The Use of the Death Penalty in the United States The use of the death penalty in the United States is probably one of the most debated subjects among Americans. It is used as a form a capital punishment for criminals who have been convicted of some of the most heinous crimes. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 1,398 inmates have been executed in the Unites States since the federal reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. So why is it such a debated subject? Both sides have compelling arguments. Opponents of the death penalty argue the ethics, costs, and legalities, while proponents argue religious values, setting precedence for other criminals, and peace of mind. So is the death penalty taking away the most basic human right? Or is it what is needed to make sure America is kept safe? Even though the death penalty
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According to Mark Berman with the Washington Post, there are currently 18 states that have abolished the death penalty, including 6 since 2007. So why are American’s turning to life sentences rather than death? Morality plays a huge role. Who is to say the government has the right to take a life? Regardless of the crime the person committed, it seems like a double standard to have someone put to death for killing another person to show that murder is wrong. Another reason one might oppose the death penalty is because of costs. I originally was under the impression that it costs more to house an inmate for the rest of their life rather than put them to death. This is not true. In states like California, prosecuting death-penalty cases cost upwards of $184 million more each year than life-without-parole cases (Fischer). This is a stark contrast to the $47,900 a year it costs to house an inmate for one year in the same state ("California’s Annual Costs to Incarcerate an Inmate in
According to Mark Berman with the Washington Post, there are currently 18 states that have abolished the death penalty, including 6 since 2007. So why are American’s turning to life sentences rather than death? Morality plays a huge role. Who is to say the government has the right to take a life? Regardless of the crime the person committed, it seems like a double standard to have someone put to death for killing another person to show that murder is wrong. Another reason one might oppose the death penalty is because of costs. I originally was under the impression that it costs more to house an inmate for the rest of their life rather than put them to death. This is not true. In states like California, prosecuting death-penalty cases cost upwards of $184 million more each year than life-without-parole cases (Fischer). This is a stark contrast to the $47,900 a year it costs to house an inmate for one year in the same state ("California’s Annual Costs to Incarcerate an Inmate in