1) The document discusses the debate around capital punishment in the U.S., outlining arguments from both proponents and opponents. 2) Proponents argue that capital punishment deters crimes, is a just punishment for severe crimes like murder, and prevents criminals from committing additional crimes. Opponents argue it risks executing innocent people and is unfairly applied, often in a racially discriminatory manner. 3) The document also notes the high financial costs of the death penalty system compared to life imprisonment without parole as an argument against capital punishment.

1. Capital Punishment
By Marilyn Cain

2. Introduction
• Growing debate subject in the U.S. and other
European countries
• Definition of capital punishment:
“The infliction of the death penalty on
persons convicted of a crime”
• Generally, there are two points of views:
legalizing or abolishing capital punishment

3. Thesis
• Should the U.S. government allow
capital punishment?

4. History of Capital Punishment
• Adopted from British common laws
• By 1960, people requested Bill of Rights to
state criminal proceeding in capital cases
• 1968-1978, Capital Punishment law was
repealed due to public demand
• 5th Amendment authorized the death penalty

5. Analyzing the Problem
• Agreement
– Discourages people from committing crimes
– Justifiable for atrocious crime (rape, murder, treason)
– Prevents criminals from repeating their crimes
• Disagreement
– The possibility of error
– Unfair judgment
– Financially cost the government and the taxpayers

6. Proponents’ Arguments

7. Discourages People from Committing Crimes
• With risk of being sentenced to death, the law
have criminals thinking twice before making
an action.
• Criminals know they will not be “off the hook”

8. Justifiable
• The United States should not ban capital punishment
because it is a just punishment that fits horrible
crimes like murder, rape, and treason and many
others.
• Proponents of capital punishment believe that “A
prison sentence, even a life sentence without
possibility of parole, does not adequately avenge the
cruelest and most calculated murders” (“Update”).

9. Prevents from Repeated Crimes
• “It saves innocent lives by preventing
convicted murders from killing again”, stated
Paul G. Cassell (Bedau and Cassell 187).
• These criminals may end up carry out a killing
spree since there is nothing to stop them if
capital punishment is illegalized.

10. Opponents’ Arguments

11. The Possibility of Error
• Lawyers and law students have overturned
many cases’ decision where convicted people
are innocent of their crimes but sentenced to
death

12. Unfair Judgment
• The racial discrimination and the gender can effect to the death penalty
Statistics
• Between 1930 and the end of 1996, 4,220 prisoners were executed in the United States; more than half
(53%) were black.
• Between 1930 and 1976, 455 men were executed for rape, of whom 405 - 90 percent - were black.
• Of the 3,200 prisoners on death row in 1996, 40% were black.
• An exhaustive statistical study of racial discrimination in capital cases in Georgia, for example, showed that
"the average non-white of receiving a death sentence among all indicted cases were 4.3 times higher in
cases with white victims.
• The killing of a white person is treated much more severely than the killing of a black person. Of the 313
persons executed between January 1977 and the end of 1995, 36 had been convicted of killing a black
person while 249 (80%) had killed a white person. Of the 178 white defendants executed, only three had
been convicted of murdering people of color.
• During the 1980s and early 1990s, only about one percent of all those on death row were women even
though women commit about 15 percent of all criminal homicides. A third or more of the women under
death sentence were guilty of killing men who had victimized them with years of violent abuse. Since
1930, only 33 women (12 of them black) have been executed in the United States.

13. Unfair Judgment (continued)
• The killing of a white person is treated much more severely
than the killing of a black person. Of the 313 persons executed
between January 1977 and the end of 1995, 36 had been
convicted of killing a black person while 249 (80%) had killed a
white person. Of the 178 white defendants executed, only
three had been convicted of murdering people of color.
• During the 1980s and early 1990s, only about one percent of
all those on death row were women even though women
commit about 15 percent of all criminal homicides. A third or
more of the women under death sentence were guilty of
killing men who had victimized them with years of violent
abuse. Since 1930, only 33 women (12 of them black) have
been executed in the United States.

14. Financial Cost
• In terms of economics, it is more expensive to
execute a criminal than keeping him in prison
for life.
• Taxpayers should not be barring that cost
• The money could be used for education and
the community than on the death of another

16. Solutions
• Alternative to Death Penalty:
– Life sentence of at least 25 years before being
considered for parole
– Work-prison: working inside the prison to pay for
their own imprisonment
– Working to raise funds for the victims and
survivors of violent crimes

17. Solutions
• Increasing the number of juries on capital
punishment cases
• Stop juvenile execution
• Educate juvenile prisoners
• Increase the number of police officers in the
law enforcement system

18. Conclusion
• Resulting numerous debates over the morality and
legality of the death penalty
• Should be retained because it discourages people
from committing crimes, is fair for certain crimes
such as murder and treason, and it helps preventing
repeated crimes
• Should not be retained because its possibility of
error, promoting discrimination, and financial cost.

19. Bibliography
• Bedau, Hugo, and Paul Cassell, eds. Debating the Death Penalty. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2004.
• Donohue, John J., and Justin Wolfers. "The Death Penality: No Evidence for Deterrence." Death Penality
Information Center. Apr. 2006. 14 Oct. 2007 <http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/DonohueDeter.pdf>.
Grant, Robert. "Capital Punishment Exacerbates Violence." Current Controversies: Capital Punishment. Ed.
Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson
Gale. VCCS System - used for scripted access. 15 Oct. 2007
<http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&t
abID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010036258&source=gale&userGroupName=viva2_vccs&version=1.0
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• Jost, K. (1999, February 12). Plea-bargaining. CQ Researcher, 9, 113-136. Retrieved October 15, 2007, from
CQ Researcher Online,
<http://library.cqpress.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/cqresearcher/cqresrre1999021200>.
• "The Case Against the Death Penalty." American Civil Liberties Union. 31 Dec. 1997. 14
Oct. 2007 <http://www.aclu.org/capital/general/10441pub19971231.html>.
• Tucker, Cynthia. “DNA Refutes Case for Bill on Death Penalty: *Main Edition+”. The Atlanta Journal-
Constitution. 31 Jan. 2007: A.19. ProQuest. Northern Virginia Community Coll. Lib., Alexandria, VA. 16 Oct.
2007 <http://proquest.com>.
• "Update: Death Penalty." Issues & Controversies On File 1 Apr. 2004. Issues & Controversies @ FACTS.com.
Facts On File News Services. 28 Apr. 2007 <http://www.2facts.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048>.