Literary Analysis Essay on Capital Punishment

Introduction

Crimes in different states worldwide are punishable. It is recognised that some perpetrators commit more severe punishments than the other, and this makes the nature of correctional measures vary depending on the severity. The death penalty infers to a capital punishment in which the government takes charge of an individual's life depending on the extent of damage one has made in society. The objective of this project entails finding out whether capital punishment should be permitted or banned. This led to the seeking of sources which analyses and provide an in-depth elaboration on capital punishment as presented by the authors of various literary works, who were concerned about the matter. The questions which are depicted in this controversial concept, are on finding out the actual cost of capital punishment. Also, the research seeks to find out the impact of giving a person the death penalty or keeping the person incarcerated. The following is an analysis of some significant literary works which present further elaboration on the issue of capital punishment.

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The cost of capital punishments is one of the factors considered, and it is vital to focus on it. Forbes Magazine presents this issue and discusses it extensively to depict the extent of the cost of the death penalty. This issue is well-presented under the title "Is it really fair to compare a death penalty case to a life in prison case?" (2014). Forbes Magazine does not support capital punishment as presented in quoting Donald Mc Cartin who proposes that it is actually 10 times more costly to kill prisoners than to give them life imprisonment (Considering the death penalty, 2014). The journalist goes ahead and analyses some of the methods used in executing prisoners and how costly they are. It is indicated that the lethal injection approximately costs $ 100; therefore the reality of the matter is that the injection is not a factor that taxpayers care about. Forbes illustrates that the period length of a case regarding a death penalty takes up to 8000 hours as opposed by a non-death penalty case which is usually 180 hours in range (2014). These facts as presented reveal the charge of executing someone one to show why someone would instead be jailed for life than put on the death row. To accompany that, the writer's research is a query on what taxpayers should see where the money is spent. It is recognised that trial costs are unavoidable even when an individual on the death row is found to be innocent. It is indicated that the current downfall in the level of the economy has led to higher stakes for death penalty cases since the costs are now higher. It is depicted that the death penalty in Texas costs the taxpayers approximately $ 2.3 million, which is almost three times the cost of jailing someone in a solitary cell with the maximum-security level of 40 years (Considering the Death Penalty,2014). Also, it is indicated that the exorbitant cost is not just in the Texas state; instead it is across the nation's worldwide where millions are spent on capital punishment. This affects a country's total economy because it weakens it since there would be a lack of funds in places where the state requires.

From my standpoint, the issue of capital punishment needs to be reviewed to lower the costs spend on capital punishments. There would be relevance in the abolishment of capital punishment since it would reduce the expenses used to execute the capital punishments and present a chance of using the funds on something else. It is seen that capital punishment results in adverse impacts on both the financial and time aspects. The government would adopt other methods of discipline, for instance, life imprisonments and scrap off the death penalty punishment.

Another issue that should be critically analysed is whether the death penalty has resulted in the reduction of crime. Isaac Elrich, a professor from the University of Buffalo, conducted the study and justified that in every execution done from between 1950 to 1960, there were lives saved( Capital Punishment, 2014). This is to illustrate that capital punishment on extreme law perpetrators is actually useful in the attempt of reducing crime. One big argument that surrounds the issue of capital punishment is whether there has been a decrease in the levels of crime committed, ever since the form of punishment was implemented. It is seen in a lot of heated discussions that most people denounce that capital punishment leads to the reduction in crime rates in those respective states. However, the study by Professor Isaac Elrich proves otherwise by depicting that there is actually a reduction in the levels of crimes in the countries where capital punishment is incorporated (Capital Punishment, 2014). Elrich's study was essential in this project to project that there is some positive impact of capital punishment. With such findings, from a trusted source, it is accurate to say that capital punishment hinders crimes from occurring. Elrich's information was exposed to the public for the public to read and it led to even more extensive studies to be done to prove whether Elrich's findings were accurate or false. This topic has been subject to heated debates and has extensively grasped the focus of other experts who seek to prove the findings.

In my opinion, the recent years have encompassed extensive talks and propositions as well as opposition to capital punishment. Individuals are less likely to commit a crime knowing that there is a possibility that they would be executed. With the many contributions by different individuals, the active experts provide a platform where they represent their findings of capital punishment. Also, there is a rise in the forms of media to portray what the public feels about capital punishment. With such excessive discussions on the issue of the death penalty, the problem has been under the radar of many people and has attracted the expert's opinion. Most findings indicate that the use of the death penalty has had positive repercussions ("Capital Punishment" 2014).

Another critical aspect of researching on is ethical and religious views on the issue of capital punishments. Matthew H. Kramer presents his views on the capital punishments in his book "The Ethics of Capital Punishment: A Philosophical Investigation of Evil and its Consequences". Even though much of the book is dedicated to impugning all the standard rationales for capital punishments the primary purpose of the text is to enhance an alternative justification for such punishment in a minimal scope of cases. The author seeks to pursue both types of research based on critical debunking and partial justification of capital punishment. Mathew's rationale involves contemporary philosophical debates over the death penalty. He presents the controversies presented on capital punishment and proves that they are quite unsettling. It is showned that based on the ethical views, capital punishment should not be supported as it leaves to the termination of one's lives which is not ethically supported (Kramer, 2011). This book is essential in raising some significant issues which encompass capital punishment. It is presented that capital punishment is defendable on the basis that society has a moral obligation to keep the general public safety and protect the welfare of the citizens within a particular country.

From my viewpoint, capital punishment is unethically correct because of some of the circumstances which surround it. The ethical perceptions affect all the people and influence their verdict whether they support capital punishment or not. It is evident that morals serve a huge role in this discussion, mainly because it involves death. Executing a person is against the sanctity of life and should not be permissible. Some propose that the death penalty is murder and as a result, it should not be carried out. Society is morally obligated to support human life. We are duty bounded to ensure that the death penalty exists, and there should be an application of a less severe alternative.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the literary works as depicted above showcase some significant issues regarding the issue of capital punishment. They help in propagating the concept that capital punishment is not the right manner of punishing offenders, and alternative ways should be incorporated to punish severe individuals who perform severe crimes.

References

N.A. (2014, January 1). Capital Punishment: Deterrent Effects & Capital Costs. Retrieved from http://www.law.columbia.edu/law_school/communications/reports/summer06/capitalpunish

Anonymous. (2011, September 21). What costs more the death penalty or life in prison? Retrieved from ps://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/what-costs-more-the-death-penalty-or-life-in-prison/article_2d18f8a1-d1ce-5382-8bd6-15471a1b4194.html

Anonymous. (2014, May 11). Considering the Death Penalty: Your Tax Dollars at Work. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2014/05/01/considering-the-death-penalty-your-tax-dollars-at-work/#78e8e409664bKramer, M. H. (2011). The ethics of capital punishment: A philosophical investigation of evil and its consequences. Oxford University Press.