A crime is an integral part of any society and crimes are committed every day. But is there any effective way how to deter crimes? In particular, does...
A crime is an integral part of any society and crimes are committed every day. But is there any effective way how to deter crimes? In particular,
does capital punishment work as a deterrent for murder?
“If an offender has committed murder, he must die. In this case, no possible substitute can satisfy justice. For there is no parallel between death and even the most miserable life, so that there is no equality of crime and retribution, unless the perpetrator is judicially put to death.” This saying by Immanuel Kant, a German Philosopher and most influential Philosopher of modern Europe, suggests that we have to implement the death penalty or capital punishment for cases of violent murder, serial killers and even sex offenders.
The death penalty has continually created stresses and exposed fault lines in modern societies. Is the death penalty morally acceptable? Is it a crime or is it just a way of punishment?
The punishment for murder is becoming shorter and easier. A judge could sentence a man to life in prison, but after 15 years, that same man could be out of jail already. In this case, criminals do not fear the punishment anymore, because of this inadequate punishment by the legal system, thus they would commit crime over and over again. Punishment is meant to give justice to the wrongdoer and to keep him from doing it again. But how can we entrust the murderers to a judicial system that will either let the criminals out in fifteen years or have us take care of them for twenty - five years, and then let them go? This kind of judicial system is sick, in other words this is not actually effective.
The main questions on this issue are: Are we effectively imposing enough punishment on our most wicked and baneful criminals? If so, why there are still so many criminals who commit crimes after they are released from prison? And how can we stop violence in our society?
From my point of view, I believe some improvements are necessary to focus attention. I would say that capital punishment should remain in use and delivered more frequently. Implementing the death penalty is really hard to penetrate. It may be easy for us to understand the act of execution but it is usually beyond us to understand the emotions that a criminal is feeling on death row. I know it must feel painful and inhumane. However, this kind of punishment is sometimes necessary to carry out in order for us to gain respect and impose discipline, especially with people who are not rational thinkers.
During the Roman and Babylonian Empires, the death penalty was effective. If we apply it in today’s society, it will be more efficient than using government tax money for the harmful criminals to stay in prison. I am not suggesting killing or executing all prisoners. All I am saying is we should have the death penalty as an option of punishment so that serious criminals will be afraid of breaking the law.
This penalty would serve as a deterrent of violent crimes and help restore justice. Using this kind of punishment would motivate people to stay away from any violent crimes. Capital punishment would make people think first before committing an offense punishable by death. Therefore, both public security and morals would be improved.
Forms of execution used today are lethal injection, electrocution, hanging, the gas chamber and the firing squad. Several arguments against the death sentence need to be addressed. Some people believe that there is a possibility of wrongly executing an innocent man. And yes, there is also a possibility of wrongly sending an innocent man to prison, but they postulate that because of the irrevocable nature of the death penalty, the consequences of wrongly executing an innocent person are far worse. There has never been conclusive proof yet of an innocent man being executed, but still the judicial system must take many precautions to ensure that the rights of the innocent are protected. In a complex process, every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure that no innocent man is executed. The sentencing process for capital punishment cases is long and thorough.
Moreover, capital punishment is needed to ensure the safety and moral values of the country. Thus, we should not abolish capital punishment, because it does actually deter crimes. We have to, however, make sure that our country applies due process when it applies this kind of punishment, thus making the latter more justifiable to the victims.
Capital punishment should not revenge, but it simply helps prevent a criminal from being disrespectful either to themselves or to the victims by not considering the consequences of committing a serious crime. Capital punishment is, however, a form of justice. And justice is the first virtue of those who are in charge, and capital punishment can help lessen the resentment of those who obey and value the Law.
If we abolish the death penalty, do you think the crime rate will decline? No. Do you think innocent people will be more secure, including the victim’s family? No. Do you think criminals will be more confident inflicting violence that would destroy the life of other people? Yes. In the making of our law, we have to make sure that mercy for the guilty does not take precedence over the rights of victims and future potential victims.
