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Death Penalty Whether Capital Punishment Term Paper

If the court puts a man in prison and later discovers his innocence, he can easily be released. It is tragic, but he is able to get at least some of his life back, largely dependent on how long he was incarcerated. If a man has been executed, however, and then it is discovered that he was innocent, there is no compensation that can be given. His life is already over, and the people that he has left behind are involved in as much pain and grief as the family of the victim. Meanwhile, the real criminal is still out in the world, getting the chance to do harm to others as well. This is not something that happens often, but it has happened in the past. If the death penalty remains in effect, it will quite likely happen again. Another issue to be considered is that many people who feel that execution brings closure have not talked with the families of the victims. While it is true that quite a few people may experience a sense of relief when the killer of a loved one is caught and punished, it is also true that most of these same people do not want to see that person executed. These survivors of tragedy often feel that killing someone in the name of their loved one would profane the goodness of that loved one's life. There is not much evidence that capital punishment helps anyone, and it does not lower the crime rate.

When the larger picture is examined, it is upsetting that human life has value, and it is tragic when anyone is murdered, no matter what their age or social status. In order for the justice system to correct this problem, however, there must be something that works well and consistently. Better jobs, less drug abuse, and a better economy are all things that work to curb violent crime. Taking another human being's life, even under the pretext of justice, does not work. It is the wrong choice, and many people find it barbaric and upsetting. The chance of taking an innocent life is too great of a risk.

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