Death Penalty Posting

[Sun Devil Student]

Writing Assignment Four:
My Stance on Capital Punishment

For decades, the controversial topic of capital punishment has been debated amongst many. Personally, I think that capital punishment is a good thing. It provides an intense penalty for those who break the law in the most extreme cases such as murder and rape. You may have a different opinion about capital punishment and the death penalty but there are many reasons why it’s a positive thing. A reason why it’s a positive thing is cost. Statistics have shown that it’s more expensive to keep an in-mate in prison than it is to send them to death row and eventually be executed. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, it costs $19,000 dollars a year just to keep a prisoner incarcerated. Also, if capital punishment was forced more strictly than there wouldn’t such a shortage of cells and prisons would be less crowded. Furthermore, it provides lawyers with another bargaining tool when discussing a plea bargain, which are essential when you have an overcrowded court system. Some may argue the case that the death penalty is faulted if a person is accused of a crime they did not commit. A counterargument towards that is DNA testing can now efficiently determine all uncertainty to a person’s innocence or guilt. As well as the reasons provided, capital punishment gives a certain feeling of closure to the families of the victim’s who have suffered through the process. In conclusion, the reasons listed above are solid reasons why I believe capital punishment should be enforced in the United States.

[HANGMAN1981]

Not a bad summary. I must note that with the cost issue it depends on how long they are on death row. It is more expensive to keep an inmate on death row than in a prison cell. The numerous appeals are the reason for the long time period on death row. Yet, most of these appeals are delaying tactics to hold off the execution as long as possible, in hopes that the inmate may be released on legal issues. Contrary to public opinion, appeals seldom have anything to do with proving innocence, which should be proven in the courtroom instead. Using e-mail to send these appeals, (which Texas just started doing), as well as restricting the appeals system itself, would save time, money, and frustration.

As for keeping a prisoner behind bars for life, the cost increases every year and can run in excess of $60,000, not to mention an increase in medical bills as they age. They also receive vision and dental coverage, which many full-time workers in this country cannot receive. They also can appeal their sentences to reduce them, which is also expensive. They will fight until they receive a lessor sentence, and usually get it if they are on good behavior, and sometimes even get paroled.

In closing, capital punishment needs to be enforced more frequently and receive more public support. The abolitionists' lies and cliches need to go away, and attention must be given to the innocent public and their protection, not to the inmates who terrorize them.

[Lisa]

Sun said:

Writing Assignment Four:
My Stance on Capital Punishment

For decades, the controversial topic of capital punishment has been debated amongst many. Personally, I think that capital punishment is a good thing. It provides an intense penalty for those who break the law in the most extreme cases such as murder and rape. You may have a different opinion about capital punishment and the death penalty but there are many reasons why it’s a positive thing. A reason why it’s a positive thing is cost. Statistics have shown that it’s more expensive to keep an in-mate in prison than it is to send them to death row and eventually be executed. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, it costs $19,000 dollars a year just to keep a prisoner incarcerated. Also, if capital punishment was forced more strictly than there wouldn’t such a shortage of cells and prisons would be less crowded. Furthermore, it provides lawyers with another bargaining tool when discussing a plea bargain, which are essential when you have an overcrowded court system. Some may argue the case that the death penalty is faulted if a person is accused of a crime they did not commit. A counterargument towards that is DNA testing can now efficiently determine all uncertainty to a person’s innocence or guilt. As well as the reasons provided, capital punishment gives a certain feeling of closure to the families of the victim’s who have suffered through the process. In conclusion, the reasons listed above are solid reasons why I believe capital punishment should be enforced in the United States.

Instead of this sentence..."It provides an intense penalty for those who break the law in the most extreme cases such as murder and rape," I think I'd say this:

"It's the ultimate punishment for the ultimate crime." Then I'd explain what crimes typically qualify for the death penalty in most states that have the death penalty (12 do not). The typical murders that might qualify are:

Murder of a public safety officer or firefighter;
Murder during the commission of kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, or obstruction or retaliation;
Murder for pay;
Murder during prison escape;
Murder of a correctional employee;
Murder by a state prison inmate who is serving a life sentence for any of five offenses (murder, capital murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, or aggravated robbery);
Multiple murders;
Murder of a child.

Inmate isn't hyphenated.

In this sentence...."Also, if capital punishment was forced more strictly than there wouldn’t such a shortage of cells and prisons would be less crowded" than should be then.

Instead of this sentence...."Some may argue the case that the death penalty is faulted if a person is accused of a crime they did not commit." I think I'd say it this way:

"Many people who oppose the death penalty worry that an innocent person could be executed."

Toward the end I think I'd qualify that argument about DNA with "in most cases" or better yet "in many cases."

Your next to last sentence is a little awkward and victims shouldn't have an apostrophe. This might sound better:

......"might provide a sense of closure to families who have suffered through the trials and appellate process after their loved ones were murdered."

Your last sentence was the best.

Good job.

[HANGMAN1981]

Another murder to add to the list that is often overlooked:
-murder of a senior citizen