Pros And Cons Of The Death Penalty

There are many pros towards using the death penalty. One being, the rate of homicide decreases. If someone was to consider killing someone else, the thought that they could also be killed may change their mind. If all laws said that if one human being takes another human beings life, their life will be taken also, then the rate of homicides may decrease. But when someone is charged with homicide and deep down they know that they will only have to go to prison and be provided everything they need to survive, then the rate of homicides will increase. “Indeed, other recent investigations, using a variety of samples and statistical methods, consistently demonstrate a strong link between executions and reduced murder rates. In short, capital punishment

While this may be an appropriate argument, there would be a very long process to decide whether or not someone is to be executed. “The innocent can take solace in knowing that a unanimous jury of 12 citizens must render the death verdict after an exhaustive trial where the accused murderer is represented by two highly competent attorneys and overseen by an independent judge who ensures a fair trial” (Hanisee, 2016). It would be impossible to allow an innocent person to be executed if the correct process was done and it was equally voted on. “Voters understand that the criminals on death row have been convicted of the most heinous crimes. Justice is a reformed, not eliminated by death penalty" (Hanisee,

To pay for someone to live in prison for the rest of their life because they have taken someone else’s life, is a lot more expensive than paying for them to be executed. "Much of the cost, indeed, much of the criticism of the death penalty, is attributed to 'decades of appeals.' It is unsurprising that the loudest complaints about death penalty delays come from death penalty opponents who have created them” (Evnen, 2015). Not only would the cost of prison go down, but the cost of trials would also go down. To have a very long trial, that may take weeks or even months, is very expensive. “Criminal defendants who are facing the death penalty — which today must be pleaded by prosecutors up front — often want to make a deal by pleading guilty to first degree murder in exchange for a sentencing recommendation of life without parole. The existence of the death penalty as a possible sentence leads to guilty pleas that save the money spent on trials and limit the opportunity for appeals” (Evnen,