true that in current times, the misuse of the death penalty leads to an increase, instead of a decrease, in murders. This is due to the belief of the criminals that even if/when they do get convicted, they get to sit in their cushy death row cells for years upon years. It is fairly common knowledge that if given the death penalty, the criminal will probably never be executed. The criminals are given free healthcare, internet, television and more instead of being punished for the horrible crimes they have committed. The knowledge of this cushy treatment almost makes people want to commit murder for the simple fact that they will have everything provided for them, without them having to do anything. If used correctly, the death penalty really can reduce crime. That means that the convicted is executed in a matter of months and not years so as to reduce the amount of death row inmates sitting in there for years and years. Also, nothing except