Proof that capital punishment doesn't deter crime?

Question

For my essay I need something to show that capital punishment doesn't deter crime. ;) Any help is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

In my opinion, nobody has the right to take another human beings life. Not even ones owns life. We have the facilities in this day and age to remove criminals from society. I believe that tougher prison conditions would be a greater deterrent. Harder working conditions, less interaction with society and other prisoners. Basic skills should be taught and better programs available for self development. Life should mean life.

Answer 2

Charts that show capital punishment deterring crime generally show a chart with rising execution rates and slumping crime rates. The problem with this is that it succumbs to the classic issue of correlation and causality.

Sure, there is a correlation between the two points, but the fallacy is that more executions causes less crime. It is more probable that it is in fact the other way around. Following this misguided belief and killing people when crime rates are high would cause execution rates to start rising when crime has reached its peak. Since crime rates are cyclical, they are usually on the downswing by the time the government carries out the execution.

That's where we get the belief, and that's an explanation of how it is misguided.

Answer 3

I think you should look at America for starters. Most states over there carry the death penalty, yet America has the highest crime rate in the world.

It depends on the type of crime. There are many people in the states who commit murder because of the colour of someone else's skin. Race related crime will never be stopped even with the death penalty, because there are those whose beliefs (religous perhaps) are such that no other race has the right to exist.

You could however, also argue that there are many who have been incorrectly put to death in America (and there have been) and so the statistics may not actually the reflect the arguement that CP does not deter crime.

Answer 4

Well, one thing is certain, people didn't casually kick people to death 40 years ago. There is no deterrent to murder at all nowadays Most killers are unlikely to serve more than 10 years and a lot will serve even less. The public was soothed by the Labour Government of the day stating that life would mean life as a replacement of capital punishment. Like so many Labour promises it didn't happen.

Nowadays, so many cruel deaths are pleaded as manslughter. Joke. Manslaughter used to get a sentance of at least 7 years. And then there are always the cases that vicious killers get suspended sentences. So really it's nothing to do with capital punishment and all to do with no punishment at all for most.

Answer 5

capital punishement only deters crime if the options are exercised. the fear of capital punishment is mrely a deterrent, and although it may deter serious crime, it cannot possibly control it.

death, as an option is a moments pain, or suffering, and then nothing. suffering, is however another matter entirely.

i dont know anyone who'd fancy a 30yr sentence alone in a cell... maybe it is inhuman, and marginally barbaric.. but it is a deterrent...esp if its done as a reality tv show... mass adudience appeal, with an educational aspect... that might work.

Answer 6

It is difficult to prove that CP doesn't deter crime.

In the UK the abolition of the death penalty was based solely on the odd miscarriage of justice when somebody was executed for a crime they hadn't committed.

Statistics indicate that murder has increased tenfold since it was ended.

I suppose looking at it from a moral standpoint it would be reasonable to conclude that many people would not have been murdered had the penalty for that crime been death. The odd miscarriage of justice pales into insignificance against the rise in the cases of murder.

Using USA's figures is misleading as many of their murders are usually drug related, when the attacker is addled by the effects of the narcotics that they have consumed.

Study the statistics of countries like Saudi, Kuwait and Singapore where very strict laws on drug crimes keep the figures down to gain a more realistic view of the effects of CP on their crime figures.

Answer 7

There are too many other factors to really consider that affect crime rates that it is difficult to study this particular aspect. I am not certain such a scientific study exists. There may be some studies where they interview people in prison or on death row to see if capital punishment was a reason not to do the crime.

Answer 8

No offense yet i actually do not care in case you provide up your argument or no longer. i actually do not favor to bypass out and spend the time searching statistics that practice your aspect is inaccurate, they're major so in case your interested in sorting out the weaknesses of your argument bypass seek for them your self. i visit work out why you may imagine that capital punishment is a deterrent, yet i do not realize why you've faith that's a undeniable actuality. I fantastically doubt that a assassin is in contact in any respect with receiving the shortcoming of life penalty at the same time as he's in the act of plotting or easily murdering someone. the actuality that some states interior united states have the shortcoming of life penalty and human beings nevertheless save committing homicide at severe expenditures no a lot less ought to leave someone with an oz. of undemanding experience to do not ignore that capital punishment truly did not deter ****, i do not see why you imagine that's an illogical assumption you look illogical for retaining that easily. by ability of your common sense united states should be experiencing list low numbers of violent crimes, you suggested it replaced right into a deterrent correct? Oh wait I forgot you suggested that we favor the shortcoming of life penalty because we've any such vast volume of homicide circumstances, so that then you definately basically admitted that the shortcoming of life penalty would not do some thing to lead away from homicide in spite of the undeniable fact that that's in basic terms a punishment. You ruined your human being argument, there is not any favor for me to bypass discover statistics for you. So ask your self this, if the shortcoming of life penalty isn't some other thing beneficial than a punishment (because you admitted interior your human being argument that that's no longer a deterrent) and chance free human beings get positioned by this "punishment" because of a incorrect justice equipment, do you nevertheless have self assurance in the shortcoming of life penalty?

Answer 9

This is the great fallacy used by the Anti Capital Punishment lobby. It is not a deterrent, it is a punishment! if along the way someone thinks twice about killing because they may be executed then all well and good.
At present there is no form of deterrent as people know they will only spend a short time in jail and be free again.

Answer 10

There's never really been any meaninful evidence that it does work as a deterrent.

I don't imagine it would, really. If life in prison isn't enough to deter someone, they must be pretty determined so I can't see why a lethal injection would. Death is arguably the easier punishment than life in a cell.

Answer 11

FBI statistics may show increases in crime since capital punishment was reinstated. Shouldn't be too hard to find. Execution does deter the person that is executed from killing again if they are really guilty.