Capital Punishment
The use of capital punishment in the United States has been debated since the colonial period. It is an extremely opinionated topic that most people are either very strongly for, or very strongly against. Capital punishment is (in laymen’s terms) the use of the death penalty on criminals. Some argue that the death penalty is “the State exercising its right to defend itself and her citizens from the worst of the worst” (The Debate: Maintained). On the other side of the debate it is argued that “the death penalty promotes none of the purposes of criminal punishment because it neither prevents more crimes than alternative measures nor serves as a retributive purpose” (The Debate: Maintained). The fairness of the death penalty is constantly brought into question by those opposing its use in the United States. These arguments are less focused on the personal feelings and morals of those opposing capital punishment, and more focused on racial bias and “the denial of legal rights” (Issues of Fairness). It is common knowledge that in the US Judicial system “justice is blind” which means that when deciding the outcome of a case the court is to remain unaware of economic status, race, or sexuality (Price). Those arguing the death penalty state that this is not the case and that capital …show more content…
Everyone is entitled to a trial by jury meaning 12 random people that cover all different heritages, races, financial backgrounds and genders are chosen to determine the outcome of the case. The purpose of this system is to prevent corruption and bias within the judicial system. However, there have been some cases where it is suspected that the jury selected is a “death qualified jury” meaning that the jurors were selected with the intention of them being biased in favor of the death penalty thus ensuring the outcome of the case before any of the facts are presented (Debate:
The use of capital punishment in the United States has been debated since the colonial period. It is an extremely opinionated topic that most people are either very strongly for, or very strongly against. Capital punishment is (in laymen’s terms) the use of the death penalty on criminals. Some argue that the death penalty is “the State exercising its right to defend itself and her citizens from the worst of the worst” (The Debate: Maintained). On the other side of the debate it is argued that “the death penalty promotes none of the purposes of criminal punishment because it neither prevents more crimes than alternative measures nor serves as a retributive purpose” (The Debate: Maintained). The fairness of the death penalty is constantly brought into question by those opposing its use in the United States. These arguments are less focused on the personal feelings and morals of those opposing capital punishment, and more focused on racial bias and “the denial of legal rights” (Issues of Fairness). It is common knowledge that in the US Judicial system “justice is blind” which means that when deciding the outcome of a case the court is to remain unaware of economic status, race, or sexuality (Price). Those arguing the death penalty state that this is not the case and that capital …show more content…
Everyone is entitled to a trial by jury meaning 12 random people that cover all different heritages, races, financial backgrounds and genders are chosen to determine the outcome of the case. The purpose of this system is to prevent corruption and bias within the judicial system. However, there have been some cases where it is suspected that the jury selected is a “death qualified jury” meaning that the jurors were selected with the intention of them being biased in favor of the death penalty thus ensuring the outcome of the case before any of the facts are presented (Debate: