In today’s world, society is governed by morals and values; these morals differ from one society to another—morals guide society on distinguishing between right and wrong. Besides, all states are governed by laws and rules; with the supreme court and the judiciary’s help, the laws are forcefully imposed on the few individuals who do not adhere to them. Regardless of the availability of laws, some criminals indulge themselves in malicious acts. A crime is an action that involves an offense and is punishable by law. Crimes are of different forms and are punishable in different ways. Some of these crimes include Arson, Burglary, Childhood abuse, Crime abroad, Cybercrime and online fraud, and domestic abuse.
Moreover, some crimes are punishable by the death penalty, which is also referred to as capital punishment (Godcharles, et al, 2019. P.20). The death penalty can be described as a death punishment given by a court of law for very serious or dangerous crimes. Some of the crimes punishable by death in most states include murder, aggravated cases, sexual abuse, treason, terrorism, and mass murder. These crimes differ from one society to another. Also, there exist different ways in which these death sentences can be conducted. The convicted individual can either be hanged, drowned, or aggregated. The death penalty is conducted to impose good morals in the community. Most countries have erased the death penalty in their laws and replaced it with life imprisonment. On the contrary, some are still implementing the death penalty.
In the united states, the constitution prohibits death punishment’s infliction as it would seemingly mean nothing because the individual was not helped anyway. On the other hand, other states believe that death punishment is permissive for individuals who commit serious crimes. Furthermore, capital punishment has been very contradicting and got many people attempting to dig deep into it. Is it morally acceptable to impose a death penalty on a convict; however, serious is the crime? What is the prize of conducting the death penalty, does correct the behavior of the individual? Death is supposed to be natural; can capital punishment be justified to be morally right. This overview touches on the morality of the death penalty, its justification, strengths, and weaknesses, intending to comprehend its morality in the community.
Death penalty
Description
The death penalty or capital punishment can be described as a type of punishment in the criminal justice system awarded to convicts for wrongs committed. It can also be defined as a legal process the convicted is sentenced to death. Capital punishment is regarded as one of the rarest punishments as it is imposed on severe crimes. In judicial terms is mostly referred to as execution.
Morality policies
The criminal justice system functions under three different principles: rehabilitation, retribution, and deterrent. The rehabilitation concept treats crimes as a disorder and attempts to resolve it using psychological strategies. Normally, other punishments are considered to be corrective; however, rehabilitation is purely therapeutic. Rehabilitation’s main focus is always to free the criminals from the disorder so that society can exist in peace. Besides, to ensure that they are productive whenever they return to society and portray a good image. However, the best is the hardest to achieve. Secondly, retributive justice principles demonstrate that a penalty must be accorded to the criminal with the weight of their crime. They also tend to light up the faces of the families and friends of those that were hurt, injured, or rendered helpless. Lastly, the theory of deterrence is a significant concept in support of the death penalty; the criminal justice system believes that to set a good example to the community, they have to impose death punishment on criminals who go overboard by committing the rarest crimes. Ideally, the death penalty to the accused comes as a warning to the upcoming criminals, shaping society’s morals.
Research on the morality of the death penalty
The types of penalties and the explanations behind them explain the purpose of the punishments, but do they justify the infliction of capital punishment. Before concluding, some questions need to be addressed regarding the death penalty. Using different sources: books, newspapers, libraries, and many more, we can get the answers to the raised questions.
Support for the death penalty
Is the death penalty morally permissible?
Death is an irreversible process, the criminal might have committed a malicious crime like murder, and according to the criminal justice e system, the best way to punish them is by giving a death sentence. However, most researchers have argued that is the denial of their right to life. Arguably, it has been mentioned that keeping these criminals in prison might be a threat to society since they are still at the risk of conducting other murders (Garrett, Jakubow, & Desai,2017. P.570). With the modernization of prison, their involvement in more crimes can be minimized. Also, religious leaders have condemned the death penalty regardless of the crime c omitted by the accused. There are better options than killing criminals: life imprisonment. Lastly, the judges are not perfect and can make mistakes and wrong judgments on the criminals; this can lead to putting innocent lives at risk of getting a death sentence. When found guilty, the accused should be given a chance to appeal.
A dialogue on morality and law
Most states have identified the death penalty to be a wrong way of conflicting punishment to criminals. On the contrary, some states still believe that the death penalty should not be dismissed. The death penalty cannot be justified in the community, and it will always remain a cruel punishment. Firstly, some of the people who commit these crimes are mentally ill, and the criminal justice system might punish them for their crimes, yet they were not in their right state of mind when they committed the crime (Schabas, 2019). Secondly, some people are innocent, but the court finds them guilty because the judges can also make mistakes; therefore, they will suffer and pay for the wrong mistakes. When found guilty, criminal justice should consider giving individuals a second to appeal before making any decisions. Also, each individual has a right to live, and nobody has the authority to end their lives; death should be natural. Lastly, no religion supports capital punishment in the community.
Is capital punishment effective.
The death penalty can only be declared effective as it manages to get the criminal out of sight. However, it does not impact their lives in any way. Most researchers argue that imposing g the pain on them helps shape society since the upcoming criminals get scared away. Having lifetime imprisonment as a penalty for individuals who commit serious crimes could help kill them. Going through all the tough punishments all the days of their lives can give them a different perception of life, and they may end up changing and become productive in the state. The death penalty does not help deter crime rates in many states; the criminal justice systems that still implement capital punishment should consider dismissing it. The accused’s families and friends also understand that their person has committed a crime and has to be punished, but the death sentence is not the best.
Life after being convicted of capital punishment.
After an individual is declared guilty and sentenced to death, their lives change completely. It affects them mentally, and they stay for the rest of their days, having both emotional and physical traumas. Knowing the fact that you are awaiting your death can be the biggest torture in one’s life. Knowing that on a specific day, you are going to be killed, and you will no longer dine or see your families is not a good feeling. In the midst of these criminals, some are innocent, and in one way or another, this affects them way much since they know they are paying for a crime they did not commit. The death penalty is not the best; there are better ways to punish criminals.
Benefits of the death penalty
In the states that still implement the death penalty, they believe that the benefit of conducting capital punishment is that they manage to do away with the worst of the worst criminals and that it is only conducted on most heinous murders. Secondly, they claim that failure to end their lives would be unfair, especially to the victims’ families watching the accused go to prison, and yet their owners are dead. The death penalty also promotes respect for the supreme court for moral order and the criminal justice system. Lastly, the death penalty warns upcoming criminals from committing such crimes.
Disadvantages of the death penalty
Researchers have ascertained that innocent people pay for mistakes they never committed. Secondly, family members suffer from society’s wrath because they are labeled as criminals because of their loved ones. Also, people with mental disorders get misjudged without considering their states of mind; the judges might make the wrong judgment, which may later haunt them. Besides, criminals go through psychological torture, which is not fair. Lastly, it is against the religion to kill and, therefore, a sin.
Conclusion
After analyzing deeply weighing the death penalty problems in the world, it can be concluded that the death penalty is an abomination and should be abolished. Also, the states that have not yet dismissed capital punishment should ensure that innocent individuals should not be executed but criminals. The government has the authority to influence the judiciary decisions, and this act should be condemned to ensure that each person gets justice and without discrimination. Awarding the death sentence to the accused individual is not permissible and justifiable in the community. Alternative punishments should be considered while dealing with these criminals rather than ending their lives, which is more harmful.no individual has the authority to end another’s life.
Work cited
Godcharles, Brian D., et al. “Can empathy close the racial divide and gender gap in death penalty support?.” Behavioral sciences & the law 37.1 (2019): 16-37.
