Pro Death Penalty

This assignment evaluates the Pro-death penalty view. Pro death penalty proponents offer several arguments in favor of the practice.

The main argument is that it acts as a deterrent to crime. They argue that potential criminals are more likely to think twice about committing murder if they know that they could face the death penalty as a result. There is some evidence to support this claim – studies have shown that states with the death penalty do tend to have lower murder rates than states without it.

Other arguments in favor of the death penalty include the fact that it provides closure for victims' families, and that it removes dangerous criminals from society so that they can't commit more crimes. Some people also believe that murderers deserve to die because their actions are so heinous.

Additionally, proponents of the death penalty also feel that criminals who have been given a life sentence without the possibility of parole are actually more likely to re-offend than those who are put to death. They believe that life in prison is not enough of a deterrent because prisoners know they will never be released, so they have nothing to lose by committing more crimes while they are incarcerated.

Opponents of the death penalty offer several arguments against it. The main argument is that it is cruel and unusual punishment and therefore violates the Constitution's Eighth Amendment. Additionally, opponents argue that there is no evidence that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to crime and that it may even lead to more violent crime. Studies have shown that states with the death penalty actually tend to have higher murder rates than states without it.

Other arguments against the death penalty include the fact that it is often applied unfairly to poor and minority defendants who can't afford good lawyers and that innocent people have been sentenced to death in the past. Additionally, opponents argue that the death penalty is expensive, costing taxpayers millions of dollars more than keeping a prisoner incarcerated for life. Finally, some people believe that executions are simply barbaric and that no one has the right to take another person's life.