Death Penalty

•

•

Death Penalty

Gilbert Jones

Introduction to Criminal Justice

Professor William Taylor

October 25, 2009

Table of contents.

1. Abstract

2. Body

3. Conclusion

4. References

Abstract

This paper covers the reasons why I feel that the death penalty should not be banned. It defines the death penalty and identifies the reasons for keeping the death penalty active.

The death penalty defined is the highest type of punishment for a murder or convicted felon to be punished by our government legally, through death. I strongly feel that it should not be banned because of the following. It lowers crime rates, provides a safer society, makes us realize the value of life, and gives closure to the victim's families; justice is better served and provides a deterrent for prisoners already serving a life sentence.

Without some type of forceful deterrent criminals would run around rampant committing crimes knowing that the only punishment they would receive is a prison term. There must be some other form of punishment available for prosecutors to use other than prison. This is because all people are not the same and with some criminals prison is not enough to deter them from committing crimes. There should be a variety of punishments available for prosecutors to use in order to minimize crime. Some other form of punishment is needed. The death penalty gives prosecutors much more flexibility and power to ensure just punishments.

For a defendant in a criminal case, plea bargaining provides the opportunity for a lighter sentence on a less severe charge, and to have fewer offenses listed on a criminal record. If defendants are represented by private counsel, they can save the monetary costs of a lengthy trial by accepting a plea bargain.

What about the criminals already in prison serving life sentences what is there to prevent them from continuing to commit murders? There is nothing to stop them from...