Introduction
The death penalty, or capital punishment, is one of the most severe possible sentences practiced globally. The concept of lethal punishment has become a subject of heated discussions concerning its ethics, effectiveness, practicality, and financial gain. In the United States, the death penalty is becoming continuously less prevalent, primarily due to its ethical controversies of taking someone’s life for a crime. However, the current opinionated paper argues that the death penalty remains an effective punishment method with multiple benefits despite some of its drawbacks. Ultimately, the essay thoroughly analyzes the supporting evidence and draws a subjective conclusion that the death penalty is a viable punishment type.
Public Image of the Death Penalty
The first chapter examines public opinion on the death penalty, showing that these perspectives reveal relevant advantages of capital punishment. In the United States, approximately 60% of Americans agree with the statement that the death penalty is a necessary means to punish criminals and prevent illegal activity (“Most Americans favor,” 2021). The data shows that people believe in the effectiveness of the practice since it sends a powerful signal to potential offenders (“Most Americans favor,” 2021). Although the support ratio of capital punishment is slowly decreasing, most people still consider it a viable instrument of administration. The primary reason for this perspective is the idea that murderers deserve a severe sentence, and the death penalty is a justifiable punishment in such cases.
The current essay’s thesis aligns with this perspective, stating that some crimes should be addressed in a rigorous manner. Imprisoning criminals for several years may change the worldviews and behavior of some offenders; however, some of the murderers will be allowed to return to society knowing that repeating the crime will only lead to a medium-term sentence. If the death penalty were more prevalent in the national juridical system, potential criminals and offenders who have served their sentences already would be more hesitant to conduct illegal activity. Hence, the opinion proposed in the current essay supports the implementation of the death penalty. The consequent chapters thoroughly discuss the exact advantages of the death penalty as a form of punishment.
The Death Penalty as a Deterrent
The death penalty is an effective deterrent, and there are two primary validating perspectives on this discussion. Firstly, advocators of this opinion support the idea because the death penalty is a justifiable sentence for cruel crimes and sends a message to potential offenders. In other words, this method reduces the number of people who might become criminals. Many experts throughout history supported this view, claiming that this approach cleanses societies of people who bring only destruction and chaos (Banner, 2022). Moreover, it makes regular citizens, who are not attempting any illegal activity, feel safer because there are stricter punishments for criminals. Regardless of its immediate effectiveness, the perceived effect is highly beneficial, and many people feel secure and protected by the government if it implements stringent laws.
The second opinion that supports the effectiveness of the death penalty is the psychological impact on potential offenders. The survival instinct is a powerful incentive to stay alive developed in humans and most animals. If the death penalty is prevalent in society, criminals perceive it as the highest level of danger, and this perception is different from the fear of being imprisoned for an extended period (“Most Americans favor,” 2021). Awareness of the death penalty among murderers in society leads to a subconscious understanding that committing a crime directly endangers one’s life. As a result, capital punishment is a highly effective deterrent that provides regular citizens with a sense of security and heavily discourages potential criminals from committing crimes.
The Concept of Murder
The consequent argument of the current essay concerns the conceptual understanding of murder, the most common offense sentenced with the death penalty globally. According to this view, murderers are usually guided not by moral convictions but by personal beliefs or the desire to achieve justice (Banner, 2022). In other words, people might commit murder to achieve financial gain, revenge, or simply act due to overwhelming emotions. However, in some cases, criminals kill because of a distorted sense of justice, allowing themselves the greatest authority to decide on people’s lives instead of the regulated juridical system. In such cases, jail imprisonment is most likely to be ineffective, and the murderers will kill again after they serve their sentence.
Moreover, the death penalty serves as a method to respect the deaths of victims. This approach assumes that the victim’s family will be better able to cope with the loss of a loved one due to the criminal’s death. Psychologically, many people perceive that the only justification for murder is the equal measure of death; hence, criminals who kill someone must be sentenced to capital punishment (“Common pro-death penalty arguments,” 2020). It is the best decision for society and the family when the person who committed the murder is punished according to the law in the most rigorous manner. After all, the accused can go out into the street and commit numerous other crimes in case they are only imprisoned for some time. Hence, the death penalty helps the family and loved ones of the victim feel redemption and a sense of justice if the murderer is executed for their crimes.
Death Penalty Cost-Effectiveness
While the current essay perceives this argument as secondary, it is still crucial to note that executing murderers is cheaper than keeping them imprisoned for extended periods of time. Imprisoning is costly, and the government needs to ensure that all prisoners have livable conditions, including daily ratios and accommodation. On the other hand, the death penalty is significantly cheaper because the procedure itself does not require much money, and it leads to indirect profits that would be spent on prisoners otherwise (“Common pro-death penalty arguments,” 2020). Lastly, regular citizens are generally more confident in the government’s policies, knowing that money from their taxes is not used to feed murderers (Pickett, 2019). It is a relevant supporting argument for the death penalty; however, the current essay argues that the psychological effects, such as a sense of security for regular citizens and deterring criminals from murders, are more critical in the discussion of capital punishment.
Conclusion
The current essay has proposed a heavily opinionated perspective that a death penalty is an effective form of punishment. It is primarily based on the psychological effects of the death penalty compared to imprisonment – regular citizens feel more secure, potential criminals are more hesitant to conduct illegal activity, and the families of victims feel redemption. Capital punishment demonstrates that the responsibility for committing a crime must be rigorous to prevent more crimes in the future. Ultimately, the existence of the death penalty shows what each person can get if they deviate from the law.
References
Banner, S. (2022). The death penalty: An American history. Harvard University Press.
Common pro-death penalty arguments. (2020). ThoughtCo. Web.
Most Americans favor the death penalty despite concerns about its administration. (2021). Pew Research Center – U.S. Politics & Policy. Web.
Pickett, J. T. (2019). Public opinion and criminal justice policy: Theory and research. Annual Review of Criminology, 2(1), 405-428. Web.