In our justice system today, committing a severe crime is met with an equally severe punishment from the state. This is especially true for murder cases. However, there is an ongoing debate in our society as to what qualifies as a just punishment for the criminal. Some find that life in prison is a better option, but by looking at the facts, it can be made clear that in special cases the death penalty should be used.
Whenever a person takes the life of another, a deliberate punishment is sought out after the prosecutor proves without a reasonable doubt that the murderer did in fact end a victim’s life. A guilty verdict can be proven through eyewitness testimonies, looking at the evidence and facts, and DNA tests as well. As of 2015, the statistics
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The families, loved ones, and friends of the dead suffer the most pain when their relative is cruelly taken away from this world. They must go on knowing they can never see someone again and must bear the knowledge that the victim won’t be able to see out the rest of their life and the opportunities they could’ve had. The death penalty could offer just enough comfort and closure to those directly hurt by the killer’s actions. For the family and friends, knowing that the killer wouldn’t be able to do the same damage to another family would offer a feeling of safety and a level of …show more content…
For instance, a popular opinion amongst them is that rehabilitation is possible for someone having to stay in a prison for so long. If anything this only allows a killer to grow worse. “Having to rub shoulders with other career criminals can lead to an increase in disciplinary infractions on the inside and erode a person’s better instincts (Economics Blog).” Prisoners must spend hours and hours with other inmates that have committed similar crimes. They would be heavily influenced to act upon their dark ideas by committing more crimes and murdering again. In conclusion, both life in prison and the death penalty come with many pros and cons. However, the death penalty has the advantage of less risks and repercussions being involved. The facts alone prove that crime would decrease, taxpayers would pay less, families would receive closure, and lives would be saved if the death penalty would continue being used as a way to punish