Capital Punishment Is Wrong? Capital Term Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 1150 words ( 4 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1+

Page 1 of 4

Hanging, for example, can sometimes produce horrendous results: if the drop is too short, it results in slow and agonising strangulation; if it is too long, it may tear the head off. Electrocution too, at times, fails to kill instantly and the awful stench of burning flesh that follows the process is indicative of the excruciating pain suffered during the killing.

Another reason why capital punishment is wrong is because death is irreversable, human justice is fallible and criminal proceedings would always be prone to errors. There have been several cases of sentencing to death before evidence proving their innocence was uncovered. Since 1973 alone, 119 people in 25 USA states have been released from death row when evidence of their innocence came to light. ("Capital Punishment" Wikipedia) Others, not so lucky, have been executed before evidence clearing them was discovered. James Adams, a Black American, who was executed in Florida on May 10, 1984 for the 1973 murder of one Edgar Brown, is a pertinent case in point. Mr. Adams was most probably an innocent man who was put to death before he and his attorneys had a chance to prove his innocence. (Baird and Rosenbaum, 97-100)

Not only do many innocent persons get convicted and even executed, evidence also suggests that the death penalty is disproportionately applied to the poor and racial minorities in the United States.

Stuck Writing Your "Capital Punishment Is Wrong? Capital" Term Paper?

View All Our Example Capital Punishment Is Wrong? Capital Term Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

For example, between 1930 and 1990, 4,016 persons were executed in the United States out of whom, 2,129 (or 53%) were black, although Blacks constituted just 12% of the U.S. population during the period. (Bedau, 1992, Section on "unfairness") Apart from racial discrimination, the poor are at a much-enhanced risk of getting the death penalty since most of them cannot afford to hire a lawyer during their trial. It is no wonder that United States Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall once remarked: "It is...evident that the burden of capital punishment falls upon the poor, the ignorant and the underprivileged members of society."

In conclusion, therefore, it would not be wrong to state that capital punishment is a most barbaric form of punishment that violates basic human rights and runs counter to the norms of a civilized society. No hard evidence exists about its supposed benefits such as deterrence, while instances of conviction of the innocent and the disproportionate application of capital punishment on the poor and racial minorities are well documented.

Works.....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Capital Punishment Is Wrong Capital" (2005, September 29) Retrieved May 17, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/capital-punishment-wrong-capital-68337

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Capital Punishment Is Wrong Capital" 29 September 2005. Web.17 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/capital-punishment-wrong-capital-68337>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Capital Punishment Is Wrong Capital", 29 September 2005, Accessed.17 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/capital-punishment-wrong-capital-68337
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example