The Issues of Death Penalties and Social Justice in The United States

Introduction to the Death Penalty

Death penalties, also known as capital punishment, have been used throughout history as a means to prevent further crimes from convicted criminals. This form of punishment is typically reserved for serious crimes like murder. However, because of the severity of this penalty, there have been numerous debates, both in support and opposition, with arguments analyzed by experts in the field.

Moral and Ethical Concerns

While the reasoning for sentencing someone to death may seem understandable to some, the deeper implications and consequences of ending a person’s life are neither humane nor easy to justify. No crime should warrant the taking of a life because every human being has the right to life from the moment they exist.

Legal Framework and Human Rights

Many documents, including key texts like the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, emphasize human rights. These documents outline the fundamental rights of citizens, and several amendments directly address the fairness of punishments.

For example:

• The 8th Amendment asserts that punishments must be fair and not cruel.
• The 14th Amendment declares that "a state must treat an individual in the same manner as others in similar conditions and circumstances."
• The 5th Amendment establishes that no person shall be "deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."

Executing someone, therefore, violates these laws because it is inherently cruel and unfair. As Karge Stewart stated in the article Capital Punishment: Death for Murder Only, "There is no purpose to inflict unnecessary pain... We cannot agree that the hardship imposed upon the petitioner rises to that level of hardship denounced as denial of due process because of cruelties.”

Lack of Evidence for Crime Reduction

Some people argue that death penalties deter crimes, especially murder. However, there is no solid evidence to support this claim. In his paper Murder and the Death Penalty, E. H. Sutherland examines the correlation between capital punishment and homicide rates. He notes that, while the homicide rate is low in England (where the death penalty is still used), it remains high in the Southern United States, where it is also practiced.

Sutherland concludes, "There is no proof of causal connection in either case." He goes on to explain that the homicide rate is actually higher in states without the death penalty compared to those that have retained it, but this does not prove a direct link. "There is no evidence of an actual relationship between the murder rate and the practice of using the death penalty as punishment for murder" (Sutherland, 528).

The Myth of Closure for Families

Supporters of the death penalty may argue that it brings closure to the families of victims. However, research suggests otherwise. Dahlia Lithwick’s study on families affected by the 9/11 attacks found that executions often prolong the healing process. Death penalty cases can drag on for years, preventing families from moving forward. Additionally, most families seek answers and understanding from offenders, and revenge through execution does not bring their loved ones back.

Conclusion: Ending the Cycle of Vengeance

Regardless of the arguments in favor of the death penalty, there are legal frameworks, human rights concerns, and evidence that warn against it. Executing someone simply perpetuates a cycle of violence. At the end of the day, capital punishment reduces to the notion of killing one person for killing another. Where does it end? Human life must be respected and valued, not discarded as if it were meaningless.