The Death Penalty: Keeping Our Society Safe
Cassie Leahy
11 May 2012
The Death Penalty: Keeping Our Society Safe As of April 1, 2008, there were 3,320 convicted murderers on death row, and of those 3,320 people, 65% of the murderers had a prior felony conviction (“The Death” 1). At the time that the 3,320 murderers on death row committed their crime, 26.7% of the murderers were on probation or parole (“The Death” 1). Therefore, it is obvious that convicted murderers pose a colossal threat to our society because the murders may not only commit murder once. When the death penalty is enforced, repeat criminals and murderers are no longer a threat; furthermore, the death penalty acts as a deterrent (Ornellas 6). Additionally, the death penalty provides swift justice for the victims and their families. Even though the death penalty should be used as a punishment for murder, only thirty-three states have not outlawed the death penalty (“States” 1). Convicted murderers are a mammoth threat to the public because the murders have the possibility of being released; therefore, the death penalty should be enacted in all states. The death penalty keeps the population safe by providing a deterrent for crime. Without the death penalty, the consequences for committing murder are not as feared. According to an essay by Professor Jeffrey A. Fagan, “executions [do] not only deter murders” (Fagan 1) with the death penalty in use, many criminals would think twice about committing a crime. Without the fear of capital punishment, many would-be criminals become actual criminals. In addition, for people already serving a life sentence, there is nothing to stop them from murdering other prisoners or guards constantly while in prison (Messerli 2). By using the death penalty as a deterrent, there are fewer murders as well as fewer other serious crimes. Many jails are faced with the problem of too many inmates and not enough space and resources (Messerli 2). When jails are overpopulated, it becomes harder for law enforcement to
11 May 2012
The Death Penalty: Keeping Our Society Safe As of April 1, 2008, there were 3,320 convicted murderers on death row, and of those 3,320 people, 65% of the murderers had a prior felony conviction (“The Death” 1). At the time that the 3,320 murderers on death row committed their crime, 26.7% of the murderers were on probation or parole (“The Death” 1). Therefore, it is obvious that convicted murderers pose a colossal threat to our society because the murders may not only commit murder once. When the death penalty is enforced, repeat criminals and murderers are no longer a threat; furthermore, the death penalty acts as a deterrent (Ornellas 6). Additionally, the death penalty provides swift justice for the victims and their families. Even though the death penalty should be used as a punishment for murder, only thirty-three states have not outlawed the death penalty (“States” 1). Convicted murderers are a mammoth threat to the public because the murders have the possibility of being released; therefore, the death penalty should be enacted in all states. The death penalty keeps the population safe by providing a deterrent for crime. Without the death penalty, the consequences for committing murder are not as feared. According to an essay by Professor Jeffrey A. Fagan, “executions [do] not only deter murders” (Fagan 1) with the death penalty in use, many criminals would think twice about committing a crime. Without the fear of capital punishment, many would-be criminals become actual criminals. In addition, for people already serving a life sentence, there is nothing to stop them from murdering other prisoners or guards constantly while in prison (Messerli 2). By using the death penalty as a deterrent, there are fewer murders as well as fewer other serious crimes. Many jails are faced with the problem of too many inmates and not enough space and resources (Messerli 2). When jails are overpopulated, it becomes harder for law enforcement to
Cited: Berger, Peter L. "The Death Penalty Is Cruel and Unusual Punishment." 2000. The Death Penalty. U.S.A.: Greenhaven, 2002. 92-95. Print. Britten, Nick. "Man Accused of Murder Is Accidentally Released from Prison." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 17 Nov. 2009. Web. 8 May 2012. "The Death Penalty in the United States." Welcome to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney 's Office. The Clark County Prosecuting Attorney. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. Fagan, Jeffrey A Hall, Charlene. "Who Speaks for the Victims of Those We Execute?" Pro-death Penalty.com. Pro-deathpenalty.com, 2012. Web. 02 Apr. 2012. Messerli, Joe "State by State Database." Death Penalty Information Center. Death Penalty Information Center, 2012. Web. 10 May 2012. "States With and Without the Death Penalty." Death Penalty Information Center. Death Penalty Information Center, 2012. Web. 10 May 2012. Ornellas, Lori. "DEATH PENALTY ARGUMENTS." Pro-death Penalty.com. 3 May 2001. Web. 02 Apr. 2012. Plaut, Steven