Death Penalty argument against
The assignment was to formulate an argument against the death penalty. This work is a powerpoint presentation featuring arguments agains the death penalty.
Content
The Death Penalty is Wrong and Unjust
We believe there is no place for the death penalty in civilized society
The very crime we are saying is wrong, is the one we will commit to show how wrong it was.
74% support it but few have seen it. –Judgment at Midnight
Four main reasons it should be abolished
(1) No
crime rate reduction
Crime data comparing death penalty and non-death penalty states shows no crime rate reduction
(2) The criminal justice system makes mistakes
The possibility of executing innocent people is both inherently wrong and morally reprehensible
(3) The death penalty wastes precious resources
that could be best used to fight crime and solve thousands of unsolved homicides
(4) Killing the perpetrator does not bring peace to
victim’s families
NOT a Deterrent
Proponents argue that the death penalty is a deterrent. The data
collected by The Death Penalty Information Center, a national non-profit organization providing analysis and information on issues concerning capital punishment finds otherwise. (numbers in thousands)
Innocent men and women die.
Shortening the appeals process carries the risk of mistake. Neal
Dupree, head of one of the Florida appellate offices for death row inmates noted, "People need to know that just because someone has been convicted does not mean they are guilty.“ Larry Spalding, who had been head of one of the (Florida) appellate offices, added: "The most important thing we know about false convictions is that they happen and on a regular basis." Spalding said. "(Appellate) attorneys ... are trying to exonerate the innocent, and to prevent a wrongful execution. They should be admired, not excoriated." Florida has had more exonerations from death row (23) than any other state in the country.
The profile alluded to this fact with respect to Antonio James.
6 witnesses not heard from • other perpetrators received plea agreements • Lack of good representation due to financial constraints
•
http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_indian_river_county/cost-of-floridas-death-row-easily-exceeds-1m-per-inmate-investigation-shows
It costs more not less to execute a man than to keep him imprisoned for life.
Costs of the death penalty in Florida revealed the state is spending
as much as $1 million per inmate just for incarceration and appellate costs.
Trial costs would add substantially to the state's total. For one man Appeals cost $296,000, for a total of $984,000. Those figures do not include salaries for judges, prosecutors and
clerks handling the cases.
There are terrible unseen effects on and costs to the
community
Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, October 8, 2012
Many professionals in the legal and corrections system seek to abolish it
Warden used to believe it a just punishment but after experiencing it,
has a different opinion
Other corrections officers remarked that those who receive it are not
always the ones you would say deserve it
(1) The criminal justice system makes mistakes and the possibility of executing
innocent people is both inherently wrong and morally reprehensible; (2) My personal experience and crime data show the death penalty does not reduce crime; and (3) The death penalty wastes precious resources that could be best used to fight crime and solve thousands of unsolved homicides languishing in filing cabinets in understaffed police departments across the state.”
(G. Gascon, "Viewpoints: Should we OK Prop. 34 to end executions? Yes," Sacramento Bee, Oct. 14, 2012
Killing the perpetrator does not bring peace to the hearts of victim’s families
The profile showed interviews with several people
whose family members were victims of violent crimes. All of them admitted death would not erase the pain of the loss of their loved ones
The profile showed the tremendous grief of Antonio
James’ family, his attorneys and even the corrections officers themselves
It actually doubles the pain in communities
Proponents say:
•My loved one did not get to plead for life 2 wrongs
•An eye for an eye
Judge Not Lest Ye be Judged The Golden Rule
Other reasons against the Death Penalty
PER PROFILE: “People change” -Warden Angola Prison “People change people” -Warden Angola Prison
Its easy to be for it, not to do it “The worst of the worst are not killed.” – Corrections
Officer Angola Prison
Inadvertently causes others to commit murder in order to keep
their jobs Bias against the poor, those with few resources and without good education
Question and Answer
We believe there is no place for the death penalty in civilized society
The very crime we are saying is wrong, is the one we will commit to show how wrong it was.
74% support it but few have seen it. –Judgment at Midnight
Four main reasons it should be abolished
(1) No
crime rate reduction
Crime data comparing death penalty and non-death penalty states shows no crime rate reduction
(2) The criminal justice system makes mistakes
The possibility of executing innocent people is both inherently wrong and morally reprehensible
(3) The death penalty wastes precious resources
that could be best used to fight crime and solve thousands of unsolved homicides
(4) Killing the perpetrator does not bring peace to
victim’s families
NOT a Deterrent
Proponents argue that the death penalty is a deterrent. The data
collected by The Death Penalty Information Center, a national non-profit organization providing analysis and information on issues concerning capital punishment finds otherwise. (numbers in thousands)
Innocent men and women die.
Shortening the appeals process carries the risk of mistake. Neal
Dupree, head of one of the Florida appellate offices for death row inmates noted, "People need to know that just because someone has been convicted does not mean they are guilty.“ Larry Spalding, who had been head of one of the (Florida) appellate offices, added: "The most important thing we know about false convictions is that they happen and on a regular basis." Spalding said. "(Appellate) attorneys ... are trying to exonerate the innocent, and to prevent a wrongful execution. They should be admired, not excoriated." Florida has had more exonerations from death row (23) than any other state in the country.
The profile alluded to this fact with respect to Antonio James.
6 witnesses not heard from • other perpetrators received plea agreements • Lack of good representation due to financial constraints
•
http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_indian_river_county/cost-of-floridas-death-row-easily-exceeds-1m-per-inmate-investigation-shows
It costs more not less to execute a man than to keep him imprisoned for life.
Costs of the death penalty in Florida revealed the state is spending
as much as $1 million per inmate just for incarceration and appellate costs.
Trial costs would add substantially to the state's total. For one man Appeals cost $296,000, for a total of $984,000. Those figures do not include salaries for judges, prosecutors and
clerks handling the cases.
There are terrible unseen effects on and costs to the
community
Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, October 8, 2012
Many professionals in the legal and corrections system seek to abolish it
Warden used to believe it a just punishment but after experiencing it,
has a different opinion
Other corrections officers remarked that those who receive it are not
always the ones you would say deserve it
(1) The criminal justice system makes mistakes and the possibility of executing
innocent people is both inherently wrong and morally reprehensible; (2) My personal experience and crime data show the death penalty does not reduce crime; and (3) The death penalty wastes precious resources that could be best used to fight crime and solve thousands of unsolved homicides languishing in filing cabinets in understaffed police departments across the state.”
(G. Gascon, "Viewpoints: Should we OK Prop. 34 to end executions? Yes," Sacramento Bee, Oct. 14, 2012
Killing the perpetrator does not bring peace to the hearts of victim’s families
The profile showed interviews with several people
whose family members were victims of violent crimes. All of them admitted death would not erase the pain of the loss of their loved ones
The profile showed the tremendous grief of Antonio
James’ family, his attorneys and even the corrections officers themselves
It actually doubles the pain in communities
Proponents say:
•My loved one did not get to plead for life 2 wrongs
•An eye for an eye
Judge Not Lest Ye be Judged The Golden Rule
Other reasons against the Death Penalty
PER PROFILE: “People change” -Warden Angola Prison “People change people” -Warden Angola Prison
Its easy to be for it, not to do it “The worst of the worst are not killed.” – Corrections
Officer Angola Prison
Inadvertently causes others to commit murder in order to keep
their jobs Bias against the poor, those with few resources and without good education
Question and Answer
