Death Penalty

Death Penalty

The death penalty law was first established as far back as the eighteenth century in the code of Hammurbai of Babylon. Death sentences were carried out by such means as crucifixion, drowning, beating to death burning alive and impalement. The method of execution in Britain used to be hanging but it was abolished in 1965. Some countries now still have the death penalty but it is used mostly for murder. The method of execution in America used to be the electric chair, the lethal injection or the gas chamber.

Many people think that the death penalty should be brought back because it is the only way to ensure that a murderer will not kill another person as he won't escape or be released from prison. No one can prove that the murderer won't re-offend as most murderers rarely re-offend. The death penalty would bring down the murder rate because people would think about the consequences if they were to kill someone as their life would be took in prospect.

When capital punishment was abolished in Britain in 1964 the murder rate was more than double as there was 71 murders. These were committed by people who were released after serving life sentences. These murders would not have occurred if these people had been executed.

The other reason why I think that the death penalty should be reintroduced is that it would be much cheaper to execute someone rather than to pay more taxes to support the people in prison. I know this because fifteen years for an ordinary prisoner costs us three hundred and seventy five thousand we also have to pay for the facilities available to the prisoners whilst in prison. These include sports facilities like basketball, badminton and five-a-side football. Despite having sports facilities they also have the most advanced I.T system they also get presentations to award those who have successfully completed their courses. This makes a prison look bad, as people would believe that instead of being punished for their crime they are being rewarded for it.

The death penalty also discourages criminals from carrying guns and carrying out serious crimes. Nowadays when people commit a crime like murder they are given life sentences, which are often reduced, they are a risk to society if we do not execute them. Many people argue that capital punishment is a case of an eye for an eye. This is not the case, as the death penalty would act as a deterrent to criminals contemplating crime. The friends and family