Death penalty: deterant?

Question

Ok so i know that studies have shown that it is NOT a deterant and all that. And i agree that it isn't. however, i am doing a pro death penalty debate and i need to find evidence to show that the death penalty DOES deter crime.... (and im not talking about recidivism, or the same criminal commiting another crime... im talking about preventing it in the first place.)

Answer 1

On the facts and statistics, death penalty supporters lose the debate. It is not a deterrant, is racially biased (the race of the victim has more to do with this than that of the defendent), it costs far more to implement than life sentences without parole. Most murderers are not deterred by threat of punishment; they don't think they will be caught. (If they think at all). As for preventing it in the first place: most people who contemplate killing another person are deterred because it offends their sense of right and wrong, or because they believe they would be caught. How can we get into the heads of all the people who have contemplated killing someone but not acted on this?


And, as you surely know, there are far better ways to prevent crime than having a death penalty.

I suggest you look for some stuff about retribution. The main argument that supporters offer these days is that it is for "retribution" although I can't really state why this is not the same as revenge.

Answer 2

Do I care if a serial killer, a mass murderer or a terrorist faces the death penalty? No, not really. Is it right? Yes and no. Loss of human life? On both sides, yes, but who is innocent and who is guilty?

The problem is probably more of a concern about racism that I have in the States. Also, kids get into drugs and gangs at a young age and are not given alternatives. It is better to put a drug addict into treatment and try to help young people off the streets. Abuse is a factor but was Charles Manson from an abusive home? No. Charles Ng? Yes. Idi Amin? No. Stalin? Yes. It goes back and forth.

Harsher sentences are the best deterrent. As far as cost goes, stop putting people in jail for marijuana, theft, fraud, freedom of speech, vandalism and other minor crimes that can be dealt with outside the prison system more effectively.

Answer 3

(Lex tallionis, An Eye For an eye)

I am for the death penalty, i think that there should be a limit on how many appeals a person can have... most criminals, are guilty as charced 99.9% but there is that chance that the other is innocent... I think the way to deter crime, is to keep education and training of law enforcement updated, te4ach them constantly like technology things change in a matter of seconds, I am an ADMJ (administration of justice) student... ive learned almost nothing that would keep me alive mainly where laws come from and history, and how it all works, not what i think i need to come home at night.... crimnals are coming up with new ideas every second, thining of new ways to do the same crimes, and were still teaching, anchient ideas the worlds changing but text books are the same....

Answer 4

How can you prove that the death penalty deters crime when speaking of preventing in the first place? If it never happened, how can you prove that the death penalty deterred the person? Maybe if you had evidence of a person saying, "I would have killed him, but I thought about the death penalty and I don't want to die, so I didn't do it."

Answer 5

Personally, I feel that the government should abolish death penalty. What gives us the right to judge a person's life and death? The criminal may have committed horrendous crimes, killed thousands of people but it doesn't mean that he deserves to die.

Instead, we should value the sanctity of life. God gave life to us and here we are, killing each other. What a waste!

I think life imprisonment is the most effective method. Being deprived of freedom is definitely way worse than just dieing coz he or she suffers for a lifetime behind bars. As for death penalty, you will only suffer a few seconds or a minute of pain before dieing and that's it.

Answer 6

i think u should take another subject coz death penalty is already a deterant for those who are not criminals u see. n those who are hard core criminals there can never be any deterant anyways they should be given reformatory treatment. as it is they are stubborn n when think of death it is an easy escape for a criminal to end his problems.... so i guess death penalty is not a really great idea. Anyways when u talk of society and preventing crime nothing can be stopped unless that person committing has a will to stop and listen to someone---for that kind of change u need to educate the coming generation with civilized rules and laws n they should have the sense to balance it.

Answer 7

no human being fairly cares no matter if it deters criminals or no longer, its the finest punishment: a watch for a watch mentality, yet when it fairly works in eliminating an undesirable from the final inhabitants then the inability of life penalty ought to grow to be a everlasting fixture. in truth, we probable would want to televise more desirable executions and word if in--say, twenty-5 years if it made a distinction in reducing the crime fee. that could educate to be a reliable yardstick to work out if it is a deterant. If no longer, then exterminate them quitely and out of sight.

Answer 8

The studies that show that capital punishment is a deterant are all severely flawed -- people don't think in terms of getting caught, especially for capital crimes, let alone the punishment. For the sake of your debate, you'll have to dodge your way through the lies. But those should be easy enough to find, way too many people choose to believe them.

Answer 9

Use the theory: "Locks keep honest people honest" rework the line of thought to crimes for the death penalty. Will have to wing it a little but will get you off to a start.

Answer 10

Death Penalty discourages a person to commit a crime because of the impending fear of death. Rehabilitation is not the right penalty for someone who committed a heinous crime because death is the right penalty. When death is committed in a crime, death should also be the penalty as written in the Bible, "an eye for an eye".