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The fact that capital punishment to day has left the public arena is another
typical difference with the past. In the early days it was much more of a
community involvement (Johnson, 1990, p 7). Today the death penalty is
carried out behind closed doors and only a few officials and relatives can
be present (Bedau, 1987, p 29). Johnson (1990,p 5 ) speaks of “executions
becoming formal undertakings that are detached from community life”.
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The deterrent effect of capital punishment is an important argument used
by those in favour of the death penalty. Sharp, (1997, p4) mentions that 6
percent of those that committed a murder in the past did so again within 6
years after they were released from prison. Apparently spending time in jail
was not deterrent enough preventing them murdering again. Furthermore
running the risk receiving the death penalty provides enough motivation for
83 % of the criminals not to murder (Sharp, 1997, p6). A more
philosophical approach is taken by Gelernter (Gelernter in Goldman ,2002,
p 27) who argues that murder within a community demands the strongest
possible public reaction in order to show its abhor of the crime.
Those against the death penalty argue studies show the deterrent effect is
inconclusive and not scientific proven. Some studies show even the
opposite is happening demonstrating capital punishment stimulates murder
(Lester, 2000). In addition Bedau (1987, p 33) beliefs communities tend to
overvalue the deterrent effect as there always will be the risk of being
murdered. Even executing every criminal will not prevent murder and
therefore executing murderers does not solve the problem of murder. He
argues society has to be prepared to take this as an imposed risk in a similar
way as smoking has for them.
Those opposing the death penalty also show it has the risk of executing
innocent people. Since the death penalty was reintroduced in the US in
1976, 94 prisoners were released from death row due to being wrongly
convicted (Goldman 2002, p2). It is unknown how many inmates over the
years have been executed who in fact were innocent to the crime they were
convicted for. This demonstrates blunders are made in the courtroom.
Therefore as humans we should we careful in applying the death penalty as
it provides no room for changing our mind after the execution which
benefits the accused.
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make the suggestion it justifiable run this small risk of executing an
innocent man in view of the many innocently murdered victims (Sharp,
1997, p3).
Those in favour of capital punishment agree with the fact that people
killing blacks are less likely to receive the death penalty compared to those
killing white victims. Alternatively they argue the death penalty is biased
withdrawn and therefore the solution is not abolishing the death penalty but
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much more to increase the number of death sentences when blacks are
murdered (Goldman, 2002, p3). Furthermore Sharp (1997, p10) illustrates
blacks have a 30:1 murder ratio in murdering whites compared to whites
murdering blacks. With 12% of the total US population being black and
42% of the inmates on death row are black it is evident black people are
overrepresented. However, linking this to the higher crime rate by blacks in
the USA makes this overrepresentation not inconsistent with statistics
(Sharp, 1997, p 11).
Racial issues are also topic for concern in New Zealand. This often affects
the Maori and Pacific population. Figure 1 shows the racial background of
offenders and the percentage of particular age groups spending time in
prison in New Zealand. It illustrates convicts with a Maori and a Pacific
background make up the main population of New Zealand prisons.
Corrected for population at the age of 23, 3.2 % of all Maori man are in
prison compared with 0.4% New Zealand European males (Department of
Corrections in New Zealand, 2007).
Based on the arguments stated in this essay New Zealand should not re-
introduce the death penalty. The main reasons are the inconclusive
evidence of its deterrent effect. Further studies should clarify which
sentences in contrast of capital punishment have a deterrent effect in
committing crimes and particularly murder. In addition the risk of killing
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innocent people is evidently present. Accepting the execution of innocent
but accused convicts in order to keep the death penalty is pure arrogance
and completely out of line with justice. Man should recognise the fact
mistakes are human and therefore should avoid absolute measures as
capital punishment. Thirdly society should prevent juveniles from being on
death row. Corrections should to this group focus on showing remorse,
repenting and grace in order to bring them back in society. Lastly racial
disparity is a sensitive issue world wide and also in New Zealand. It easily
can divide society and cause a significant instability in the communities. As
prisons currently percentage wise occupy more Maori and Pacific people
compared to other ethnicities it is likely when capital punishment would be
reintroduced in New Zealand this would mostly affect those two population
groups. This could cause unnecessary instable communities and could
provoke crime and particularly murder. Therefore New Zealand could do it
self a favour by not reintroducing the death penalty but more to put
emphasis on prevention of crime and murder.
Literature
Bedau, H.A. (1987). ‘A matter of life and death.’ In H.A. Bedeau Death is
different. Studies in morality, law and politics of capital punishment (pp. 9-
45) Boston: North eastern University Press
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