Death Penalty 2nd Draft

Miyabi Nonaka
Advanced ESL Writing
October 5, 2014 “An eye for an eye”, a concept which was fashioned from Hammurabi’s code, is a dated gesture which can be compared to the desire to enforce the death penalty. Nowadays, the issue of the death penalty has become unavoidable because of the on-going national debates that have grabbed the public eye. On one hand, people who oppose the death penalty state that it is inhumane and that it does not affect the crime rate. In addition, the cost of a public execution is outrageously high. On the other hand, many have argued that the death penalty corrects the injustice, prevents criminals from committing more crimes, and gives closure to the families of the victims. Within that said, there are three reason why the death penalty should be against the law. First of all, people who support the death penalty state that it is the only way for criminals to right the wrong. Also, performing the death penalty offers retribution to the victim’s family. However, it is very inhumane for the government to take a human being’s life away. It diminishes the sanctity of human life and takes away one’s chance of changing. Additionally, performing the death penalty does not get back whatever the victims have lost. The death penalty instills fear not to commit crimes. Supporters claim that performing the death penalty will result in the lower crime rate. However, according to a “study of criminal minds” at the University of Pittsburgh, punishing criminals with the death penalty does not result in a lower rate of crime (Lawrence 268). Furthermore, studies showed an inflation of crime in states that executed their prisoners when compared to states which do not. The saying, “once a criminal, always a criminal”, illustrates our bias about criminals and our opinion that people do not change. Criminals will only be released to commit more crimes. Also, it will offer closure for the victim’s families and allow them to move on. Ultimately, one cannot put a price on the cost of justice. However, performing the death penalty costs more to execute people humanely than it does to feed and house them for life. According to studies at Harvard University “Execution of Criminals”, evidence shows that it costs one million dollars for a single humane execution (Bowden 567). Now, you can see that the death penalty should be against the law. It does not respect the value of human life and the victim’s family does not get anything out of it. It also does not result in a lower rate of crime. Moreover, it leads to higher rate of crime. In addition, the cost of an execution is higher than it is to keep criminals in prison for life. Many have argued that people do not change easily and not everyone deserve a second chance; however, at least people who are willing to change and right the wrongful action deserve a second chance. After all, victims and criminals are same human being as we all are.

Work Cited
Lawrence, Jenkins Criminal Minds. Pittsburgh: Penguin, 2005. Print.
Bowden, Ralph. The Execution. Boston: Bruins, 2003. Print

Cited: Lawrence, Jenkins Criminal Minds. Pittsburgh: Penguin, 2005. Print. Bowden, Ralph. The Execution. Boston: Bruins, 2003. Print