Critical Thinking Paper: Execute the Death Penalty

Jake Suh

CAP 9

Monday, May 15, 2017

 Capital punishment has been debated for centuries, but still remains as a viable

consequence to certain offenses as the urge for its complete abolishment ascends. The

ineligibility of this practice is blatantly affecting the economy so organizations like the National

Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

are working to banish this practice forever. The United States Congress must entirely abolish the

death penalty from the remaining thirty-one states that still practice capital punishment because

of the expense of the process and the harm it inflicts to the United States economy, the

preferability of a life sentence and a humans ability to mentally heal, and for the many cases

of innocent individuals that are found guilty in error.

Collateral consequences of criminal conviction in the United States can range from fines

to imprisonment, however capital punishment has always been the most extreme consequence.

Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty is a government-sanctioned practice where
a convict is punished by execution. The death penalty originated in Britain and the first recorded

execution in America was that of Captain George Kendall in the Jamestown colony of Virginia in

1608 (Introduction to the Death). After the death penalty was beginning to become a common

punishment, the first significant abolitionist view came from Cesare Beccaria's 1767 essay, On

Crimes and Punishment where Beccaria theorized that there was no justification for the state

taking ones life (The Abolitionist Movement). American intellectuals were heavily influenced

by the essay and it gave abolitionists an authoritative voice and renewed energy, one result of

which was the abolition of the death penalty in Austria and Tuscany (The Abolitionist

Movement). Beccarias essay inspired many to form organizations that proposed the abolition of

the death penalty and the improvement of poor prison conditions (Frontline). Despite noble

attempts to banish the death penalty, capital punishment is still practiced today.

The death penalty has affected many, but nothing can compare to those who were found

guilty in error and wrongly executed. There have been numerous cases which involve the

execution of innocent people who were convicted of crimes that were not committed by them.

The cases of Cameron Todd Willingham and Troy Anthony Davis show the erroneousness of the

death penalty and how it can lead to the deaths of innocent people (Wrongful Executions).

Willingham was accused of allegedly setting fire to his home which killed his three children and

was given the death penalty (Cameron Todd). However, rigorous scientific analysis has since

shown that there was no evidence that the fire in a one-story, wood frame house in Corsicana was

the result of arson (Herbert). Despite Willinghams efforts to clear his name, authorities were

unmoved and Willingham was executed on February 17, 2004, by lethal injection (Texas

Executed). Troy Anthony Davis was also a victim of the death penalty when he was accused of

murdering off-duty police officer Mark McPhail (Wrongful Executions). But because of
inadequate physical evidence and the testimony of nine witnesses, it was confirmed that Davis

will be executed by lethal injection at a Georgia prison (Severson). However, it was later found

that all but two of the state's non-police witnesses from the trial recanted or contradicted their

testimony (I Am Troy). A US death row study also showed that at least 4.1% of defendants

sentenced to die are innocent (US Death).To reassure that events, where innocent individuals

are put to death, will not recur, the death penalty cannot remain as an appropriate punishment.

Despite the wrongly accused like Willingham and Davis, the death penalty continues to exist and

take the lives of innocent people. Capital punishment must be abolished to prevent further errors

and the execution of innocent people.

The Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP) believe that

alternatives like life imprisonment are preferable over the death penalty because it will give

criminals the chance to change over the course of time in prison. CUADP also recognizes that

the death penalty is hypocritical for society to punish people for for killing by killing them,

especially when there are more humane methods of dealing with them (Alternatives to the

Death). In 2010, the Lake Research Partners conducted a poll where it concluded that the

majority of voters (61%) would choose a punishment other than the death penalty for murder

(Facts about). The Public Policy Institute of California State Survey or PPIC, also conducted a

similar survey questioning a variety of people from democrats to republicans whether a penalty

for first-degree murder should be the death penalty or life imprisonment with absolutely no

possibility of parole (Life in Prison). Of all adults surveyed, 39% said that the death penalty

should be sentenced while 54% stated that a life sentence with absolutely no possibility of parole

should be sentenced, and 7% said that they did not know (Life in Prison). A multitude of

surveys show that a life sentence is publicly more popular and accepted than a death penalty and
is recognized on a global scale for in the 21st century 140 countries have abolished the death

penalty, leaving only about 60 still practicing it (Alternatives to the Death). Rather than a rash

execution, the alternative of a life sentence provides the chance for prisoners to mentally change.

Life sentences are recognized as a second chance and recognized by society as giving people, the

opportunity to change. If life sentences are given instead of capital punishment, it also eliminates

the possibility of executing a wrongly charged convict.

The death penaltys cost is slowly harming the United States economy as cases that

involve the death penalty are extremely expensive. Any case involving the death penalty

lengthens the judicial process, simultaneously increasing the cases complicacy. Thus, any death

penalty case is significantly more expensive than an ordinary case because Experienced

prosecutors and defense attorneys must be assigned and begin a long period of investigation and

pre-trial hearings. Jury selection, the trial itself, and initial appeals will consume years of time

and enormous amounts of money before an execution is on the horizon (Dieter). For a federal

death penalty case, the average cost of just the defense is $620,932, nearly eight times more than

a non-capital punishment case (Dieter). Since 1978, California, with the largest death row

consisting of 714 inmates, has conducted nearly 2,000 capital trials and has executed 13 people.

Over those 33 years, the death penalty system cost the state $4.6 billion. Divided up, that equates

to $308 million per execution (Declour). With only one state having an expense of $4.6 billion

because of the death penalty, other states like Texas add to the financial deterrence as having a

death penalty case in Texas would cost about $3 million, three times the cost of imprisoning an

inmate for 40 years (Declour). For Maryland, a death penalty case costs about three times

more than a case in which the prosecutor does not seek the death penalty (Declour). In Kansas,

the mere trial of a death penalty cost 16 times greater than for non-death cases ($508,000 for
death case; $32,000 for non-death case). The appeal costs for death cases were 21 times greater.

(Dieter). States like California, Texas, Maryland, and Kansas show the financial impracticality of

the death penalty and how the cost of it is not proportionate to its benefits to society. Frequently,

it is misunderstood that the death penalty is a practice that benefits the economy since the

executed defendants no longer have to be cared at the states expense, however this is not the

case since there are meticulous processes where defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judicial roles

must be selected, and in addition to the trial itself, initial appeals will consume years of time and

significant amounts of money before the actual execution will occur (Dieter). If capital

punishment continues to be practiced, it will consume billions of dollars and the United States

economy will continuously be harmed.

Dating back to as early as 1608 Jamestown, the death penalty has been a practice

implemented into the world as the most extreme punishment for serious offenses. However, the

death penaltys economic impracticality, inhumaneness, and misuse of it has led to its urge for

abolition. In order to eliminate the possibility of an execution of an innocent individual, allow

prisoners to mentally amend, and make wise financial decisions, the United States Congress

must follow the 102 countries that have already abolished capital punishment in doing the same

(Abolitionist and Retitionist).

 Works Cited

Abolitionist and Retentionist Countries. Death Penalty Information Center,

www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/abolitionist-and-retentionist-countries.
Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, cuadp.org,

www.cuadp.org/.

Cameron Todd Willingham: Wrongfully Convicted and Executed in Texas. Innocent Project,

www.innocenceproject.org/cameron-todd-willingham-wrongfully-convicted-and-executed-in-

texas/.

Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Life Imprisonment Is Preferable to the Death

Penalty. Capital Punishment, edited by Mary E. Williams, Greenhaven Press, 2005. Current

Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010036264/OVIC?u=mcps_blair&xid=509007fa. Accessed 12

Feb. 2017. Originally published as Alternatives to the Death Penalty,, 2004.

Delcour, Julie. The Cost of the Death Penalty Outweighs Its Benefits to Society. The Death Penalty,

edited by Jenny Cromie and Lynn M. Zott, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010124280/OVIC?

u=mcps_blair&xid=5fce3f2f. Accessed 1 Apr. 2017. Originally published as Capital

Punishment a Costly Option, www.tulsaworld.com, 4 Sept. 2011.

Dieter, Richard C. The Death Penalty Is Too Costly for Society. Death Penalty, edited by Nol

Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2015. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010955216/OVIC?u=mcps_blair&xid=7350b6d4. Accessed 12

Feb. 2017. Originally published as Testimony of Richard C. Dieter, Executive Director, Death

Penalty Information Center, 2013.

Facts about the Death Penalty. Death Penalty Information Center,

www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/urls_cited/ot2016/16-5247/16-5247-2.pdf.

Frontline. Pbs. Pbs, WGBH educational foundation,

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/execution/readings/history.html.

Herbert, Bob. Innocent But Dead. New York Times, 1 Sept. 2009, p. A29(L). Opposing Viewpoints in

Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A206971059/OVIC?u=mcps_blair&xid=d73cfe40.

Accessed 12 Feb. 2017.

I Am Troy Davis: The Fight for Abolition Continues. Amnesty International, Amnesty International

USA, www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/cases/usa-troy-davis.

Introduction to the Death Penalty. Death Penalty Information Center, www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/part-

i-history-death-penalty.

Life in Prison Is Preferred over the Death Penalty. The Death Penalty, edited by Jenny Cromie and

Lynn M. Zott, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ2220008610/OVIC?u=mcps_blair&xid=5d6f6355. Accessed 2

Apr. 2017.

Severson, Kim. Georgia Execution to Proceed; Bids to Halt It Go On. New York Times, 21 Sept. 2011,

p. A21(L). Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A267482083/OVIC?

u=mcps_blair&xid=4d857557. Accessed 2 Apr. 2017.

Texas Executed an Innocent Man. Cameron Todd Willingham - Innocent and Executed,

camerontoddwillingham.com/.
"US death row study: 4% of defendants sentenced to die are innocent." The Guardian,

www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/28/death-penalty-study-4-percent-defendants-innocent.

Wrongful Executions. National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, National Coalition to Abolish

the Death Pe, www.ncadp.org/pages/wrongful-executions#cameron-todd-willingham.

 Annotated Bibliography

Abolitionist and Retentionist Countries. Death Penalty Information Center,

www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/abolitionist-and-retentionist-countries. This source gives a map of

which countries across the globe still practice capital punishment and is a reliable source because

it comes from an official organization in which the supreme court website has also cited. The

source was found through the internet.

Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, cuadp.org,

www.cuadp.org/. This source states the alternatives of the death penalty and explains the

negatives of capital punishment. It is a reliable source since it is an official organization that was

mentioned in one of the schools databases and found through the internet.
Cameron Todd Willingham: Wrongfully Convicted and Executed in Texas. Innocent Project,

www.innocenceproject.org/cameron-todd-willingham-wrongfully-convicted-and-executed-in-

texas/. This source gives information on the case in which Willingham was wrongly convicted

and is reliable because it is an official organization.

Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Life Imprisonment Is Preferable to the Death

Penalty. Capital Punishment, edited by Mary E. Williams, Greenhaven Press, 2005. Current

Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010036264/OVIC?u=mcps_blair&xid=509007fa. Accessed 12

Feb. 2017. Originally published as Alternatives to the Death Penalty,, 2004. This source was

acquired from the school database and gives information on the alternatives of the death penalty.

Cost. National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, www.ncadp.org/pages/cost. This source gives

information on why the death penalty is economically unreasonable. The source is highly

credible as it is an official organization in the effort to abolish the death penalty.

Delcour, Julie. The Cost of the Death Penalty Outweighs Its Benefits to Society. The Death Penalty,

edited by Jenny Cromie and Lynn M. Zott, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010124280/OVIC?

u=mcps_blair&xid=5fce3f2f. Accessed 1 Apr. 2017. Originally published as Capital

Punishment a Costly Option, www.tulsaworld.com, 4 Sept. 2011. This source is from the school

database and explains how the cost of the death penalty is not proportionate to its effect.

Dieter, Richard C. The Death Penalty Is Too Costly for Society. Death Penalty, edited by Nol

Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2015. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

 link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010955216/OVIC?u=mcps_blair&xid=7350b6d4. Accessed 12

Feb. 2017. Originally published as Testimony of Richard C. Dieter, Executive Director, Death

Penalty Information Center, 2013. This source was acquired from the school database and

explains why the death penalty is too expensive stating the several steps it takes to a death

penalty case.

Facts about the Death Penalty. Death Penalty Information Center,

www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/urls_cited/ot2016/16-5247/16-5247-2.pdf. This source is

straight from the supreme court website thus is highly credible and gives extensive information

on the death penalty ranging from statistics and general information.

Frontline. Pbs. Pbs, WGBH educational foundation,

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/execution/readings/history.html. PBS is an official

radio show and its website article provided information on the death penaltys history.

Herbert, Bob. Innocent But Dead. New York Times, 1 Sept. 2009, p. A29(L). Opposing Viewpoints in

Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A206971059/OVIC?u=mcps_blair&xid=d73cfe40.

Accessed 12 Feb. 2017. This is a primary source from the New York Times acquired from the

school database and gives information on Cameron Willinghams false accusation.

I Am Troy Davis: The Fight for Abolition Continues. Amnesty International, Amnesty International

USA, www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/cases/usa-troy-davis. This source gives information on

Troy Daviss false accusation and the publics efforts to clear his name.

Introduction to the Death Penalty. Death Penalty Information Center, www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/part-

i-history-death-penalty. Gives extensive information on the death penaltys history and is a

 reliable source since it is an official organization and has been cited by the supreme courts

website.

Life in Prison Is Preferred over the Death Penalty. The Death Penalty, edited by Jenny Cromie and

Lynn M. Zott, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ2220008610/OVIC?u=mcps_blair&xid=5d6f6355. Accessed 2

Apr. 2017. This source was acquired from the school database and explains a survey in which a

life sentence was preferred over the death penalty.

Severson, Kim. Georgia Execution to Proceed; Bids to Halt It Go On. New York Times, 21 Sept. 2011,

p. A21(L). Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A267482083/OVIC?

u=mcps_blair&xid=4d857557. Accessed 2 Apr. 2017. This source was acquired from the school

database and is a primary source directly from the New York Times confirming Troy Daviss

execution.

Texas Executed an Innocent Man. Cameron Todd Willingham - Innocent and Executed,

camerontoddwillingham.com/. This source is the official website of Cameron Willingham and

gives extensive information on the case itself.

"US death row study: 4% of defendants sentenced to die are innocent." The Guardian,

www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/28/death-penalty-study-4-percent-defendants-innocent.

This source gives insight on wrongly accused individuals who are sentenced the death penalty.

The source is credible as The Guardian is an official newspaper company in which is very well

known.
Wrongful Executions. National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, National Coalition to Abolish

the Death Pe, www.ncadp.org/pages/wrongful-executions#cameron-todd-willingham. This

source explains the false accusations and executions caused by the death penalty listing those

who were victims of being accused falsely. This source is credible because ncadp is the official

organization in the effort to abolish the death penalty.