Analysis Of Capital Punishment Essay: The Price Of Crime

The Price of Crime Since its formation in the 1600s, there have been roughly 16,000 people executed in America (Ford 1); and as of 2007 around 3,350 people reside on death row awaiting execution (Ballaro and Cushman 1). Capital punishment, which dates back to ancient times, is the practice of executing people who have been convicted of a serious crime. In some American states, criminals who are found guilty of murder, treason, and espionage, among other offences, can be handed the death penalty. These convicts are then executed, which many find controversial. Some people believe that capital punishment is a suitable form of punishment for certain types of crimes, while others think that capital punishment is never appropriate. The most abstract …show more content…
Therefore, the two sides have come to an agreement on this particular point. As Micha L. Issitt and Heather Newman state, ¨neither supporters nor opponents of the death penalty have been able to produce evidence that conclusively determines the role of capital punishment in crime deterrence¨ (4). However, there may need to be more data collected on the subject to help prove one of the sides right. Because of this the two positions might agree that there needs to be more research into the effects of the death penalty on deterrence.
There are pros and cons to capital punishment, and it is hard to tell which side has the more convincing argument. One must contemplate the morality of the death penalty, the effectiveness of deterrence, and the possible discrimination that it may lead to. There also may need to be more DNA testing and fair trials so that innocent people are not put to death by accident. The death penalty is an important topic to consider in this day and age, especially now when it is under such heavy debate. The 3,350 people currently on death row would most likely