Capital punishment, also known as death penalty is authority approved and is practised where outlaws are put to death by the judiciary system for breaking certain laws using methods such as lapidation, lethal injection, hanging among others. In the modern world, capital punishment is still practised in many countries such as Bangladesh and India, though the total number of executions has decreased in 2015, as reported by the Amnesty International. Death penalty is an anachronistic, barbaric act which was somehow accepted in ancient times. However, should it still be carried out?
Firstly, death penalty constrained for atrocious murders and immoral criminals, permanently removes the worst conscienceless criminals from society and makes the latter a safer place for us. It is self-evident that dead outlaws cannot commit any further crimes. The justice system basically attempts to provide the punishment that fits the crime ; it is the best answerbto murder cases. Without capital punishment, justice system provides no justice for the victim and his/her family. The criminal in jail means that the wrongdoer is still living and this haunts the victim's family. Death penalty brings an end for a bad phase in life for the relatives.
Additionally, capital punishment acts as an ultimate warning for would-be criminals who know that they will be put to death if ever they are caught. Having this idea of being given death sentence, some of them may be less inclined to commit immoral crimes. Death penalty is a warning against all crimes. Even if one has no intention of killing someone while robbing them, he is more apprehensive about the possibility of getting killed and he might not even commit the theft. Capital punishment acts as a deterrent and is all that would-be criminals fear.
On the other hand, as a nation, people should move away from the "eye for an eye" revenge mindset if progress is to lead. Revenge eventually leads to an endless cycle of violence. Capital punishment teaches nothing. By carrying out death penalty, society gives examples of crimes. It is still a gangrenous act which appears not to be doing its job in dissuading others into committing crimes. Consequently, it serves no purpose, but instead sends wrong messages ; why kill people who kill people to show that killing is wrong? Capital punishment acts as a disguised justice and devalues human life.
Furthermore, executions of innocent persons can occur. Criminal justice system cannot be made to succeed all the time because it is run by humans. There can be judicial erros which results into innocent, under privileged ones to be death sentenced. For instance, those who cannot afford the high costs of private investigators or lawyers get privileged by death penalty. Sometimes, racism and social disparities may also be the cause of sentencing someone from minority groups to death.
Captial punishment is a clean way to die and is cheaper than other methods of punishing the wrongdoers. However, many believe that this type of punishment serves on purpose in contemporary society since although in some countries, death penalty is carried out, the crime rates b are still unaffected. There are other ways to deal with criminals, for example, incapacitation, life long imprisonment with little or no parole instead of using capital punishment.
The debate of capital punishment will prevail an open controversy that will be evolving.
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