Furman Vs Georgia

The Death Penalty: Is it Right? In 1972, the Supreme Court was evaluating a criminal case, Furman v. Georgia. In this case the defendant, William Henry Furman, was burglarizing a house when he was discovered by someone. In attempt to flee, he tripped and accidently set off the gun, killing the person that discovered him. He was sentenced to death by the state of Georgia (Oyez). However, the case was taken to the Supreme Court and it posed a serious question. Is the death penalty unconstitutional? Due to the cruelty, the racial bias, and a better alternative the death penalty should be banned in the United States. The death penalty is cruel and unconstitutional. In 1990, a death row inmate was scheduled to be executed by the electric chair.

For example, a black defendant is four times more likely to be sentenced to death than a white defendant when a similar crime is committed. Additionally, a victim’s race is a key factor in determining whether or not the defendant gets the death penalty (Time). Why does the race of a defendant or victim matter in determining whether a life is taken? Does having darker skin really make you less of a person? The racial bias and discrimination in the United States is unbelievable. In ninety-six percent of states where they have reviewed cases of race and the death penalty there had been a pattern of race-of-victim or race-of-defendant discrimination, or even both (DPIC). The race of a defendant or a victim should not influence people in whether or not someone should die. Even if they have done terrible things, a life is still a

People argue that the death penalty is a good way to protect our population from these criminals that have done terrible things. While that may be true, life without parole still protects the population from these criminals as they will be in prison for the rest of their lives. Also, the price of a death penalty case is significantly higher than that of a life without parole case. A life without parole case typically averages at about $740,000 while a death penalty case averages at about $1.26 million. The death penalty also puts innocent lives at risk. Every one in twenty-five people on death row are actually innocent. Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, 143 people have been exonerated. Sadly this is less than half the number of the people who may have actually been innocent. The death row inmate stated earlier, Jesse Tafero, who had a botched execution was later found to have been innocent (Time). An innocent man experienced an extremely painful death orchestrated by the government. Additionally, many people believe that the death penalty will stop future criminals from doing terrible crimes. However, the South has the highest execution rate in the US and they also have the highest homicide rate while the Northeast has the lowest execution rate and the lowest homicide rate (DPIC). The death penalty will not stop criminals from doing terrible