Capital Punishment Position

I believe the United States should maximize and enforce the use of capital punishment. By implementing Capital Punishment on a regular basis, anyone considering committing crimes that are heinous by nature or acts of violence that will leave an everlasting affect on society and the victims will be aware of the punishment that lies ahead if apprehended and convicted. Research indicates Capital Punishment demonstrates an inability to deter individuals from wrongdoing but we believe the use of Capital Punishment within our criminal justice system will benefit society in the long run (University of Phoenix, 2005).

In addition, the use of capital punishment in the criminal justice system will reinforce morals dating back to the time when the bible was first written. Maximizing the enforcement of capital punishment will further strengthen society's support for the practices in the criminal justice system and bring back the trust lost in the system from the people. Studies prove a vast majority of the public already support the use of capital punishment throughout the United States as a sanction for a murderer (University of Phoenix, 2005).

With this being said, the only major issue foreseen is that the death penalty is not used enough. Those opposed to handing out death sentences have asked those in favor, "Have you ever seen a grown man cry and beg for his life while being taken to the place where he or she will meet their maker?" Till this day, we do not believe that a murderer begging for their life on death row is a valid argument against capital punishment. Two wrongs may not make a right, although, it is morally wrong to allow someone to keep their life when they have taken a life or lives of others.

Our argument stands valid. What about the poor victim's who have been brutally beaten, raped, tortured and left for dead or worst yet, lost their life? What about the negative effects left for the husbands-wives, mothers, fathers, family, and friends? The victim's families suffer with the thoughts of what has happened to their loved ones, for the rest of their lives. What about the victim of whom has survived? So often are they labeled "lucky," were they truly lucky?

What about the young boys and girls, who have been abducted? Taken and raped at their chance of life and those who were brutally beaten, raped, tortured and killed, whose parents, brothers, sisters along with other family members, who search days, weeks and even years for their babies. Let's not forget about those innocent fathers who have been gunned down during a drive by shooting, or killed while a robbery has taken place at the local food mart while buying milk and bread for their loved one's back at home. The world is growing vastly, and crime along with it. Every four days three million people are brought into existence (History Channel, 2008).

More people suggest more crimes are going to take place in our future. Our prison systems are so over populated; certain states have passed a bill, which releases prisoners who are serving for lesser offensive crimes earlier than scheduled. Releasing an offender back into society early due to prison overcrowding puts the public at risk. A judge sentences an offender according the amount of time necessary to punish the offender and rehabilitate simultaneously, within the limits of the law, shortening the sentence could affect the offender's rehabilitation process. Let's face it; we do not believe anyone in his or her right mind would want an offender that is not rehabilitated released into society because no beds are available for the offender in prison.

Society knows due to current events that have been, and still are continuing to take place, that the public and the taxpayers cannot afford to build new prison systems or even additions to the current ones. Massachusetts spent $37,718 per prisoner back in 2001 (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2009). For all states combined the total was over $29 billion dollars for the year, $5.5 billion dollars more then back in 1996 and $104 USD per resident. The public already has to pay billions of dollars to create correction facilities to house criminals, it should be fair to say that the public should have the right to serve murderers their "just deserts," and capital punishment is just that.

If society does not take a stand for the greater good of our country by enforcing harsher laws to those who have no regard or value for human life, things are simply going to get worse. Human rights activist say that Capital Punishment is a "Cruel and Unusual Punishment." We ask do any of these people have loved ones who have been maliciously murdered. More than likely these people have not had to look into the face of the person who murdered a family member. We believe that is more important to focus on "victim's rights," and the moral values of society.

Approximately 42 men and woman were executed in the year 2007 throughout the United States currently 3,350 people on death row as of December 6, 2007 (Death Penalty Information Center, 2006). Many argue that the Death Penalty is an ineffective deterrent for criminals, and too expensive. Death Penalty cases can exceed $470 thousand dollars in addition costs to the prosecution and defense attorney's per case, due to the trying of the case over, as an aggravated murder (Death Penalty Information Center, 2009). Our response to that stands that if the public has to dish out funds to house offenders why not give the offender what they deserve and serve justice for the victims of their crimes no matter the cost.

One of the problems that capital punishment faces is the fact that most states set the Aggravating circumstances level for a particular crime extremely high. This makes it difficult for a criminal to be tried in a Capital Punishment case. Massachusetts currently as of 2006 has had 186 murders, 28,775 violent crimes and 1,742 forcible rapes and does not offer the Death Penalty (Mass Crime Rates, 2007). We believe if the Death Penalty was substantially used, crime rates not only for Massachusetts, but all states would eventually decline.

Those in society whom oppose capital punishment believe Minority groups get the "short end of the stick" in sentencing. Opposition of the use of the sanction believes capital punishment is aimed more towards African Americans who have targeted white Americans (American Civil Liberties Union, 2003).

Factual studies have shown from 1985 to present that African American males are three times more likely to commit a serious crime than that of white American males who increased only by half a percent. With this being said, African Americans are committing more serious crimes and therefore, being sentenced to Capital Punishment on more of a regular basis. Capital Punishment is a "just desert," punishment that fits the crime, for those certain individuals who have committed serious crimes such as first degree murder. Certain people do not agree that an individual who is sentenced to life in prison is going to pay the ultimate punishment. Just knowing that a criminal will be able to eat, drink, sleep, read the paper and go about his or her everyday life to somewhat of a normal life, is not at all satisfying in most people's eyes due to the fact that the victim is no longer able to enjoy their life. With this being said we would disagree with anyone who argues that Capital punishment should be abolished because a person or a group of people might get some self gratitude or bit of retaliation from the use of Capital Punishment (Williams, 2007).

I do not agree with the abolishment of Capital Punishment due to the fact that a murderer can still enjoy the benefits of life while their victims lay dead in the ground. The arguments opposing capital punishment make little sense and are extremely weak arguments, in addition until the Supreme Court rules that capital punishment infringes on the Eighth Amendment human rights activists arguments will always fall on deaf ears. With statistics proven above that African American males are three times more likely to commit serious offenses, that in itself shows the reasons why more African Americans are serving on death row. In the "just deserts," argument in support of capital punishment we find that argument to be justified because anyone and everyone who is found guilty for committing a serious offence such as first degree murder should be given Capital Punishment. We are firm believers of the "eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" saying.

In a democracy, anytime people believe a form of punishment is unconstitutional, it will be looked upon and evaluated by our judicial system impartially. Opposing arguments of capital punishment states that capital punishment violates the VIII and XIIII amendment because the human rights activists view the sanction of capital punishment as "cruel and unusual punishment." Supporters of capital punishment, like us, firmly believe in "just deserts", morals and the values of society. Since capital punishment has been ruled by the courts as constitutional its use as a sanction should not be questioned, but valued and trusted by society.

Weighing the costs of the two sides, on one side, pay the price to rid our society of a person/people who clearly have no respect for the rules or morals laid out by our nation; on the other side, what are costs to be paid for an early release? What do the families pay for having their loved ones raped from their lives? What would our society eventually pay? How often do we as citizens and nations pay for the crimes committed by such individuals? Weighing the two one must understand that no matter the "value" of currency, it's never to exceed the value of an individual and the lives that life surrounds. Capital punishment is a fair sanction, no matter the financial cost and if abolished there will be blood on many different people's hands due to the amount of murders will happen based on early release or abolishment.

In the end, the argument between those in favor of and those opposed to the use of Capital Punishment within our criminal justice system leave many questions unanswered and clearly debatable. Throughout, the issues of bias, prejudice, and discrimination were covered against minority groups and court rulings that have displayed how Capital Punishment infringes on one's constitutional rights.

References

American Civil Liberties Union. (2003). Death Penalty. Retrieved September 8, 2009, from http://www.aclu.org/

Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2009). Bureau of Justice Statistics Publications. Retrieved September 9, 2009, from http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pubalp2.htm

Death Penalty Information Center. (2009). Death Penalty Fact Sheet. Retrieved September 10, 2009, from http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/

Death Penalty Information Center. (2006). Costs News and Developments. Retrieved September 8, 2009, from http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=2058

History Channel. (2008). Facts. Retrieved September 7, 2009, from http://www.history.com/

Massachusetts Crime Rates. (2007).Massachusetts Law Enforcement Agency Uniform Crime Reports 1980 to 2005. Retrieved September 12, 2009, from http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/macrime.htm

University of Phoenix. (2005). Week five overview. Retrieved September 5, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week Five, rEsource. CJA303-Interdisciplinary Capstone Course Website.

Williams, Thomas. (2007). Capital Punishment and the Just Society. Retrieved April 6, 2008, from http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Dossier/9-10-98/Article5.html