The Death Penalty Needs To Go
- norakwr
- 5 sept.
- 5 min de lecture
Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the highest form of punishment
for the highest levels of crime. The death penalty is given to criminals who commit a capital
offence. Many people argue for the benefits of the death penalty, but others argue against it.
Being sentenced to death can result in many different ways of execution, such as hanging, lethal injection, gas chambers, and more. All these torturous methods are used to punish people who often come out to be undeserving of such punishment. The death penalty is an irreversible punishment that cannot be challenged for correction after it's done, and because of this fact, the death penalty should be abolished. The death penalty has racial bias, sentences innocent people to death, and doesn't deter others from committing crimes.
Within the justice system, along with capital punishment, racial bias thrives. The death
penalty and its close ties to lynching represent racism in the system and show no intention of
removing it. “The death penalty in America is a 'direct descendant of lynching.” Racial terror
lynchings gave way to executions in response to criticism that torturing and killing Black people for cheering audiences was undermining America’s image and moral authority on the world stage.” (Equal Justice Initiative, 1). This quote shows how the death penalty originated from the lynching of black people and how people would cheer because they thought black people deserved it. This also shows the similarity to how people today react to the death penalty, sharing the same type of joy and excitement watching a criminal be executed because it's thought that it's what they deserve. Along with the racist ties to the death penalty, the people sentenced to death are often people of color. Compared to white people, people of color are sentenced to death more. “...race plays a major role in determining who receives the death penalty and who does not. In short, those who kill white people are more likely to get a death sentence than those who kill people of color. And of those who are convicted of murder, people of color are more likely to get death sentences than white people.” (Webb, 2). This quote demonstrates selectivism, which is when punishing certain individuals. People of color are likely to get punished for their crimes more severely, while criminals receive less justice than victims.
The death penalty is a permanent, unreliable form of punishment. Capital punishment
can often sentence innocent people to death. Whether it's hasty sentencing, unreliable evidence, or even false convictions, the death penalty kills innocent people. “Since the 1970s, at least 160 individuals who were initially sentenced to death have been exonerated. That is, they were found to be innocent and released. And others have been executed despite compelling evidence that they may have been wrongfully convicted.” (Webb, 3). This quote shows that after being sentenced to death, criminals can be found innocent, yet there is nothing anyone can do about it because they have been killed. The death penalty takes away someone's right to be innocent until proven guilty. “The failure to provide adequate counsel to capital defendants and people sentenced to death is a defining feature of the American death penalty. Whether a defendant will be sentenced to death typically depends on the quality of his legal team more than any other factor.” (Equal Justice Initiative, 2). This quote shows that if you don't have a good enough lawyer who cares about your case, you could be sentenced to death regardless of whether you are innocent or guilty.
The death penalty, as threatening as it may seem, doesn't deter people from committing
crimes. The death penalty does nothing to lower crime rates statewide. Citizens aren't afraid of the punishment that comes with committing a capital offence, so the death penalty is useless when trying to ignite fear. “For years, criminologists have studied whether the death penalty deters crime. Their research has demonstrated that we need to look elsewhere to reduce the level of homicide.” (Webb 1). This quote explains how the idea that the death penalty deters people from crime is false, and if people wanted to lower crime rates, they would need to take different measures. “When investigating serious crimes, they have found that use of the death penalty is too random for it to effectively deter individuals.” (Maras 2). This quote additionally explains how the use of the death penalty doesn't ignite fear in civilians to not commit crimes when they know all the flaws and unreliability that the death penalty comes with.
Although capital punishment can often be argued for its benefits, some believe that the
death penalty is a suitable punishment for crimes committed. People argue that the death penalty is like an eye for an eye treatment. Committing a capital offense is deserving of capital punishment. “Anyone who inflicts a permanent injury on his or her neighbor shall receive the same in return: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” (Britannica 4). This quote illustrates the writer's perspective on the use of the death penalty as a fair form of punishment. However, this argument could be easily challenged by explaining that the death penalty isn't a good use of having punishment match the crime. If the death penalty were as reliable as people make it out to be, then it could possibly be a decent form of just punishment. Since it is not, the death penalty is not a just way to punish people. “In 1976, the Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment so long as it is imposed only on people who “deserve” it. The Court has since barred the death penalty for certain groups of people who are not culpable enough to “deserve” execution.” (Equal Justice Initiative, 4). After this quote was written, the author goes on to further explain in percentages the number of people who were discriminated against because of their mental state, race, and more when being sentenced to death. This quote further explains how the death penalty isn't a reliable way to be a fair punishment for a person's crime, contrary to what people may believe.
In closing, the use of capital punishment, used to punish criminals, proves to do more
harm than good. People have many false thoughts about the death penalty and how they believe it can benefit people, which are constantly being proven to be incorrect, yet people still believe them. The death penalty is an outlet for the unjust justice system, and abolishing the death penalty can be one of the first steps to cleanse of justice system of all the injustice. The death penalty has racial bias, is unreliable when sentencing, and doesn't deter others from committing crimes. With all these reasons and facts, the death penalty is a waste of resources that doesn't do the job it was made to do.
Works Cited
Maras, Greta. “DPI Series: Facts About the Death Penalty — Does the
Death Penalty Make Communities Safer?”. Death Penalty Information Center, 10
July 2025,
th-penalty-mak e-communities-safer
Webb Jr, Lewis. “The Time to Repeal the Death Penalty is Now”. American
Friends Service Committee, 9 March 2025,
“Death Penalty The Question We Need to Ask About the Death Penalty in
America is Not Whether Someone Deserves to Die for a Crime. The Question is
Whether We Deserve to Kill.” Equal Justice Initiative.
“Death Penalty Should the Death Penalty Be Legal?”. Bittanica. 15 July, 2025.
By: Emalee Charles