Capital Punishment

Nikolas Parker College Composition II

Tuesday-Thursday 9:30-10:45 AM
How Is the Issue Defined and What Is its Historical Context?
Capital Punishment is defined as a way to punish criminals who
have taken the life/lives of an individual/individuals. The death
penalty was first used by Americans in the Jamestown Colony of
Virginia in 1608. Captain George Kendall was executed because
it was discovered that he was a spy for the Spanish. Since this
instance, capital punishment has become a possible sentence
when found guilty for a murder. As of 2018, 30 states still
participate in acts of capital punishment. Some people feel as
though the death penalty is still a justifiable way to punish
murderers while others seriously doubt the morality of this type
of sentencing. As we go farther into the 21st century, less and
less people agree that the death penalty should be used.

States With and Without the Death Penalty. (n.d.). Retrieved

from
https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/states-and-without-death-penalty
What Is the Significance of the Issue from Multiple Perspectives?
Abortion:The question of “What exactly is a murder?” is constantly brought up when
discussing the death penalty. A controversial issue that co-exists with the idea of capital
punishment is abortion. Some people believe that abortion is a form of murder and
should warrant some sort of criminal charge. Some activists argue that the parents of the
child should receive the death penalty if they decide to abort the child since they are
technically ending it’s life. Unfortunately, there are several instances where a young child
is raped and is impregnated by their attacker. If the women decides to abort the child, is it
fair to punish that women with the death penalty? These types of outliers cause a lot of
confusion about what constitutes to the sentencing of the death penalty.
False Accusations:To receive the death penalty, one must have been found guilty of
one or more counts of murder. However, there are several faults in the judicial system
that can lead to the death of an innocent person. These faults include: inaccurate forensic
analysis, corruption within the case, etc. Joseph Shapiro, author of “How Should Society
Punish A Murder?”, states, “The Risk of Executing the Innocent makes the Death Penalty
Unfair… For every 7 executions—486 since 1976—1 other prisoner on death row has
been found innocent” (Shapiro, 2005, p. 1). The risk of killing an innocent person is too
high to warrant the death penalty being a viable way to punish someone for their
wrongdoings.
The Cost:When a death penalty is on the table for a possible
sentence, the case transforms into a much more expensive procedure.
More expensive lawyers are needed, more expert witnesses are
required to attend, and the case is elongated. Richard C. Dieter,
executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, analyzed
a study that outlined where tax money went to and stated, “In
Maryland, a comprehensive cost study by the Urban Institute in 2008
estimated the extra costs to taxpayers for death penalty cases
prosecuted between 1978 and 1999 to be $186 million. Based on the 5
executions carried out in the state, this translates to a cost of $37
million per execution” (Dieter, 2015, p.1). Since many people that are
put on this type of trial end up not receiving the death penalty, it
seems like a waste of money.
In Conclusion:Each group of people feel that this issue is
significant and starting to become an outdated practice.
Who Are the Audiences Involved/Affected By the Issue?
Why Are They Engaged in the Issue and How Does the Issue Affect Them?

Audiences involved include: common folk, criminals, and state officials. State officials vote every year to determine
whether or not their respective state will keep the death penalty or abolish it. Interestingly, in 2009 New Mexico
abolished the death penalty but kept two prisoners on death row. Any criminal that had received the death penalty
prior to it’s abolishment will still carry on their sentence. Civilians are the main audience for this issue and have the
largest influence on how the death penalty is perceived. Lawyers, tax payers, and common folk control the morality
of killing someone as a result of their actions. We have the power to say if capital punishment is right or wrong. The
idea of killing someone over their poor decisions affects everyone because it acts as a huge deterrent for people. If
you know that you can die over murdering someone, you might not go through with it. Civilians are the main group
who want to make a change. This change could be for some sort of monetary issue, morality issue, or something
greater.
What Are the Major Points of Debate Surrounding the Issue and
Why is the Debate Still Unresolved?
The major points of debate that surround the issue include, the morality of the death penalty, the relevancy of the
death penalty, and the prosecution that leads to the sentencing of the death penalty. The debate is still unresolved
because, as a community, we cannot decide if it is okay to kill someone for an action that they committed. Also, they
are controversies surrounding what counts as a “murder”. Many people have started to doubt the reasoning behind
capital punishment and are starting to realize that the risk of killing an innocent person and the cost is too high. If the
common people stick with their beliefs, capital punishment will soon fade away. Markus Suratt, author of
INCENTIVIZED INFORMANTS, BRADY, RUIZ, AND WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT: REQUIRING PRE-PLEA
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE, argues that “Concerned citizens, attorneys, and
scholars are beginning to ask more questions as these stories receive increased nationwide attention: what should we
do about false incentivized informant testimony? What can we do?” (Suratt, 2018, p. 2). Corruption within a police
force can lead to the false imprisonment of an individual. This can lead to an innocent man being killed by the death
penalty. This debate on how to handle capital punishment will only be resolved if there is a better way to give out
sentences for the death penalty.
What Is the Long Term Effect of the Issue?
The long term effect of capital punishment is that it can lead to a loss faith in our judicial system. People are already
beginning to dislike the idea of the death penalty, and it seems as though the process is never accurately carried out.
Dates are constantly rescheduled, charges are dropped, sentences lowered, or innocence is found. It can feel as
though the government is toying with one’s life. They have complete control over whether or not this person lives or
dies. In today’s society, there are way too many caveats that can lead to the, potentially, unjust murder of a person.
Capital punishment is the ultimate form of penalty for a crime and can be analyzed under a variety of lenses and
perspectives.
 Sources

Dieter, Richard C. "The Death Penalty Is Too Costly for Society." Death Penalty, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2015.
Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010955216/OVIC?u=rowan&sid=OVIC&xid=bc7e8fb3. Accessed 20 Feb. 2019.
Originally published as "Testimony of Richard C. Dieter, Executive Director, Death Penalty Information Center," 2013.

Jones, Sarah. "How Should Society Punish a Murder?" Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2019. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/YRZPLH255915787/OVIC?u=rowan&sid=OVIC&xid=72b0e9c3. Accessed 19
Feb. 2019. Originally published as "How Should Society Punish a Murder?" The New Republic, 30 Mar. 2018.

Shapiro, Joseph P. "The Risk of Executing the Innocent Makes the Death Penalty Unfair." The Ethics of Capital Punishment, edited
by Nick Fisanick, Greenhaven Press, 2005. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010313206/OVIC?u=rowan&sid=OVIC&xid=3174da5c. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019.
Originally published as "The Wrong Men on Death Row," U.S. News & World Report, vol. 125, 9 Nov. 1998.