English 110-71

23 September 2008

Controversy over the Death Penalty

Capital Punishment is “the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a

crime” (AskOxford.com). In the debate regarding the death penalty, I am strictly against the act

of ending ones life in order to convey justice. Some states more than others have a higher

percentage on death row; “Since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976,

80% of all executions have taken place in the South. The Northeast accounts for less than 2% of

executions” (amnesty international). Capital punishment is immoral by many religions, the cost

is outrageous and the discrepancy of the accuracy and truthfulness of the prosecutions are

enough to make anyone think twice about the use of capital punishment as a form of justice.

Many religions view and believe that the taking of ones life is left for a higher power(s)

to decide. One of the ten commandments of the Christian faith is “Thou shall not kill”. In

Buddhism it states that “An action, even if it brings benefit to oneself, cannot be considered a

good action if it causes physical and mental pain to another being” (BBC). (Hinduism states in

its teachings, in line with its principle of ahimsa (non-violence) that it opposes against any

violence or revenge) (BBC). The majority of many other religions do teach the universal truth,

pertaining to the killing of ones life for justice. Also many religious teachings advocate for

nonviolence practices.

The cost of capital punishment is far more expensive than keeping an inmate incarcerated

for the rest of his life. The cost for the death penalty in California costs 137 million dollars per
year; whereas, life in prison cost 11.5 million dollars per year. The money that would go towards

the death penalty should be funded for a more meaningful purpose, such as being put towards

resources for crime prevention, education and more. The cost for the death penalty is a ridiculous

amount that could be put towards a more meaningful purpose then to fund capital punishment.

Inmates’ being innocent in the capital system is also a factor in determining whether it is

a useful form of justice. A man from Arizona “spent 10 years in prison in Arizona, including

time on death row, for a murder he did not commit. He was the 100th person to be released from

death row since 1973. DNA testing proved his innocence” (amnesty international). There are

other confirmed cases were inmates were innocent. Some factors that lead to wrongful

convictions are: “Inadequate legal representation, Police and prosecutorial misconduct, Perjured

testimony and mistaken eyewitness testimony, Racial prejudice, Jailhouse “snitch” testimony,

Suppression and/or misinterpretation of mitigating evidence, Community/political pressure to

solve a case” (amnesty international). An innocent inmate in the death penalty is common

enough for the use of capital punishment to be closer looked at based on the incidents of inmates

being found innocent.

To conclude, the death penalty is a very controversial topic over the accuracy and

truthfulness used to prosecute an inmate. Many religious teachings teach practices of non

violence and killing. Based on the accuracy, cost and various religious views on the death

penalty, I believe that the use of capital punishment is barbaric and a waste of time and money.

In all I believe that inmates and convicts should be left in prison or put to work for the rest of

there lives, that is what I believe true justice is.

 Works Cited

"Hinduism and capital punishment." Religion & Ethics-Hinduism. 2004-02-24. BBC. 23

Sep 2008
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/hinduethics/capitalpunishment.shtml>
.
"Religion & Ethics-Buddhism ." Capital Punishment. 2005-06-23. BBC. 23 Sep 2008
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/buddhistethics/capitalpunishment.sht
ml>.

"Death Penalty and Arbitrariness." Amnesty International USA. Amnesty International

USA. 23 Sep 2008 < http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/death-penalty-
facts/death-penalty-and-arbitrariness/page.do?id=1101083&n1=3&n2=28&n3=99>

"Death Penalty and Innocence." Amnesty International USA. Amnesty International

USA. 23 Sep 2008 <http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/death-penalty-facts/death-
penalty-and-innocence/page.do?id=1101086&n1=3&n2=28&n3=99>.

"Capital Punishment." AskOxford.com. © Copyright Oxford University Press. Oxford

University . 23 Sep 2008 <http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/capitalpunishment?
view=uk>.