ANONYMOUS
English 9/Mr. Davis
Los Alamos High School
Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, has long been a contentious topic in legal, moral, and social debates. Although capital punishment has existed throughout history, it is currently viewed as a barbaric and inhumane practice in much of the Western world. While arguments in support of the death penalty often cite a deterrent effect, this has not been proven. Furthermore, the imperfections and biases of criminal justice and judicial systems can lead to the execution of innocent individuals. Thus, despite its historical use and purported deterrent effect, capital punishment should be abolished due to its inherent moral and ethical flaws.
One notable flaw regarding capital punishment is the unnecessary risk of executing innocent individuals. Despite extensive legal safeguards, numerous cases have surfaced where individuals on death row were later exonerated through DNA evidence or other means. When there is a miscarriage of justice, the irreversible nature of the death penalty means that the action cannot be undone. For instance, Troy Davis was not granted clemency by the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles following a hearing on September 19, 2011, despite the presentation of new evidence from former witnesses. Due to the presentation of new evidence, questions were once again raised about whether he was guilty or not. Hence, international media attention was given to Davis’s claims of innocence, and clemency was demanded by a number of prominent figures. Despite a requested postponement by the US Supreme Court in order to review the final appeal, a stay was denied, and Davis was put to death in the evening of September 21, 2011. Nearly a decade later, Davis was proven innocent due to seven of nine witnesses recanting their original statements and irrefutable evidence that was presented indicating his innocence. (Innocence Project, 2020)
The systemic racial biases leading to wrongful convictions are starkly evident in the data from the National Registry of Exonerations since 2011. Tragically, a significant number of those exonerated were Black men wrongly accused of murder, painting a distressing picture of justice denied. This disparity is glaringly emphasized by the fact that innocent Black individuals are seven times more likely to face wrongful conviction for murder compared to their white counterparts. These statistics unveil a troubling reality that demands urgent attention and action to rectify the deep-seated injustices within our criminal justice system.
Supporters of capital punishment argue that the death penalty deters violent crimes such as committing murder and acts of terrorism by such a severe punishment. Advocates also contend that only the worst offenders deserve such a severe punishment. However, “Since 1973, for example, more than 191 prisoners sent to death row in the United States have later been exonerated or released from death row on grounds of innocence” (Amnesty International, 2023). Moveover, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, “the death penalty affects only a tiny percentage of even those who commit murder. Its effect is very difficult to pinpoint…past studies have neither proven nor disproven a deterrent effect” (2012). Despite claims that the death penalty deters capital crimes, evidence is inconclusive. However, findings highlight the inadequacy and uncertainty surrounding the argument for deterrence, further supporting the case for abolishing capital punishment. Although capital punishment is a highly disputed topic in the United States, evidence shows that the death penalty does more harm than good. Moreover, it has been proven that the death penalty does neither deter or nor prevent crime. In other words, it does not impact crime rates or society in a positive manner. Additionally, due to the nature of the death penalty, there is no room for wrongful convictions, despite the alarming rate of innocence amongst the incarcerated population. Ultimately, the death penalty is a severe, discriminatory, and unjust punishment that should play no role in our modern judicial systems.
Annotated Bibliography
“Reasons to abolish the death penalty” Amnesty International May 6, 2024 November 13, 2023
https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/death-penalty/ Amnesty International has helped find adequate and accurate statistics on incarcerated individuals in death row across the world; in addition, to recent accounts of wrongful convictions.
MacArthur John Death Penalty Information Center. 1990, Accessed 10 May 2024 https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/ Death Penalty Information Centre comprehensive statistics and data related to the death penalty in the United States. It includes information on the number of executions, death row populations, demographics of those sentenced to death, and trends over time.
Schwarzschild Henry. National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. 1976, Accessed 10 May 2024
https://worldcoalition.org/membre/national-coalition-to-abolish-death-penalty-ncadp
The NCADP’s web page provides comprehensive and well-researched data on the death penalty in the United States, including statistics on executions, death row populations, racial disparities, and the economic costs associated with capital punishment.
Selby, Daniele. “Nine Years After the Execution of Troy Davis, Innocent Black
Men Are Still Being Sentenced to Death.” innocence project, Benjamin N.
Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University., 21 Sept. 2020,
innocenceproject.org/troy-davis-pervis-payne-race-death-penalty/. Accessed
12 May 2024.
This website has accurate and necessary information about those who
have been wrongfully accused of crimes and about individuals who have
been wrongly sentenced with the death penalty.
“Criminal Justice Fact Sheet.” The National Registry of Exoneration, 1999,
This source provides comprehensive data and analysis on wrongful convictions in the United States, particularly focusing on racial disparities. It highlights how Black men are disproportionately affected, being wrongfully accused and convicted of murder at a significantly higher rate compared to white individuals.