Running head: DEATH PENALTY 1

Death Penalty

Edgar Rodriguez

University of Texas at El Paso

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to spread the understanding of the death penalty, as well as to

inform some of the flaws that in has and how it affects everyone. Death penalty should not be

considered an option regarding the situation, it has to many error to be even considered. And, on

many people, it is considered immoral because you are taking away the integrity of others by just

wanting revenge.

Introduction

As one whose husband and mother-in-law have died the victims of murder and

assassination, I stand firmly and unequivocally opposed to the death penalty for those convicted

of capital offenses... An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation. -Coretta Scott

King.

Death penalty, one of the most controversial topics all around the world, known by his

risks, cruelty and its percent error is giving something to talk about. During the year 2016, the

government estimated that 4.1 percent of the people sentenced to the death penalty in the U.S.

end up being innocent after they receive the penalty. This, in opinion of many Americans, cannot

be tolerated; people think that there should be not error involving this topic, but no one can be

certain on any of the cases that they might have.

Cruelty of the Death Penalty

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One of the significant thing for people that are against the death penalty is its cruelty,

people who get sentence the death penalty suffer a lot during their last days because they already

know what is going to happen. Also, if seen from a religious side, it is very immoral to take away

someones life away because of a crime, it doesnt matter which circumstance it is, you should

not take away the value of another person life. You should not fight death with death.

Risk of the Death Penalty

Some of the risk that the Death Penalty would bring are, like said before, the execution of

many innocent people. If the death penalty was to be legalized, this number would just get bigger

and bigger, which will only make things worst as more innocent people would get executed.

Also, another significant risk if the death penalty would get legalized the taxes would increase

considerably. According by an study made in Lubbock, the average cost to house an inmate in

Texas prisons is $47.50 per day, this would be $693,500 for 40 years, while just one simple

death penalty sentence would cost about 1 million dollars, it would cost double than keeping a

person in prison for 40 years.

Percent error of the Death Penalty

According to an study made in 2014, 1

out of 25 given the Death Penalty sentence are

likely innocent. This study was made by the

National Academy of Sciences, and it is safely

be estimated that 4.1 percent sentenced to

death in the U.S. are innocent. This, in fact, is

a very big number if we think about it, and

some of this causes were not even found out

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before they were executed, they found out they were innocent after they executed, which is even

worst. This number would just get even bigger if the death penalty would just get legalized.

Some discuss that the death penalty would be better if there were no percent error, but you can

never be 100% certain in this type of topics, thats why it should not be considered an option

even when you are 90% certain, because mistakes can be made, and you can take an innocent life

away.

Conclusion

Death Penalty is a very controversial topic with many people on each side, but being in

whatever side you must not miss the side of the fact that it has many errors, the process is very

cruel, the risk just keep increasing and the percent error is a lot when there should not be margin

of error in this type of topics.

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References

Eliot Hannon. (2014, April 28). Big Data Study: 1 in 25 Given Death Penalty Sentence Are

Likely Innocent. Retrieved from http://www.slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/12/trump-

impeachment-chances-donald-trump-actually-endorsed-this-clown-roy-moore-that-has-

to-matter.html

Colin B. Donovan. (2004, October 30) Capital Punishment -The Popes Position. Retrieved from

https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/capital_punishment.htm

Image: http://duumvirate.retrak.co/capital-punishment-pros-and-cons-essays.html