Capital Punishment As A Form Of Retribution - 1149 Words

A code or set of laws has governed civilizations since they were created. For most ancient and non industrial civilizations there was no refuting what the final punishment was going to be. The most severe and often most brutal was being ruled to die. The death penalty has been a major controversy for decades. Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, stated that â€Å"a person should not be treated as a means to an end, but as an end in him or herself.† Capital punishment does not abide by this principle. Utilitarians support capital punishment as a form of retribution. Thus, only focusing on retribution that the victims will receive. Capital punishment is not something American citizens need. Capital punishment is wrong because you are treating someone as a means rather than an end; it used to satisfy the goals of retribution, lessen the amount of taxes, and to deter violence. Capital punishment is â€Å"the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime† (Oxford Dictionaries). The death penalty is still legal in thirty-four states. An inmate sentenced to the death pentalty can be executed in one of the five ways which includes â€Å"electrocution, hanging, lethal injection, gas chamber, or a firing quad† (Free Dictionary). Capital punishment is often sentenced to criminal who have commited first degree murder with more than one aggrivated circumstances, and people who have commited treason. The controversy began capital punishment began 1976. Many people began to question theShow MoreRelatedThe Integral Role Sentencing Plays in the Criminal Justice Process904 Words   |  4 Pagesconsidered when it comes to the sentencing of a criminal. These philosophies are: Retribution- Retribution is a philosophy that a wrong doer who has freely chosen to violate society’s rules must be punished. Retribution relies on the principal of â€Å"just deserts†, this holds that the severity of the punishment hold to the severity of the crime. This philosophy is not the same as revenge because retribution is more concerned with the rules of society as a whole, rather than the individualismRead MoreDoes Punishment Deter Crime?1325 Words   |  6 PagesRunning head: EFFECTS OF PUNISHMENT Does Punishment Deter Crime? Does Punishment Deter Crime? During biblical times crime not only affected society, but it was believed to have also been directed towards God himself. The Bible is the oldest book to reference with many directives to living life peacefully and without revenge. As retribution is considered a form of punishment, if not the first, the Bible itself explains that the punishment should not exceed the crime. Matthew 5:38 statesRead More Capital Punishment Is Necessary1130 Words   |  5 Pagesupheld and established in all states would greatly decrease that number. Something must be done to keep citizens safe and to keep the murder rates low. Capital Punishment is a rightly justified penalty because it is moral retribution, constitutional, and it deters crime. One reason that Capital Punishment is just is the idea that it is moral retribution to the murderer. According to David Gelernter, the death penalty supporter’s view is that the main goal in executing murderers is to make a point thatRead MoreThe Case For Death Penalty1252 Words   |  6 Pagessomebody else’s life is simply immoral.† When considering the issue of capital punishment, many arguments are made in favor of proponents and abolitionists. There are utilitarian arguments, retributive arguments, and egalitarian arguments. Utilitarian arguments argue against the death penalty, for they look to punish criminals for the benefit and the â€Å"lesson learned† from the punishment. They believe that this is the most effective form of deterrence, because the criminal will learn their lesson and theRead MoreEffects of Punishment805 Words   |  4 PagesEffects of Punishment and Sentencing Jesus Lujan Jr. CJS/200 February 13, 2011 University of Phoenix- Robert Winkler Effects of Punishment and Sentencing The Effects of Punishment and Sentencing Punishment and sentencing are an integral part of our criminal justice system. There are four basic philosophical reasons for sentencing retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation. There are some factors that that can affect how a wrongdoer is punished. There is a debate surroundingRead MoreArgument Against The Death Penalty1247 Words   |  5 Pagessomebody else’s life is simply immoral.† When considering the issue of capital punishment, many arguments are made in favor of proponents and abolitionists. There are utilitarian arguments, retributive arguments, and egalitarian arguments. Utilitarian arguments argue against the death penalty, for they look to punish criminals for the benefit and the â€Å"lesson learned† from the punishment. They believe that this is the most effective form of deterrence, because the criminal will learn their lesson and theRead MoreThe Death Penalty As A Form Of Punishment1491 Words   |  6 Pagesdeath penalty as a form of punishment. The death penalty, also known as Capital Punishment, is a punishment for criminals who have committed murder other capital crimes. It is Congress or any state legislature that can prescribe execution as a form of punishment. In order to be sentenced to the death penalty the crime has to be parallel as the U.S supreme court has determined, otherwise the crime has violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments. When analyzing whatRead MoreCapital Punishment And The Death Penalty946 Words   |  4 Pages Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is a legal sent ence for the convicted to be put to death for their criminal behavior. How the convicted criminal is executed varies from state to state. I do not believe that the death penalty is justifiable in almost any instance, if any. Throughout this class, I have read and experienced confusion on my opinion of whether capital punishment can be justifiable. If there was an absolute 100% belief and proof of guilt for the most serious of crimes (murderRead MoreThe Retributive And Utilitarian Theory Of Punishment1478 Words   |  6 Pages Punishment is any kind of negative penalty inflicted on the wrong doer to prevent him from doing wrong in the future. Though there is no specific definition for punishment, it implies all those acts that are required to teach the wrong doer a lesson. Taking a negative step towards the offender. Since the evolution of time, there have been many sociologists who have given their theories on punishment and how the offender should be punished. The theories vary in terms of approach takenRead MoreShould The Death Penalty Be Abolished?1443 Words   |  6 Pages 6 Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished in the United States? Adalynne Francis CRJU 1000 Dr. Huss November 14, 14 Should capital punishment/ death penalty be abolished in the United States? Many feel that the death penalty is immoral and question whether the state and federal government deserve the right to kill those whom it has imprisoned. On the other hand, those opposed feel that by not acting upon the death penalty communities would plunge in anarchy and that by