Capital Punishment The Death Penalty - 1452 Words

The death penalty also known as capital punishment is when the government decides whether or not to kill a person depending on their crime. If it’s a petty crime you won’t be considered for death penalty but when you commit a heinous crime such as mass murder or rape and murder the courts may rule for you to get the death penalty. The death penalty can date back hundreds of years ago to the 13th century when the Code of Hammurabi was created. One of its infamous laws was â€Å"an eye for an eye†. When the death penalty became popular in America, many people were executed for petty crimes such as stealing, trading with natives or even killing chickens. The first execution was held 1630 in Massachusetts. Later on the death penalty has evolved†¦show more content†¦If we were to give all murderers life sentences, that may not stop them from committing the crime because those who serve life sentences may become accustomed to the living standards. Knowing that they can possible have their own life end because of the heinous crime may deter them from acting it out. However according to the American Civil Liberties, there is no evidence that the death penalty has deterred crimes. According to figure.1, states where the laws of the death penalty are enforced there crime rates have not lowered significantly to say that the death penalty ultimately deters crime. Actually murder rates are lower in states where there is no death penalty law and has decreased from 1990-2000. However, another pro for having the death penalty is the overcrowding in jails will not be an issue. Being on the death penalty sentence will take a while however they won’t be serving life and there will be less money needed from the government to fund those on death row. The jails are becoming overcrowded due to the many life sentences that are given. Unlike back in the early 1900’s peoples life expectancy has risen. People are no longing dying in their sixt ies or seventies but are now living healthily past it. There are many elders in jail facilities taking up needed space yet they are not released and have to continue