Issue Analysis: Death Penalty

AKA Capital Punishment

The Two Sides

• In Favor of the Death Penalty– Older People– Conservatives

(Republicans)– Law Enforcement

• Against the Death Penalty– Younger People– Liberals (Democrats)– Very Religious People– Civil Liberties Groups

Arguments in Favor

• Deterrence– Some people believe that if there is a death

penalty people will choose not to commit certain crimes due to fear of the death penalty.

Arguments in Favor

• Eye for an Eye– Some individuals believe that the only

appropriate punishment for those who commit the most horrible crimes is the ultimate punishment. That there is a measure of justice in terminating their life. That the victims and their families would only be satisfied with the death of their offender.

Arguments in Favor

• Safety– Those in favor of the death penalty argue that

it removes the possibility of the same person re-offending or committing the crime again.

Arguments Against

• Innocence– In the last 37 years 138 people in 26 states

have been released from death row due to evidence proving their innocence.

– You cannot un-execute someone, but you can release them from jail.

Arguments Against

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Why would we, as a society, kill someone to prove that killing someone is wrong?

Arguments Against

• Life without parole more of a punishment.– There are individuals who believe that life

without the possibility of parole is actually more of a punishment than the death penalty. That it is fundamentally better than the death penalty.

Where is it happening?

A political cartoon accusing racial inequality in the death sentence.