Capital Punishment: A Grave Concept?

Capital Punishment, also well known as the "Death Penalty", still plays a vivid role in our criminal justice system today. Some people believe that Capital Punishment should be allowed, as the only people whom get sentenced to death are those who have committed the most heinous of crimes such as murder. Other people and anti-Capital Punishment groups say that the sentencing people do death is wrong for multiple reasons - there's the chance of wrongful executions of innocent people, we're playing the role of God/Nature when we shouldn't, and that it's merely morally wrong altogether. More aspects that are included on the topic of capital punishment is the type of means they have to execute each inmate sentenced to death row, the death penalty's history, possible alternatives to the death penalty, and what the future itself holds for the controversial death penalty.

There are major arguments pertaining to each side of the debate. Supporters of capital punishment believe that the execution of an inmate is proper and justified, especially when an inmate is convicted of committing the utmost violent and heinous crimes. Capital Punishment is also constitutionally permissible, which is another supporting trait for supporters of the death penalty. Emotionally, it also offers closure to the family of the victim. For example, the execution of Timothy McVeigh, the person who was convicted of the Oklahoma City bombing that took the lives of 168 people. The execution of Timothy McVeigh in June of 2001 gave the victim's families emotional closure. The final validating point for supporters of capital punishment is that there is no way to tell whether a convicted inmate whom has killed before will not kill again, even while still inside of prison.

When it comes to any controversial issue, there are two sides to each story. As there are supporters of capital punishment, there are people and groups who oppose Capital punishment, and believe that it is morally wrong to execute another human being, even if they're convicted of murder or another violent and heinous crime that bestows death upon the convicted. The first argument is that the government should not be playing the role of "God", or nature. The taking of one's life, according to their perspective, should not be allowed by anyone, not even government entities. Religious morality is another reason there are people against capital punishment. "God" should be the only one able to take and give life, not people, as cited in the first argument within this paragraph. Some Christians state that the death penalty violates their sixth commandment: 'Thou shalt not kill'. A more valid reason against capital punishment is that of simple economics and a financial problem - lower class people cannot afford great attorneys, so they have a higher chance of being sent to death, rather than a rich person who can afford the best legal assistance and gets a slap on the wrist. This creates an imbalance in the criminal justice system, even though we are all supposed to be judged equally. The most logical of arguments is that there the chance that an innocent person can be, and maybe even has been, falsely convicted and sent to death. The last argument is that history the criminal justice system shows a correlation of discrimination against minorities. However, statistics show that out of the 1,115 executions commenced between 1977 and July 31st, 2008 that 57% of those executed were of the Caucasian race. Blacks aren't even that close of a second, at 34%, and Hispanic is at 7%.

There are many methods of capital punishment. However, the most humane and accepted way is that of "Lethal Injection". Proof of this is that out of the 1,115 executions between 1977-7/31/08, 944 (85%) of the executions were done with the use of the lethal injection. But what does the lethal injection consist of? There is a combination of three different drugs used in the lethal injection procedure. These drugs include: sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride. Each drug has a different lethal dosage. The lethal dosages are as follows: sodium thiopental is 5 grams, pancuronium bromide is 100 milligrams, and potassium chloride is 100 milliequivalents. When induced with 5 grams of sodium thiopental a person is knocked out within a mere 10 seconds. However, some people, groups, and activists are now saying that the lethal injection violates our 8th Amendment right - the right against cruel and unusual punishment - due to the fact that the lethal injection may be as painful as the electric chair, or even more so. The other major execution methods are electrocution (the electric chair), the firing squad, the gas chamber, and hanging. The lowest utilized of these execution methods are the firing squad (used twice within the specific timeframe) and hanging (three people within the specific timeframe).

In other countries the death penalty has been abolished, so it is no longer in use anymore. Some examples of these countries are Switzerland, Ireland, Iceland, Germany, Canada, and Mexico. However, the death penalty still remains in various other countries aside from the United States, such as China, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. One reason why the death penalty is still utilized in the United States today is most likely due to the fact that there are a vast majority of people within society whom believe that is it in fact a constitutional and humane method of taking care of these "vermin" of society. Cultural differences play a large role as well, as some ideologies and concepts may be supported by one culture, and not by another.

There are some alternatives when it comes to the death penalty. Some examples of these alternatives are life imprisonment without parole and rehabilitation. The addition of restitution to life imprisonment is also a nice addition, as it sends the prisoner to work. The money made by the prisoner when working is sent to the victim's family, creating extra closure. Rehabilitative means as an alternative to the death penalty is generally for those convicted between the ages of 18-30. Due to their youthful age in this range, it is believed that the idea of change can be instilled in their minds. Boundaries can be set, morality can be learned, and life can be started over again - creating a fresh start for the young prisoner. Both of these ideas (life imprisonment without parole plus restitution and rehabilitative means) are paths that can be taken. For those prisoners that seem to have no chance at changing, life imprisonment is their best alternative, as they pose a great risk to society if released. Rehabilitative means works for younger offenders, as their mindset can still possibly conform to society's morals. Prisoners under the rehabilitative means can also become educated by obtaining their GED or a college degree, learn a technical and/or vocational trade, and one day become another average citizen of society upon release. However, prisoners within the means of rehab should be deeply evaluated by psychologists before being reintegrated back into society.

Capital Punishment, in my mind, has a future within the United States. However, I do believe that it is in the best interest to give convicted inmates a choice between the death penalty or life imprisonment. If this method were used, we could use the excess tax dollars that are saved due to a diminishing amount of appeals. Also, it's seen as more humane to give the prisoner's a choice regarding the path of their own life. The money and time saved from this can be used to hire additional police personnel, investigate other cases, and purchase more advanced equipment for police and investigators. Either choice that the prisoner chooses they are being severely punished, as they are either going to die, or sit in a maximum security prison for the rest of their lives. I also believe that there will be new means of the death penalty - more "humane" ways to execute guilty individuals. These possible new means of the death penalty, although unclear, will probably be technologically/medically advanced tactics that induce death without the excruciating pain that today's methods impose on death row prisoners.

Conclusively, capital punishment is an extremely complex field that needs more thorough research. More safeguards should be put in place to dramatically lower the chance of an innocent person being executed for a crime that they did not commit. Obviously there is a great outcry for each side, so a median punishment that not only punishes, but adds closure as well, should eventually be found. My personal standpoint and opinion is that rehabilitative means are the way to go. Cognitive training and conditioning in the fields of morality and ethics is a start pursuant of mindset on this matter. Lastly, I would like to share a powerful quote written by George Orwell, an English writer who wrote "The Death Penalty: The Debate":
"I watched a man die once. There was no question that everyone concerned knew this to be a dreadful unnatural action. I believe it is always the same - the whole jail-wardens and prisoners alike are upset when there is an execution. It is probably the fact that capital punishment is accepted as necessary, and yet instinctively felt to be wrong, that gives so many descriptions of executions their tragic atmosphere."