Sample Essay For and Against Capital Punishment

Topic: For and against capital punishment

Capital punishment is one of the most controversial subjects to be discussed today. This controversy is caused by so many people all over the world having so many different views about it. Capital punishment happens when someone is put to death for a crime, for example murder or drug trafficking. Many countries in the world have abolished this form of punishment but there are many countries which use it, including many of the states of America. Many people think capital punishment should be reinstated rn Britain, but there are just as many people who think that the criminal system is better the way it is.

One important argument against the death penalty is that sometimes an innocent person is put to death. If capital punishment is used, the authorities must therefore have evidence beyond the shadow of any doubt that they have accused the correct person. Furthermore, capital punishment removes all possibility for a person who has done something seriously wrong to be able to change and to be rehabilitated, or to face up to their past life and repent. In many cases, after capital punishment is abolished, there have been people who committed crimes such as murder, but when they were released after serving their time in prison they did not re-offend but instead they changed and became better people.

Another strong point against capital punishment is that two wrongs do not make a right. Killing a victim, for instance, and then being sentenced to death does not suddenly make everything all right or make things better. A poor, helpless victim’s life has been stolen from him, but killing the murderer will not bring the victim back. In addition, some people might argue that it is inhumane and against human rights to hang, execute or electrify a human being in the name of justice. It could be argued that nobody deserves to die in such a horrible way even if his previous actions have been horribly wrong. The counter-argument to this is of course that the criminal by his actions has given up any rights he might have had to humane treatment.

Nevertheless, those who are in favour ot the death penalty have many points with which to justify their stance. Most importantly it punishes the criminal by doing to him what he did to others. It acts as a form of revenge for the victim’s family by letting them know that the criminal has felt some of the pain he inflicted on another. This is really the only way that people can honestly say that justice has been done. In addition, taking the life of a murderer prevents recidivism, because if the person is no longer alive, then there is no way in which he can commit a crime again.

Furthermore, capital punishment could act as a deterrent to anyone who even thought about committing certain crimes, because he would know that when he was found guilty the death penalty awaited him. Another point in favour of capital punishment is that this method of punishment saves money because instead of the criminal being kept in prison for the rest of his life, he is killed and the money which would have been used to keep him in prison can be used in other, more profitable areas, such as education and hospitals.

After weighing up the arguments for and against capital punishment, I have come to the conclusion that I am for it, and that it is a pity it was abolished in Britain thirty or so years ago. It is a difficult subject to think about, but, on the whole, I feel that more overall can be achieved by societies which retain or reinstate it. (618 words)