The Effect of Capital Punishment
Introduction
Has the death penalty influenced the United States in a positive way? How about the crime rate? Some states have abolished the death sentence, but others continue to have it as an option for crimes such as murder. Many debates have focused on the argument that the death penalty lowers the crime rate while others suggest it has no effect on the crime rate. A major premise for capital punishment is that it lowers the probability of someone committing a murder knowing his or her life may be jeopardized at court. Most criminals believe the worst possible punishment they can receive is life in prison and do not consider a death warrant. Life in prison has proven to be a harsher form of punishment …show more content…
Since Texas has the highest number of death sentences than any other state, a study focused on Texas will be substantial evidence to examine the effect of capital punishment. (Sorensen 1999) focused on the execution and homicide rates in Texas during 1984 to 1991 and found no clear consensus. Thus, there is a lack of significant evidence to suggest that capital punishment has affected the homicide rate in Texas during those years. Additionally, there is no evidence suggesting the crime rate lowering in the future. Secondly, a different way to measure the effect is to take a specific instance where an execution took place, observe the murder rates before, and after the execution took place. (Bailey 1998) examined the murder rates leading up to the Charles Troy Coleman execution and then saw the after effects that may have resulted. He found a relation between capital murders and the Coleman execution, but no significant effect to other forms of murder. He also found “no evidence of a significant deterrent effect resulting from the Coleman execution” (Bailey 1998). The Coleman execution only lowered the probability of a capital murder being committed. Additionally, he found no major change in the murder rates in response to the Coleman …show more content…
(Dezhbakhsh 2003) gathered data on the amounts of criminal executions and murders committed across the United States during 1960 to 2000. The researchers created a regression model to organize their findings across the 50 states. They found “the arrest, sentencing, and execution measures all have a negative effect on murder rate” (Dezhbakhsh 2003). The study lacks in providing other possible reasons why there is a decrease in murder rates when capital punishment is active in a state. A variable the study takes into account are states with a strong National Rifle Association (NRA) presence. The researchers found “a higher murder rate in counties with a strong NRA presence” (Dezhbakhsh 2003). This can lead to another argument regarding the lethal arms and criminal activity. The argument may suggest that less restrictions or easier methods, in which citizens can acquire lethal weapons, may drive murders. Other variables can be international affairs. The researcher does not consider these other lurking variables which lowers the credibility of the
Introduction
Has the death penalty influenced the United States in a positive way? How about the crime rate? Some states have abolished the death sentence, but others continue to have it as an option for crimes such as murder. Many debates have focused on the argument that the death penalty lowers the crime rate while others suggest it has no effect on the crime rate. A major premise for capital punishment is that it lowers the probability of someone committing a murder knowing his or her life may be jeopardized at court. Most criminals believe the worst possible punishment they can receive is life in prison and do not consider a death warrant. Life in prison has proven to be a harsher form of punishment …show more content…
Since Texas has the highest number of death sentences than any other state, a study focused on Texas will be substantial evidence to examine the effect of capital punishment. (Sorensen 1999) focused on the execution and homicide rates in Texas during 1984 to 1991 and found no clear consensus. Thus, there is a lack of significant evidence to suggest that capital punishment has affected the homicide rate in Texas during those years. Additionally, there is no evidence suggesting the crime rate lowering in the future. Secondly, a different way to measure the effect is to take a specific instance where an execution took place, observe the murder rates before, and after the execution took place. (Bailey 1998) examined the murder rates leading up to the Charles Troy Coleman execution and then saw the after effects that may have resulted. He found a relation between capital murders and the Coleman execution, but no significant effect to other forms of murder. He also found “no evidence of a significant deterrent effect resulting from the Coleman execution” (Bailey 1998). The Coleman execution only lowered the probability of a capital murder being committed. Additionally, he found no major change in the murder rates in response to the Coleman …show more content…
(Dezhbakhsh 2003) gathered data on the amounts of criminal executions and murders committed across the United States during 1960 to 2000. The researchers created a regression model to organize their findings across the 50 states. They found “the arrest, sentencing, and execution measures all have a negative effect on murder rate” (Dezhbakhsh 2003). The study lacks in providing other possible reasons why there is a decrease in murder rates when capital punishment is active in a state. A variable the study takes into account are states with a strong National Rifle Association (NRA) presence. The researchers found “a higher murder rate in counties with a strong NRA presence” (Dezhbakhsh 2003). This can lead to another argument regarding the lethal arms and criminal activity. The argument may suggest that less restrictions or easier methods, in which citizens can acquire lethal weapons, may drive murders. Other variables can be international affairs. The researcher does not consider these other lurking variables which lowers the credibility of the