Capital Punishment: Pros and Cons

Capital punishment is the lawful infliction of death as a punishment and since ancient times it has been used for a wide variety of offenses. Although there are some countries that have abolished the death penalty from their law, there are still many who still practice the act of killing a person for a crime. Capital punishment is prevalent in the US, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries. Crimes that carry the death penalty vary greatly worldwide from treason and murder to theft. Some of the ways of executing criminals are hanging, shooting, electrocution and giving lethal injections.

However, many cases that come before the court very often force public reflection on the purpose of the death penalty. While some think that the death penalty is necessary for those who have committed a terrible crime, there are others who consider it as an immoral act that goes against the values of humanity. To begin with, a person who has committed a crime like killing or raping another person should be given death penalty, which is as severe punishment as the act in itself. It is said that when a criminal is given a capital punishment, it dissuades others in the society from committing such serious crimes. They would refrain from such crimes due to fear of losing their lives. This would definitely help in reducing crime rate in society.

One more advantage is that if a criminal is jailed, he may again commit the same crime after being released from prison. Giving him capital punishment would make sure that the society is safe from being attacked by criminals. It seems to be an appropriate punishment for serial killers and for those who continue to commit crimes even after serving imprisonment. It is also important that instead of announcing life imprisonment for the convicts, where they would have to live a futile life behind closed bars, it is better to kill them. It is said that imprisoning someone is more expensive than executing him. Rather than spending on a person who may again commit terrifying crime, it is better to put him to death.

Some believe capital punishment is equated as revenge for pain and suffering that the criminal inflicted on the victim since a person who has taken the life of another person does not have a right to live. Sentencing such a criminal can give relief to the family members of the victim for their loved one has obtained justice. It is generally suggested for the safety of fellow prison inmates and guards, as people who commit horrifying crimes like murder are believed to have a violent personality and may, in future, attack someone during imprisonment. These reasons emphasize the importance of capital punishment for the betterment of human society. In contrast, opponents of the death penalty point out that capital punishment is not always just and appropriate. Usually, it has been seen that poor people have to succumb to death penalty as they cannot afford good lawyers to defend their stance. There are very rare cases of rich people being pronounced capital punishment.

Also, an individual from minority communities are more likely to be given the death penalty. Not to mention that every human being is entitled to receive a second chance in life. Putting a convict behind bars is always a logical option than killing him, as there is a chance that he may improve. People who have served life sentences are reported to have bettered their earlier ways of living and have made a worthwhile contribution to society. Furthermore, there is also a chance that an individual is innocent and is wrongly charged for a crime he has never committed. There have been cases where individuals were released after being given the death sentence because they were proved innocent.

There are also cases where a person's innocence was proved after he was put to death. Hence, it is best to avoid executing a person. Finally, it is reported that there is no relation between capital punishment and crime rate, for example, giving the death penalty does not decrease the crime rate in society. Crimes are prevalent in countries where capital punishment exists and also where it has been abolished. All things considered, I believe that the question of whether to give capital punishment to a criminal or not, may depend on his previous criminal records and the seriousness of the crime he has committed. However, having no death penalty we agree to accept high levels of murder and other serious crimes that we presently have.

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