The Death Penalty
THE DEATH PENALTY
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The Death Penalty
The Death penalty or Capital punishment or is a legal process whereby a person is put
to death by the state as a punishment for a crime. The judicial decree that someone be
punished in this manner is a death sentence, while the actual enforcement is an
execution. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital
crimes or capital offenses.
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The Death Penalty
Vocabulary
Decree : An official order that has the force of law
Heinous : (Of a person or wrongful act, especially a crime) utterly odious or wicked
Deterrent : A thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing
something
Dissuade : Persuade (someone) not to take a particular course of action
Instilling : Gradually but firmly establish (an idea or attitude) in a person's mind
Remorseful : Filled with deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed
Felonies : A crime regarded in the US and many other judicial systems as more serious
than a minor wrongdoing
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The Death Penalty
Advantages of Death penalty or Capital punishment
 It shows that the justice system has no sympathy for the criminals.
When criminals escape from the capital punishment, they repeat their crimes and take
more innocent lives.
The availability of modern testings such as DNA testing reduces the chances of
punishing the innocents; therefore, capital punishment can be an effective tool to control
the crimes.
The death penalty can address the problem of overpopulation in the prisons.
It gives closure to the families of the victims who have already suffered a lot.
The cost of imprisoning a criminal, serving a life term or otherwise long term, is very
expensive when compared with the costs involved in execution of the same person.
Capital punishment is, therefore, considered to be cost-effective.
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The Death Penalty
 Death penalty is seen as the most extreme form of punishment, which is generally
reserved for the most heinous of crimes.
It has been argued that capital punishment sets a chilling example for potential criminals
and serves as an effective deterrent. It will dissuade criminals-in-the-making by instilling
fear in their minds.
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The Death Penalty
Disadvantages of Death penalty or Capital punishment
Though there are scientific methods available to investigate the crime, nothing is
guaranteed. You cannot remove the chances of punishing innocents completely.
The cost involved on the death penalty prosecution is greater than the expenses
occurred in the life imprisonment of the accused.
It is reported that some of the jury members are not completely impartial as they decide
the penalty on racial or religious basis.
Some of the accused are mentally ill, and it is ethically wrong to put mentally ill patients
to the death.
Capital punishment doesn’t give a criminal the opportunity to be remorseful of his
deeds. Neither does it treat those, who feel guilty for their crimes, a fair opportunity to
improve their behavior.
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The Death Penalty
Some of the experts believe that life in prison is a more effective punishment to control
crimes as compared to the death penalty.
In most cases people who can afford to hire the expensive lawyers often survived from
such kind of capital punishment. People who are poor, and cannot afford to get a quality
legal assistance becomes the victim of this penalty.
There has also been no concrete evidence that capital punishments have been able to
deter potential criminals from committing felonies.
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The Death Penalty
Stoning
Electric Chair
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The Death Penalty
Beheading
Death Penalty Gas Chamber
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The Death Penalty
Hanging
Machine/Injection
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The Death Penalty
Burning
Firing Squad
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The Death Penalty
Questions
1) What is your opinion about death penalty?
2) Is it the correct way to penalize the guilty?
3) Is country benefited by giving this punishment to the guilty?
4) Should each country follow the practice of death penalty?
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