Introduction

Crime rates have been on the rise in the recent past. The justice systems have been finding ways of controlling crimes. Violent robberies and armed crimes have had varied views on how the justice system has spearheaded the punishment. The death penalty has been used, and many people believe it is the best practice, but the crimes have not been reduced. Proponents feel that the death penalty is a fair justice for certain crimes, deterring criminal activities while protecting society and promoting moral order.

There is no boundary for distinguishing if the punishment is justifiable or attainable. In addition, the death penalty is a brutal and inhumane practice that undermines the codes of civilization in modern society. It infringes on human rights and does not aid as an operative method of deterring crime. The legal system is not infallible, and innocent people have been executed. Thus, the death penalty should be abolished because it is inhumane, built on the racial and economic bias, irreversible, and lacks a deterrent effect.

You can order a similar argumentative essay from Masters Writers. Our expert writers are ready to geek your essay. Please navigate to our order page and place your order now. Let’s dive in.

The Death Penalty is Inhumane

The death penalty is an inhumane practice. It violates the fundamental human right to life observed in how it is racially applied to people of color and those from poor backgrounds, excessively penalized to death, and hence applied fraudulently (Kirchner, 2021). There is no evidence that the death penalty is efficient in reducing crime. Using lethal injection or other forms of execution causes unnecessary suffering and pain for the condemned individual, who may spend years on death row before their execution. In some cases, 4% of innocent people have been put to death due to flawed legal processes or false convictions between 1973 and 2004 (Jackman, 2020). Instead of resorting to the death penalty, we should address the major causes of crime, such as unemployment, poverty, and psychological issues. Criminal justice departments should invest in rehabilitation programs for offenders so they can reintegrate into society as productive members. Thus, the death penalty is cruel and outdated, and a just and humane society should fight for its end. Finding more effective ways to address crime will contribute to its abolishment entirely.

The Death Penalty Is Built on Racial and Economic Bias

The death penalty has been built on racial and economic bias. Arguing that it is indispensable retribution for heinous crimes does not overshadow its cruelty. One undeniable fact about the death penalty is that it is built on racial and economic bias. Williams (2020) argues that people of color often receive the death penalty more than white defendants arrested for a similar crime. This bias stems from systemic racism within the criminal justice system, where people of color are often unfairly targeted and punished. There are concerns about the disproportionate application of the death penalty based on race, socioeconomic status, and geography (Bagaric et al., 2022). Individuals from marginalized communities are more likely to receive harsher sentences than their counterparts. Subsequently, the cost of defending oneself in a capital case can be exorbitant, making it difficult for those without financial means to receive adequate legal representation and opt for public defendants who lack the experience to fight for them in a legal battle. The economic bias perpetuates the racial disparities in death penalty sentencing. The death penalty cannot be considered fair when built on such blatant bigotry. Therefore, we cannot support such an unjust form of punishment until the business is addressed and rectified within our criminal justice system.

The Death Penalty Is Irreversible

Furthermore, the death penalty is a controversial topic because of its irreversibility. Once someone has been executed, they cannot undo the punishment if they are later found innocent. Even with advances in forensic science, several cases where people have been imprisoned erroneously and sentenced to death have been witnessed. Unearthing new evidence after their execution proving their innocence has raised serious inquiries about the impartiality and accuracy of the justice system (Keys, 2021). Likewise, the justice system is not infallible and can make mistakes. The risk of executing an innocent person should be enough reason to abolish the death penalty altogether. Consequently, life imprisonment without parole provides a more humane alternative as it allows for the possibility of exoneration if new evidence emerges. It further gives offenders time to reflect on their actions and potentially seek redemption. Thus, the irreversible nature of the death penalty makes it an unacceptable form of punishment in any society that values justice and fairness.

Lacks Deterrent Effect

Moreover, the death penalty lacks a deterrent effect. The death penalty proponents maintain that it aids in deterring crime. However, according to Favola (2022), states with the death penalty have higher crime rates than those without. One reason is that many criminals do not consider the consequences of their actions when committing crimes. They may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol or mentally ill and unable to make rational decisions. Additionally, most murders are committed in moments of passion or during arguments rather than premeditated acts (Polaschek, 2019). Besides, the cost of implementing the death penalty is significantly higher than life imprisonment without parole. This money could be better spent on programs aimed at reducing crime and helping victims’ families. Hence, the death penalty does not serve as an effective deterrent to crime and is an expensive, flawed system, and society should focus on alternative methods of punishment and prevention.

Conclusion

The death penalty is a controversial issue that has been debated for decades. While some argue that it serves as a deterrent and justice for heinous crimes, others believe it is inhumane and ineffective. I firmly believe that the death penalty should be abolished. Taking someone’s life as punishment for a crime goes against fundamental human values and dignity. Further, it fails to address underlying issues such as poverty, mental illness, and systemic inequality. The death penalty should be abolished because it does not deter crime, risks innocent lives, and violates human rights. We must find alternative ways to hold criminals accountable while upholding our values as a just society. Abolishing the death penalty would allow more resources for rehabilitation programs for offenders. These programs have been proven to reduce recidivism rates and make the community safer.

References

Bagaric, M., Svilar, J., Bull, M., Hunter, D., & Stobbs, N. (2022). The solution to the pervasive bias and discrimination in the criminal justice system: transparent and fair artificial intelligence. Am. Crim. L. Rev., 59, 95.

Favola, B. (2022, September 8). PolitiFact VA: Does the death penalty deter murder? VPM. Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://www.vpm.org/news/2021-02-19/politifact-vadoes-the-death-penalty-deter-murder

Jackman, T. (2020, September 16). More than half of all wrongful criminal convictions are caused by government misconduct, study finds. The Washington Post. Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/crime-law/2020/09/16/more-thanhalf-all-wrongful-criminal-convictions-caused-by-government-misconduct-study-finds/

Keys, R. R. (2021). Exonerated, yet still proving Innocence; The fight for wrongful conviction compensation in Louisiana. Southern University Law Center, Journal Of Race, Gender, & Poverty, Forthcoming. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3820233

Kirchner, M. M. L. (2021). The Execution of Lezmond Mitchell: An analysis of Federal Indian Law, Criminal Jurisdiction, and the Death Penalty as applied to native Americans. Lewis & Clark L. Rev., 25, 649. https://heinonline.org/holcgibin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/lewclr25&section=21

Polaschek, D. L. (2019). The psychology of violent offending. The Wiley international handbook of correctional psychology, 183-205. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119139980.ch12

Williams, K. (2020). The death penalty and race and how the ultimate punishment highlights the flaws in our criminal justice system. Sw. L. Rev., 50, 407. https://heinonline.org/holcgibin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/swulr50&section=28