The Detrimental Death Penalty
Background
To begin with some background information, according to “Death Penalty Overview”, the death penalty is the process by which convicted criminals are executed by a governing authority. This is also known as capital punishment. Only the most heinous of crimes receive this prosecution; including mass murder, terrorism, and treason. The most commonly used method of the death penalty is the lethal injection and in seldom cases the electric chair. There is a copious amount of controversy surrounding the topic of capital punishment. People consider, is it humane? , is it moral? , is it fair for the families involved? , and is it worth the money? Quite simply, the answer is no. Capital punishment should not be practiced because of its ineffectiveness as a crime deterrent, its high cost, and its potentially detrimental effect on victims’ families.
Ineffectiveness as a Crime Deterrent
To begin with, Capital Punishment is ineffective as a crime deterrent. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 88% of the country’s top criminologists do not believe the death penalty acts as a deterrent to homicide. The most educated people in the field do not believe the death penalty deters criminals from homicide.
Criminals know that if they commit a heinous crime that death row is a possibility. But, they do not care and still want to take action towards the crime they are considering. If they do not care about what happens to them, then capital punishment is of no deterrent to them. Death row is defined as a section or area of a prison where criminals convicted of crimes warranting the death penalty await execution. They know that if they commit a heinous crime that death row is a possibility. But, they do not care and still want to take action towards the crime they are considering. If they do not care about what happens to them, then capital punishment is of no deterrent to them.
The Death Penalty Information Center reports that in 2015, the murder rate was highest in the region of the country (the South) that also carries out the most executions. As stated above, crime rates are higher in states that use the death penalty versus lower in states that don’t. The idea of the death penalty doesn’t stir up the idea of fear in the mind of criminals. If they are determined on committing whatever heinous crime they are considering, death does not phase them.
Old Versus New
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there were 15 executions in 1987 versus 20 executions in 2016. This statistic shows that from 1987 to 2016 the number of executions and crimes have increased. In turn, proving that the death penalty holds no deterrent for criminals to stop their crime. Unfortunately, right in our backyard, the sad case of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting occurred. Seventeen were killed by the “remorseful” Nikolas Cruz. Remorseful is in quotes because many believe his lawyers were attempting to fake his guilt to receive a lesser sentence. Stoneman Douglas was the fourth biggest school shooting in all of U.S history. There is still a pending trial date, but prosecutors are trying to get Nikolas to serve the death penalty, while his lawyers are trying to get a life in prison sentence. This relationship between the old crime rates and new crime rates show the death penalty’s lack of effectiveness in deterring the crimes. The criminals do not care what the consequence is, in their minds they want to commit the crime and accept whatever punishment follows.
High-Cost Factor
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, the use of lethal injection originated in the late 1970s as an attempt to reduce the cost of executions. Executions are expensive for the taxpayers and an easy way out for the criminals. Considering that 19 states have abolished capital punishment in the last ten years proves that it is losing its support, and people would rather see a different form of prosecution taking place. These taxes could be put into more significant issues, such as schools and hospitals.
The death penalty is becoming a very costly and complex problem that is seemingly becoming more favorable in the public’s eyes to abolish. Due to lack of lethal chemicals, Nevada is unable to carry out the death penalty, this leaves tax dollars being used, as inmates are sitting ducks on death row.
The Death Penalty Information Center states, “Cases without the death penalty cost $740,000, while cases, where the death penalty is sought, cost $1.26 million. Maintaining each death row prisoner costs taxpayers $90,000 more per year than a prisoner in general population.” Not alone does the death penalty cost more money at the time of the case, but each year it costs taxpayers $90,000 more than jail time.
Detrimental Effect on Victim’s Families
It usually takes many years for heinous crimes to reach a final hearing. Throughout this process, it is not allowing the victim’s families to heal if they have to continually be in court and relive the trauma they went through. It is cruel for the families and should be abolished.
Patricia Smith from the FSW database writes, “I want him to sit in a cell and rot for the rest of his life,” Andrew Pollack told CNN. Pollack’s 18-year-old daughter, Meadow, was killed at Stoneman Douglas.” Parents at Stoneman Douglas, like Pollack, are rightfully furious that their children have been killed and their perpetrator is going to receive capital punishment versus sitting in jail for the rest of his years. No remorse should be given to the vile criminals who commit these horrendous crimes; it is unfair to the families who have to await trial and don’t get to heal for several years.
All in all, the death penalty is not worth the time, money, and suffering that the parties involved have to endure.The high cost of capital punishment and the inability to withhold the drugs necessary for lethal injection affects citizen’s taxes. The death penalty also lacks effectiveness as a crime deterrent considering murder rates are highest in the south; where most executions take place. Trials go on for years not allowing the families to accept what has happened and continue living their lives. Every day, they have to get up and relive the horrible event that has happened to their loved one(s). The death penalty should not be practiced because of the high-cost factor, the devastating toll on victim’s families, and lack of effectiveness as a crime deterrent.
