Capital Punishment

Capital Punishment

Capital Punishments Has No Deterrence on Violent Crimes

Octavia Bryan

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Octavia Bryan
Criminal Justice 125
April 12, 2011

    Capital Punishment, also known as the Death Penalty, is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice (Mifflin, 3rd Edition). There are eight different type of capital punishment: Lethal injection, Gas Chamber Execution, The Electric Chair and Execution by Firing Squad. Death by Hanging, Death by Beheading, Death by Stoning, and Death by Crucification are capital punishments as well. Execution by Hanging was the most used in the 1800’s, although it was a slow and painful method of execution. Lethal injection, which is commonly used today in states that still use capital punishments, is the injection of a person with a fatal dose of drugs (typically a barbiturate) for the express purpose of causing immediate death of the subject (Mifflin, 3rd Edition). Capital punishment violates the right to life; it is cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment. There should never be any justification for torture or cruel treatment. “It is the planned taking of a human life by government in

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response to a crime committed by that legally convicted person” states Liz Hormans (55).
    In 2008, at least 2,390 people were executed in 25 countries around the world, and at least 8,854 people were sentenced to death in 52 countries around the world (Kandelia, 70-81). From 1976- October 2009, 42 people has been executed in South Carolina. Four percent of all people executed were innocent; in other words, out of 100 person four were innocent (Hormans, 70-72). That is what makes it wrong; a person can be innocent and just do not have the money for good legal advice to get them out of certain situations. They then find themselves on death row. Once a life is taken no one can bring that back. Money seems to be the key to everything. For the most part, the innocent... [continues]

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