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Posts by tapsghost
Joined: Apr 20, 2009
Last Post: Apr 20, 2009
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From: United States of America

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tapsghost   
Apr 20, 2009
Writing Feedback / The Death Penalty is more costly than imprisoning someone for life [4]

I need some help with a research paper... it's just a rough draft, and I know it stinks... I don't really know how to open it up, so some feedback would be nice... also, my grammer check tool on Microsoft word is not working, so there may be some grammatical issues.

Our final copies are due on April 27th, so I've got a week to get it done.

Instructions :: Must be 3-5 pages in length, minimum of 3 in-text citations, and you must write it on a contemporary issue. You may only use books or online databases; NO WEBSITES.

Some people would agree that the death penalty is a cruel punishment for crimes, even finding a simple injection to be inhumane. Other more effective manners to deal with criminal offenders should replace it. Although some citizens feel that the death penalty is a good way to deter crime, it should be banned in the United States because it is more costly than imprisoning someone for life and public support for it has decreased in recent years.

The death penalty should be banned in the United States because crime rates have been unaffected. "We are not getting what I think we should be wanting and that is to deter crime... in fact, the result is the opposite. We're having more violence, more crime," (Love 8). There is little affect on crime rates in the United States with the death penalty. The results of using the death penalty are not what was expected. "Among the experts, there is overwhelming consensus that the death penalty never has been, is not and never could be a deterrent to homicide over and above long imprisonment" (Radelet 2). There is no point to use the death penalty as a means of preventing crime, as there is no change in crime rates. Long imprisonment has been shown to be a more effective way of dealing with criminals. "Deterrence means that we execute people to send a message to others. After a while, increases in the severity of punishment have decreasing incremental deterrent effect" (Radelet 2). The death penalty has not caused people to stop committing crimes. Increased punishment is becoming less and less effective and causing the United States to spend more and more money each year.

It is more costly than imprisoning someone for life. A single execution costs more than two million dollars - $800,000 more than incarcerating a person for life (Notis 2). It is extremely expensive to utilize the death penalty. Incarcerating someone costs much less and saves the state money. The death penalty is dangerous and takes away funds from more effective misdemeanor treatments. Randomly choosing not the most unfavorable felons, but rather a group selected by race; impoverished, mentally ill and hapless people - some that are not guilty - creates suspicion about the criminal justice system (Freedman 8). Money that could be spent on other methods of crime deterrent is being wasted on executions. Criminal offenders are being killed by race instead of the severity of their crimes. The true cost of the death penalty also includes all the added expenses of the trials in which the death penalty is sought, but not achieved (Ross 1). Someone may be tried over and over again and not convicted, thus meaning money has been wasted for each time the offender is found innocent. Even though so much money is put into it, that does not guarantee the offender will be executed in the outcome; people are beginning to realize this fact and agree that there are more efficient ways of dealing with an offender.

Public support for the death penalty has decreased in recent years. Support for life without parole sentences has increased, and the number of death sentences in the U.S. has plummeted by 50 percent in recent years (Dieter 4). More Americans favor life imprisonment because it is a more humane way of dealing with criminals. It has decreased by half because people are beginning to realize it has no effect on crime rates. In general, there is decreasing use of the death penalty, declining promotion and issues at the state level about how it should be followed through ("Public Support for the death Penalty is Shifting" 2). There are no strong arguments to keep the death penalty. There are many inconsistencies when it comes to how to execute someone. There are no strong arguments to keep the death penalty. There are many inconsistencies when it comes to how to execute someone. "There are still some contradictions with people who consider themselves pro-life, but not when it comes to the death penalty" (Matschek 16). Pro-life supporters want to see the death penalty banned. Although some people may support harsh punishments for crimes, they do not want to cruelly execute convicts.

It is clear for any to see that the death penalty is gradually becoming less effective
and no longer the proper way to prevent crime. America must find new alternatives for the death penalty if they wish to lower crime rates and homicide. The death penalty has only created trouble for many legal systems. It has wasted money and time, and has done nothing to prevent people from committing offenses. The United States would be better off by getting rid of the death penalty for good.
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