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Beccaria's Argument Against The Death Penalty

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In Beccaria's treatise, section XXVIII focuses on the death penalty. Overall, Beccaria argues against the death penalty. He believed that the severity of a crime should be measured by the amount of harm that it causes a society, and that the purpose of a punishment is to prevent criminals from causing further harm to a society. Additionally, punishments serve as a deterrent to prevent others from committing crimes. Only in extreme cases would the punishment of death be necessary. Although the death penalty is still a very controversial topic today, Beccaria is correct in his assertion that it is not necessary. The death penalty fails to provide a means of reforming an individual, and does not leave a lasting impression on others. Though the
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