The death penalty is a very controversial issue discussed by Americans. Many believe that the death penalty is cruel and people do not have the power to determine the value of a life. Others argue that it is in the benefit of taxpayers to implement the death penalty. Some major issues concerning execution is the morality of it, the cost, and what determines a person susceptible to being executed. Executing a prisoner is a less favorable option in the eyes of cost and morality and therefore should not be used unless it is under absolutely necessary circumstances.
Many of the issues surrounding capital punishment is whether or not a crime is worth a human’s life. Should people have the right to play God? Who decides what crimes equate to the loss of a human life?
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Death sentences are imposed in a criminal justice system that treats you better if you are rich and guilty than if you are poor and innocent,” (Stevenson). Stevenson’s claim proves that there is bias in the selection process for those who are chosen for capital punishment. Also, there is a higher possibility that in the biased selection process that potentially innocent prisoners are executed over those who are more guaranteed to have committed the crime. Some people will argue that the death penalty is given to those who deserve the punishment in return for terrible and merciless crimes and that life in prison is not enough payment for the crime. Though many others believe and eye for an eye is not successful in achieving anything besides ridding of a dangerous person, even though they are incarcerated and typically incapable of causing more harm. The former superintendent of the Oregon State Penitentiary, Sermon Frank Thompson Jr. expressed his opposition in an article “What I Learned from Executing Two Men”. Thompson was responsible for executing two men in Oregon during his time as