Death Penalty: The Most Controversial Issues Within The Justice System

There is no question that killing another person is the most heinous crime that any person can commit. In the United States the death penalty has always been one of the most controversial issues within the Justice System. An individual is given a death sentence when he is found guilty of a capital crime, which may be murder, treason, or espionage. The death penalty comes from the Latin term Lex Talionis, which is the principle or law of retaliation, also known as “an eye for an eye” (Johns, 1987). There are many arguments about the death penalty, whether or not they are constitutional. Some argue for the death penalty saying it achieves justice by paying killers for their horrible crimes. Others argue against the death penalty saying it is