Reasons against capital punishment

Answer 1

There are plenty convincing reasons against the use of capital Punishment.

1. Denial of basic right - According to Humans Right Association capital punishment overrules our most basic human right - the right to life. Human life has fundamental value. The blessedness of human life is denied by the death penalty. Live is precious.

2. The possibility of error - Later investigations revealed many convicted individuals innocent which got death penalty in the past, and have been pardoned. Recent DNA investigation studies have shown the same thing.

3. Unfair Judgment - Generally, it is observed that Capital punishment is inflicted unduly on the poor and minorities. If you follow the data of these victims, you will find that the mentally ill, poor and people belonging to minorities form a large chunk of the total number. You can also notice a kind of racial discrimination this happens due to varied reasons. Because the poor can offer very low compensation the defense lawyers are often incompetent, resulting in losing the case. Due to prejudice and bias, poor people, and people from minority sections become soft target for such capital punishments, as unrestricted discretion has offered to District attorney. If any one wants to appeal then it becomes a burdensome process for him often resulting in denial of justice.

4. Lack of Deterrence - The purpose of any punishment should be deterrence from repeating the same act. But, according to the statistics available, the death penalty has not been effective in controlling the homicide rate. According to a New York Times study, the last 20 years witnessed 48% homicide rate in states with the implementation of capital punishment compared to 23% in the states without capital punishment.

5. The prolonged uncertainty - The validity to the deterrence argument is annulled by the delays, endless appeals, retrials, and technicalities that keep persons predestined to capital punishment waiting for execution for years. In fact, we are not competent enough to carry out execution. This uncertainty and incompetence offers another great injustice. It is itself cruel and a form of torture.

6. Justifying circumstances - Sometimes, persons suffering from emotional trauma, abandonment, violence, neglect or destructive social environment commit such heinous crimes. These mitigating situations can have devastating effect on their humanity. So, it is unfair to hold them fully responsible for their crimes. It is our communal responsibility to show some sympathy to some extent.

7. By giving capital punishment, the family of the victim is permanently traumatized and victimized. They are often punished by their loved ones without their fault, even though they are innocent.

8. Effects on society - Capital Punishment is itself a premeditated murder. This is unacceptable even it is inflicted by state authority as it lowers the value of life. In fact, such act can only brutalize the society. "Revenge is essential" can become a society attitude. By witnessing such acts, our own mental makeup starts believing that violence is necessary to curb the wrongdoings. 9 cost- from trial to execution, the death penalty costs several million dollars more per person than life without parole. and that doesn't include the costs of those exonerated or those that had their cases commuted to lwop.

Answer 2

The disadvantages of the death penalty is that it cannot be reversed once it has been performed, it is an absolute punishment, and it is expensive. Due to its severity, it can keep courts tied up for years or even decades before a final ruling is made.

Answer 3

Many people feel that this extreme form of retrobution or justice is unethical and breaks God's law 'Thou shall not commit murder'. Capital punishment reduces the punisher to the level of the murderer. This debate has existed for thousands of years and mankind is no closer to a just and ethical answer.

Answer 4

innocent people die.

executions coast more then life imprisonment.


approach of human rights to live.

Answer 5

The drawbacks of the death penalty include cost, the issue of an innocent person getting killed, it may be cruel and unusual punishment, and it violates the right to live.