Death Penalty Should Be Abolished Persuasive Essay Example

Capital punishment, commonly called the death penalty, is the execution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction by a court of law of a criminal offense. The death penalty has many pros and cons because it involves one's life, and the topic has become critical and controversial. The most common misconception that refutes the need for the punishment to be abolished nationally is that serving a life sentence would be much more expensive than a death sentence. This is incorrect as many factors must be accounted for on both sides wherein the death penalty's cost outweighs a life sentence. Therefore, capital punishment should be abolished in every state as it is costly and unconstitutional if the accused is found to be guilty.

The argument that serving life sentences is cheaper than the death penalty is inaccurate. The opposing side's most common claim is that executing a criminal will cost much less than having the criminal serve jail time. This claim has been disproven by numerous credible sources, including the Death Penalty Information Center. This center is dedicated to providing unbiased information on capital punishment. According to a study the Death Penalty Information Center conducted, "Many people believe the state saves money by employing the death penalty since an executed person no longer requires confinement, health care, and related expenses" (Death Penalty Information Center). When determining which is more expensive, one must consider every penny spent. When adding pre-trial, jury selection, appeals, incarcerations, trial, and legal costs to the total amount spent, we find that "The death penalty is far more expensive than a system utilizing life-without-parole sentences as an alternative punishment" ( Death Penalty Information Center). The information center has calculated every cost for both sides and added them, concluding that execution is much more expensive. 

Capital punishment is not only expensive, but it is also unconstitutional against the eight amendment. The eighth amendment states that Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. No matter the severity of the crime, taking one's life is a cruel punishment. In the case of Edmund V. Florida, the Legal Information Institute of Cornell Law show that the supreme court found Edmund guilty of 1st-degree murder stating, "Enmund was therefore sentenced to death on each of the murder counts" (Legal Information Institute of Cornell Law School). On April 1, 1975, at approximately 7:45 a.m, Thomas and Eunice Kersey were robbed and fatally shot by Sampson and Jeanette Armstrong at their home in central Florida. Earl Edmund posed as the Armstrongs' getaway driver. The supreme court found him guilty of murder because he was present, even though he waited in the car on the street and had no intentions of causing harm to the couple. Enmund was the getaway driver, who waited in the car during the robbery, did not participate in the killing, and had no idea anyone would be killed. Enmund argued that the evidence did not show any intent to kill. Therefore sentencing Earl Edmund to death was a cruel and unusual crime. While the sentence itself is unconstitutional, so is the process. The execution process has changed from hanging to the electric chair through the years. Commonly used today is the lethal injection. While the injection is less cruel than hanging a criminal, it is still a cruel and unusual punishment. Ed Wood demonstrates the cruel reality of the injection. After his execution, the plaintiff filed three complaints in which one stated, "Wood rose and gasped for air 12 minutes into his execution, after first appearing to be sedated. He struggled nearly two hours after the drugs were first administered. During that time, Wood was administered 15 doses of lethal-injection drugs, even though Arizona's protocol called for only two. Journalists who observed the execution stated that Wood appeared to be in agony throughout the process." (Capital Punishment). Wood was given seven times the regular doses causing severe pain. Ed had committed severe crimes, but he was sentenced to death, not torture. He suffered twelve minutes struggling to breathe and two hours of torment. Arguing that this punishment was not cruel or unusual would be impossible and would be unethical, defying humans' moral principles. This punishment is no worse than the felonies committed by criminals. To serve 15 doses of lethal injections while having a man strapped to a bed screaming in pain for two hours before dying cannot be called a punishment because, in reality, it is torture and no better than the heinous acts committed by those on death row. The judicial system should show how the people of America are better than the criminals. Instead, capital punishment teaches the young people of society that two wrongs cancel.  

Capital punishment is expensive and unconstitutional both in practice and idea, proving the need to be abolished nationally. Trials, housing, incarceration, and other costly fees make the punishment more expensive than the maximum year sentence to jail. Capital punishment is also unconstitutional as it defies the eight amendment and conflicts with every human's simple moral principles. There will always be those who break the laws, but sentencing them to death is not the answer. The death penalty must be abolished in the United States of America.