Introduction
Capital punishment has become a controversial subject in the contemporary world, with many countries putting an end to its practice. In some nations, the procedure is not entirely eradicated, like in the United States, where sixty percent of the country’s territories use it in small proportions (Burki 1531). At the end of 2019, the US had two thousand people on death row, 98 percent being men (Burki 1531). In 2020, seventeen people were executed through lethal injection, the gas chamber, and electrocution (Burki 1532). The execution of an offender needs to be halted as it does not end the crime, and there is a chance of an innocent individual’s life getting terminated, making the act unjust.
The Dichotomy of the Death Penalty
Capital punishment needs to be abolished due to the belief that it is equivalent to the crime committed which is unjust and a form of retribution. Death sentences act arbitrarily to justice by discriminating against minorities and the poor (Griffin 558). The jury and specialists have argued that pressure to solve capital cases and inevitable errors have caused innocent predominantly black and other minorities to be executed for crimes they did not commit (Griffin 558).
Moreover, death trial appeals take a long process before finalization condemning those on death row uncertainty of their sentences. It is clear that the judicial system has based its execution on a racial basis which is intrinsic (Griffin 574). If severe punishment can discourage lawbreaking, long-term imprisonment is harsh enough to prevent people from committing violent crimes.
In the case of Samuel Howard in 2021, the Supreme Court overturned his death sentence finding him innocent of capital punishment. Samuel’s sentence was one of many cases of wrongful convictions on a racist basis. By 2021, 103 Blacks, 67 Whites, and 27 Latinos were acquitted of the death penalty since its abolishment in 1973 (Griffin 565). In Texas, the law of parties has caused controversial thoughts on its use. In reference to Griffin, the law of parties has led to several people on death row even when they did not commit any crime directly. As a result, the Texas House of Representatives, on May 5, 2021, voted against it, limiting judicial killings (Griffin 573). Since then, the number of exonerations has increased, with the majority being Blacks.
Death Penalty Necessity
In contrast, death penalties have had a positive impact on the world. The death penalty is more feared than imprisonment and discourages future felonies (Burki 1531). Sparing the lives of a few innocent victims by preventing their murderers is more important than protecting the lives of sentenced murderers because of the prospect that executing them would not dissuade others. Criminal law was meant to save the lives of its citizens and keep the peace as opposed to actual murderers. In reference to Burki, there is no guarantee that perpetrators will change if they get charged on different occasions with serious crimes (Burki 1531). Moreover, there is a high crime rate in prisons where drug trafficking and murder occur.
A recent Amnesty International report shows that a significant amount has reduced the current executions. The death penalty has acted as a deterrent in many ways (Burki 1532). Imprisonment is a deterrent in minor crimes, as many fear arrest. When someone gets executed for murder, it creates fear of killing in people with such intent. In Singapore, the number of drug users has dropped significantly after its government imposed laws against drug trafficking and usage.
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Conclusion
The analogy that capital punishment offsets crime is vague, even when violent crimes are unacceptable in today’s society. Abolition of the death penalty will ensure that minorities and the poor have an equal trial in criminal law. Moreover, nations should find a less subtle way of punishment for felonies to avoid going against human rights. Internationally, there is a steady trend towards abolition, with growth in all states and religions of the world. While others have enforced a moratorium on its use, the death penalty has no room in this century.
Works Cited
Burki, Talha. “The Death Penalty Continues Unabated Globally.” The Lancet, vol. 397, no. 10284, 2021, pp. 1531–1532. Web.
Griffin, Timothy. “Comparing Expert versus General Public Rationale for Death Penalty Support and Opposition: Is Expert Perspective on Capital Punishment Consistent with ‘Disciplined Retention’?” Punishment & Society, vol. 23, no. 4, 2021, pp. 557–577. Web.