Death Penalty Controversy Essay

The Controversy

The death penalty can be traced back to as early as the 18th century BC and the first execution in America was in 1608 since then there have been numerous changes to policies about capital punishment. The debate over the death penalty in the United States is nothing new, “In the early to mid-Nineteenth Century, the abolitionist movement gained momentum in the northeast.” (“The Abolitionist Movement” 1) Ever since the movement began, the debate over the death penalty has been a large one. Questions about the death penalty range from ones about morality to ones about the finances and efficiency of it. People who are for the death penalty typically use the argument that if someone ends the life of another, they deserve death as

Not only that but a sentence of life in prison without parole costs less money, so it’s not just that the death penalty doesn’t help, it’s actually negatively affecting the finances of the criminal justice system. In regards to states that have abolished the death penalty Paul Brennan from Ballotpedia, a political encyclopedia wrote that “Republican and Democratic officials have also emphasized the cost of the death penalty as a major rationale” (Brennan 1). When it comes to states deciding what to do with the death penalty, the question of cost is typically at the forefront of the decision. The death penalty costs taxpayers money and is an ineffective use of that money. According to a report by the Death Penalty Information Center “death penalty cases are much more expensive than non-death penalty cases" (Death Penalty Information Center 1). Death penalty cases are significantly more expensive than non-death penalty cases due to the drawn-out appeals process and the requirement for specialist attorneys and experts. Using this money on initiatives that have been proven to lower crime rates, including education and mental health services, would be a better use of the

In fact, studies have repeatedly demonstrated that the death sentence has had little effect on crime rates. In fact, homicide rates have decreased in states that have abolished the death sentence while remaining unchanged in places that still apply it (Donohue III and Wolfers 10). Lengthy appeals and inconsistent implementations of the death penalty reduce its effectiveness in deterring crime rates. The appeals process for death penalty cases is often lengthy and can take years, during which time the offender is not subject to the punishment. Inconsistent implementations of the death penalty, where it is applied in some cases and not in others, can also contribute to its failure. There isn’t just a specific crime when the death penalty should be given, it’s ultimately left up to the opinion of the judge which is very likely to be inconsistent. If the punishment is not consistently applied, it may not be perceived as a risk that is significant enough to deter potential