Law should not exist to as a force of retribution in society; it should set an example, yet, in many states, capital punishment destroys the credibility of the justice system. The death penalty is a blight on America, causing excessive violence. Sociologists and criminologists have conducted extensive research as to the effects of executions on both crime and society. The death penalty creates a brutal society, and causes higher rates of crime, particularly homicide, in its wake. While the death penalty is still legal in thirty-one states and has strong support among many politicians, it is a harmful policy, and causes pain and suffering for innocent citizens. There is a strong correlation between homicide rates and the death penalty.
