Death Penalty and Emile Durkheim - Research Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages In the debate about the death penalty, the justice system itself is an issue. Gottfried points out that “the so-called hanging judges, overly zealous district attorneys, lazy or incompetent defense counsels, biased juries and politically appointed pardon and parole boards have all been blamed for capital punishment injustices” (66). He adds that “they are all charged with withholding and distorting evidence, bargaining pleas to draw out damaging testimony, provoking emotions at the expense of truth and being more concerned with achieving political gain through death row convictions than in looking for facts or alleviating conditions” (Gottfried 66). The result of all this is a system in which justice for victims is never achieved.
Hood points out that “the death penalty is an extreme example of torture and a form of punishment that violates human rights” (13). He points out that “there is no convincing evidence that the rate of murder or other crimes threatened with the death penalty are consistently lower when capital punishment is on the statue book and enforced by executions” (Hood 13). The death penalty has not proved to be an effective deterrent than alternative sanctions of long-term and life imprisonment especially when all circumstances surrounding the way in which the death penalty can be used in democratic nations and under the rule of law are taken into account. It is clear that the death penalty is detrimental in the moral message it conveys because it practices the very behavior of killing that the law seeks to control. ...
The death penalty is also known as capital punishment, punishment by death, death sentence or execution. Davis states that “the death penalty is a penalty excluding all possibility of an executed person starting over” (98). 3.0. Definition of terms Death penalty or Capital punishment or Punishment by death or Death sentence or Execution: A sentence of punishment by death. Electrocution: Execution through the use of electric shock. Gassing: Killing with lethal gas. Lethal Injection: Death through injection of a fatal dose of drugs. Humane: An act with humanistic values and concerns. Deterrent: A retaliatory means of discouraging or stopping an act. 4.0. Review of Literature In the debate about the death penalty, the justice system itself is an issue. Gottfried points out that “the so-called hanging judges, overly zealous district attorneys, lazy or incompetent defense counsels, biased juries and politically appointed pardon and parole boards have all been blamed for capital punishment injustices” (66). He adds that “they are all charged with withholding and distorting evidence, bargaining pleas to draw out damaging testimony, provoking emotions at the expense of truth and being more concerned with achieving political gain through death row convictions than in looking for facts or alleviating conditions” (Gottfried 66). The result of all this is a system in which justice for victims is never achieved. Hood points out that “the death penalty is an extreme example of torture and a form of punishment that violates human rights” (13). He points out that “there is no convincing evidence that the rate of murder or other crimes threatened with the death penalty are consistently lower ...Download file to see next pagesRead More