Capital Punishment
The brutal acts of capitol punishment have been in affect since the eighteenth century. Capitol punishment is also known as the "death penalty". This name alone illustrates its cruelty and cold-hearted effects. Many advantages and disadvantages concerning this issue have been discussed throughout the justice system, but I believe that capitol punishment should be abolished.
The Bolstering an Illusory Majority: The effects of the Media's Portrayal of the Death Penalty Support article expresses public opinion concerning capitol punishment. This article reports that at least 70 percent of the population, is in favor of capitol punishment (Ellsworth and Gross, 1994; Warr,1995). Carl Arscott, a co-owner of the polling firm, says:
"I think the reason the support for the death penalty is so strong is that people don't believe that there is an a viable alternative."
During surveys at the polls, researchers asked questions about the favoritism of the death penalty, life in prison without parole or life without parole plus restitution. While in serving life in prison with restitution, the convicted murderer would be forced to work in a prison job and the proceeds from the work would go to the victim's family. At first, 70 to 80 percent were in favor of the death penalty. But when the idea of life in prison without parole plus restitution was presented, the 70 to 80 percent was decreased to half the total. From examining this evidence, I agree with Arscott's findings.
I believe that the finality of death caused by the death sentence creates a lack of rehabilitation for the suspect. This form of termination prevents the criminal from being re-educated or reformed. During this type of treatment, the prisoner could be placed in programs that are beneficial to the society and themselves. Statistics show that 70% of offenders, without rehabilitation, re-offend more victims. They also show that only 50 percent of offenders that participate...
View Full Essay