Pros and Cons of Death Penalty in the 21st Century

By  //  May 26, 2020

The death penalty is quite a controversial topic nowadays. You can easily find a college paper or some essay examples about it, mainly because it creates ground for discussion. Some regions are in favor of this practice, while others are against it. As a result, we have two camps, as usual.

The death penalty is quite a controversial topic nowadays. You can easily find a college paper or some essay examples about it, mainly because it creates ground for discussion. Some regions are in favor of this practice, while others are against it. As a result, we have two camps, as usual.

The first camp has some solid reasons for the death penalty, and the second one has arguments for the death penalty abolition. Being a cause of heated debates for decades, the death penalty pros and cons is a broad topic, so you broaden your understanding of it with the following article.

Why it’s important

Death penalty literary means that a person loses life through the decision of the authorities. This very fact implies lots of things to consider.

You can try to look for essay samples on this, or order a death penalty essay to get some knowledge from professionals on this debate. After all, two-thirds of the world has abolished the practice, but let’s not forget about that one-third.


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Pros

One of the most obvious arguments for the death penalty is that the threat of capital punishment is a great way of deterring criminals from committing the worst crimes.

This is quite logical and simple. After all, if a potential criminal knows of the potential capital punishment, he or she will think twice before doing anything that could result in the highest form of punishment.

This sort of serving justice can give closure to the victims or families of victims. After all, retribution does not equal revenge, and the death penalty can be seen as an appropriate punishment for something like a murder. Some people consider this to be a real example of how justice should be served.

It is possible to find some paper on a news website with the comments of victims’ families who want the person who killed their loved ones to suffer the same fate.

It’s cost-effective. Sentencing someone for a life sentence for doing the worst crimes means that a criminal will be basically fed and given shelter by the country’s taxpayers for life.

Consider the average lifespan of a modern person as well. Just try looking for essay examples explaining how much such inmates cost the country and its people. 

Cons

There’s no actual proof that a  threat of capital punishment is actually working as a deterrent for potential offenders. Lots of statistical studies showed that there were no significant differences in crime rates within the countries that abolished the practice of the death penalty.

So, the most obvious entry in the list of reasons for the death penalty isn’t quite backed up by evidence.

The justice system is prone to mistakes. There have been numerous examples of unfair court decisions and wrongful imprisonments that led to the deaths of innocent people. So, we have the argument of uncertainty and instability of the justice system. 

The death penalty is a remnant of past and repressive regimes. After all, the death penalty was abolished because of its unnecessary cruelty and moral questions.

Who are we to decide whether a person lives or dies? A murderer can suffer a worse fate by serving a life sentence. It is also quite interesting that the death penalty exists in regimes such as Iran, Yemen, and North Korea.

Conclusion

As you can now see, the death penalty pros and cons are worthy of your attention. Both sides of arguments provide some sound ideas to support their point of view.

That is why this topic is so dividing and suitable for debate. There are way more reasons for death penalty and arguments for death penalty abolition, you just have to dig a little deeper or look for a paper online.

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