In 1772 BC the Hammurabi Code established punishment for crimes including the death penalty. The code contained 25 death penalty crimes. Murder was not one of them. The first death penalty sentence recorded occurred in Egypt during the 16th century BC. The “Draconian
Code of Athens” in the 7th century BC, made every crime punishable by death. This is where the meaning of the word draconian is derived. The “Roman Law of the Twelve Tablets” codified the death penalty in the 5th century BC. Mosaic Law has an interesting history all its own. Since the inception of the Torah there have been numerous crimes that the death penalty was the ultimate punishment. The most famous of course is Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. 300 hundred years later the
Emperor Constantine, …show more content…
The pros for the death penalty are:
1) Closure for the victim’s family. If the perpetrator is still alive it will be a constant reminder for the family.
2) Deterrence. When available the ultimate punishment serves as a greater deterrence to people than life in prison.
3) Justice is better served. A fundamental tenant of the justice system is that the punishment should fit the crime.
4) Use as a plea bargaining chip. Without the use of plea bargains, the court system would grind to a halt. A prosecutor can use the threat of the death penalty in negotiations in order to save the courts resources.
5) Without the threat of death, prisoners already serving life sentences could commit additional homicides without the fear of further punishment.
6) Levels the field between perpetrator and victim. If you take a life, you forfeit your life.
The Cons of the Death Penalty:
1) Financial costs. The death penalty is more expensive to adjudicate a death sentence than a sentence of life in prison. The cost could be as much as five times the amount to just incarcerate a person for life.
2) It is cruel and unusual punishment. Many people believe based upon ethical or
Code of Athens” in the 7th century BC, made every crime punishable by death. This is where the meaning of the word draconian is derived. The “Roman Law of the Twelve Tablets” codified the death penalty in the 5th century BC. Mosaic Law has an interesting history all its own. Since the inception of the Torah there have been numerous crimes that the death penalty was the ultimate punishment. The most famous of course is Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. 300 hundred years later the
Emperor Constantine, …show more content…
The pros for the death penalty are:
1) Closure for the victim’s family. If the perpetrator is still alive it will be a constant reminder for the family.
2) Deterrence. When available the ultimate punishment serves as a greater deterrence to people than life in prison.
3) Justice is better served. A fundamental tenant of the justice system is that the punishment should fit the crime.
4) Use as a plea bargaining chip. Without the use of plea bargains, the court system would grind to a halt. A prosecutor can use the threat of the death penalty in negotiations in order to save the courts resources.
5) Without the threat of death, prisoners already serving life sentences could commit additional homicides without the fear of further punishment.
6) Levels the field between perpetrator and victim. If you take a life, you forfeit your life.
The Cons of the Death Penalty:
1) Financial costs. The death penalty is more expensive to adjudicate a death sentence than a sentence of life in prison. The cost could be as much as five times the amount to just incarcerate a person for life.
2) It is cruel and unusual punishment. Many people believe based upon ethical or