The Death Penalty An Appropriate Punishment Essay examples

Capital punishment has been a punitive consequence of multiple societies in many different countries over the years. The death penalty has been witnessed in many different forms, depending on the society or culture. It is viewed as an act of justice due to its deeply embedded historical tradition. Over the centuries, many cultures have used capital punishment because it ensures the safety of society. Criminals continue to use violence as their way of solving a problem. Capital punishment deters crime rates more than anything else. The death penalty offers justice with historical tradition. According to Roger Smith, societies use capital punishment as a consequence for numerous crimes. â€Å"The Babylonian Code of Hammurabi states death as the†¦show more content†¦As Smith mentions in â€Å"Prisoners on Death Row,† in the west, they were sure to make the executions very public. The reason for this is because they used these public executions as a scare tactic. Some cu ltures used extreme forms of execution. Ancient Rome used treatment like: throwing criminals from cliffs, torturing criminals to death, feeding them to wild animals and crucifying them. As years passed, the executions became more heinous. In the Middle Ages, officials executed criminals in the following ways: public drowning, pulling their bodies apart, and burning them alive. Public executions continued to occur as the years progressed. During this time, in England and America, public hangings were the most common form of public death. And during the French revolution the guillotine was infamous for thousands of beheadings (Smith 17). In court systems today, courts give the same type of punishment for various crimes. Differing crimes call for differing punishments. For example, when a child spills milk on the floor, an appropriate punishment dispensed by the parents would be to have the child clean up his or her mess. The child then learns consequences for misdeeds because he or she has to correct the problem. The problem in current society is the laws are too lenient and fail to appropriately punish offenders. Court systems today become too enmeshed in punishments for felony charges and disregard enforcing appropriate punishments for misdemeanors.Show MoreRelatedThe Death Penalty Is A Morally Appropriate Punishment846 Words   |  4 Pagesis the death penalty. In ancient times, actions such as speaking out against a King or the nobility were reasonable grounds to be â€Å"sentenced to death†. However, times have changed and most of society relegates this â€Å"ultimate penalty† to the most heinous of crimes such as capital murder. There is much debate about the ethical nature of the death penalty with contrasting arguments on both the far left and far right. Nonetheless, I believe the Death penalty is a morally appropriate punishment onlyRead MoreDeath Penalty: Morally Wrong? Appropriate Punishment?939 Words   |  4 PagesShelby Dinkel Wagoner English IV 28 November 2012 Death Penalty: Morally Wrong? Appropriate Punishment? Since 1976 when the death penalty was reinstated by the United States Supreme Court there has been approximately 1,317 convicted criminals executed. Out of those executed, 12 were female. These executions have been held in 34 different states with Texas being the highest at 37 percent. The majority of the time lethal injection and the electric chair were used. However, gas chambers, hangingRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is The Most Appropriate Type Of Punishment843 Words   |  4 Pagesbeing for committing an immoral act is the most appropriate type of punishment that should be given to a convicted criminal. The name of this capital punishment is mostly referred to as, The Death Penalty, and it can be presented in different ways. This consists of being vitally shot at by a firing squad, poisoned in a gas chamber, given a lethal injection, and so on. Today in the United States, there are thirty one states that approve of the death penalty, while nineteen states believe it is unethicalRe ad MoreCapital Punishment : An Unnecessary Practice1630 Words   |  7 PagesCapital Punishment: an Unnecessary Practice I. Introduction The debate of whether the capital punishment is morally and politically appropriate has historical origins. The practice of capital punishment in America started when British settlers discovered the new world and created the first American colonies. Despite of the practice of the death penalty being ancient, capitals crimes have changed over time. Throughout the eras, the abolitionist movement against the capital punishment has been presentRead MoreDeterrence Is The Primary Source When Defining Criminal Law1549 Words   |  7 Pagescriminal law. According to dictionary.com deterrence â€Å"is a law that was passed that includes the breakdown of punishments and uses then as fear tactics; to disappoint individual criminal defendants from becoming reappearance offenders and to discourage others in society from engaging in similar criminal activity.’ (Dictionary 1). Deterrence work in two ways; large population and the punishment of wrongdoers. Deterrence is aimed at the indivi dual; once the law has been violated, and the significanceRead MoreThe Case For Death Penalty1252 Words   |  6 Pages The Case for Death Penalty In the wise words of the philosopher Immanuel Kant, â€Å"a society that is not willing to demand a life of somebody who has taken somebody else’s life is simply immoral.† When considering the issue of capital punishment, many arguments are made in favor of proponents and abolitionists. There are utilitarian arguments, retributive arguments, and egalitarian arguments. Utilitarian arguments argue against the death penalty, for they look to punish criminals for the benefitRead MoreCapital Punishment Is Cruel And Unusual1092 Words   |  5 Pagespeople believe that capital punishment is cruel and unusual. It is the only punishment that can truly compensate the loss of a loved one. In recent years, the rate of serious crimes has increased. The increase of crime is the result of less effective punishment. Dating back to early civilizations, capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, was viewed as an effective punishment. Yet today’s society it is viewed as cruel and inhumane. I believe that capital punishment should be executed moreRead MoreCapital Punishment1534 Words   |  7 PagesThe death penalty has been around for many centuries and will probably be around for many to come. Although some citizens feel capital punishment is ethically wrong, it is necessary in today s society for various reasons. Society must be kept safe from the barbaric acts of murders and rapist, by taking away their lives to function and perform in our society. Most criminals don t take into account the results of their actions. If a person intending to commit a crime, sees another criminal put toRead MoreThe Value Of Human Life907 Words   |  4 Pagesof those against capital punishment believe that human life is so valuable that even the worst murderers should not be deprived of the value of their lives. They believe that the value of the offender s life cannot be destroyed by the offender s bad conduct - even if they have killed someone. Some abolitionists don t go that far. They say that life should be preserved unless there is a very good reason not to, and that the those who are in favor of capital punishment are the ones who have to justifyRead MoreArgument Against The Death Penalty1247 Words   |  5 Pagessomebody who has taken somebody else’s life is simply immoral.† When considering the issue of capital punishment, many arguments are made in favor of proponents and abolitionists. There are utilitarian arguments, retributive arguments, and egalitarian arguments. Utilitarian arguments argue against the death penalty, for they look to punish criminals for the benefit and the â€Å"lesson learned† from the punishment. They believe that this is the most effective form of deterrence, because the criminal will learn