Simply put, the death penalty serves a function. The functionalist theoretical approach suggest that death penalty serves a certain function, that is, deterring crime (Weisberg, 2003; Gamson, 1988). This may also be referred to as manifest function. Unfortunately this theory is somewhat debunk, as there is little hard evidence supporting the notion that the death penalty successfully deters crime. In this case a functionalist may in turn look for latent functions the death penalty might serve including revenge or victim appeasement (Weisberg, 2003). Functionalists support strong condemnatory action because weak or less severe penalties may suggest that the underlying conduct "is not genuinely worth condemnation" (Weisberg, 467).
Social Conflict Theory and the Death Penalty
Social conflict theory typically connects deviant behaviors with power. It suggests that within society certain populations are more vulnerable to crime and subsequent punishment, in part perhaps due to disparate values (Aguirre & Baker, 1993). Conflict theory may support the idea that minority populations, more often than white members of society subject to the death penalty, may not accept societal values which in turn increases the likelihood that they will commit a crime and subsequently deserve severe punishment (Aguirre & Baker, 1993). This theory is supported by factual data showing that race is a strong characteristic among both death penalty opponents and proponents, and that public support for the death penalty is often linked to "personality characteristics" which include racial prejudice (Aguirre & Baker, 150). This suggest that minorities have less power.
Summary of Literature
There are many different theories and perspectives regarding the death penalty. At this time a variety of perspectives from opponents and proponents attempt to both explain the logic behind and use or dysfunction of the death penalty. By far the most logical argument is that of functionalist social theorists who suggest the death penalty serves a function, to deter crime. However opponents continually site studies that this is not the case. Regardless the death penalty still...
Death Penalty: Social Attitudes and Modern Alternatives The issue of the death penalty raises deep emotions on all sides of the debate. Many feel that the death penalty no longer holds value as a tool for society to prevent heinous crimes. In the past, the prevalence of the death penalty created a measure of deterrence on social behaviors. However, in modern life, there is no longer is a measurable deterrence felt
Statistics show that black murderers are far more likely than white murderers to get the death penalty, especially if the victim was white. Blacks make up 12% of the population but 40% of the population on death row, as noted. Georgia can serve as a case in point. Statistics show that a black man accused of killing a white person in Georgia is substantially more likely to receive the
However, this difficulty can be avoided by examining van den Haag's distinction between justice and equality. The physical reality of administering justice can never match its theoretical guidelines. Justice is a necessary tool in the aim of producing a functional society. Accordingly, inequities that arise in its practice must be tolerated -- although fought against. State sanctioned killing, on the other hand, is not a logistic necessity for any
Justice Kennedy, writing for the majority, warned about broader problems with the capital punishment. "When the law punishes by death, it risks its own sudden descent into brutality, transgressing the constitutional commitment to decency and restraint." He took into account the many dangers of the death penalty and concluded it should be restricted to homicides (Death Penalty Information Center, 2008). The main question regarding the research for or against capital
Fairness of the Death Penalty: The death penalty has been used across the globe for a long period of time as a means of punishment for offenders of serious crime. However, the use of this sentence has come under significant scrutiny in this century with regards to whether it's just and applied fairly. The scrutiny has contributed to the emergence of huge debates, especially after capital punishment has been used in
Death Penalty Capital punishment is a controversial topic because it involves the taking of a human life as a punishment. Traditionally, Judeo-Christian and other mainstream religions strictly prohibit killing because they regard the matter of giving and taking of human life as exclusively within the jurisdiction of God and never something that is appropriately executed by the operation of human decisions or judicial determination. In modern times, secular society has recognized
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