Death Penalty Argument Map by Srisaicharan Mandapati

Death penalty - Should it be permanently removed or not?

sm2966_ — 2023-11-13 21:20:37 UTC

What is the death penalty, otherwise known as capital punishment?

sm2966_ — 2023-11-13 21:23:07 UTC

The death penalty is a common practice in the United States and around the world which is reserved for executing prisoners that may have committed serious crimes, and it is usually done through the process of injection, electrocution, torture, and other forms.

Origins and History of the Death Penalty

sm2966_ — 2023-11-13 21:28:39 UTC

The death penalty was originally first created and implemented by King Hammurabi of Babylon, which traces back to around the 18th century B.C. From there, he established several forms of this punishment, and from here, the death penalty started to transition to other places. Specifically, in America, it was first introduced in the colonies, where a spy was executed in 1608.

Background Information

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What do proponents in favor of the death penalty argue?

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sm2966_ — 2023-11-13 21:35:51 UTC

Proponents of the death penalty claim that capital punishment, in certain situations, rights a severe wrong that has been committed by an individual. They claim that capital punishment almost eliminates the reality of a similar crime occurring in the future, and it provides those who have been affected by these crimes a sense of closure and justice.

sm2966_ — 2023-11-13 21:42:53 UTC

Those who often speak out in support against the death penalty argue the idea that it brings in more divisions, both racially and socially. They argue that the death penalty puts an unnecessary burden on fellow prisoners, who are often subject to terrible conditions during their stay in prison. They claim the death penalty only adds to the amount of injustice that is provided to prisoners, and another key point in their contention illustrates the further divisions in class and societal conflict.

The issue of the death penalty being imposed more on those who murder white people than vice-versa

sm2966_ — 2023-11-13 21:59:59 UTC

In studies conducted shown in a report by deathpenaltyinfo.org, there has been overwhelming signs that show that a victim's race "was found to influence the likelihood of being charged with capital murder or receiving the death penalty, i.e., those who murdered whites were found more likely to be sentenced to death than those who murdered blacks.”

International Viewpoints

sm2966_ — 2023-11-13 22:05:15 UTC

Around the world, death penalty practices differ in some form when comparing it to the United States. Internationally, some countries have completely removed the death penalty while some countries do still implement these practices, which come in the form of hangings, a stark contrast to what the United States employs. In a number of these countries, the death penalty has been deemed to violate the rights of those who have been affected as well, which is why these countries have turned into abolitionist countries when it comes to capital punishment.

Impact

sm2966_ — 2023-11-15 18:58:38 UTC

In most situations, the death penalty is imposed on groups where they are economically disadvantaged, and many do not have proper funding and resources to back themselves up. As a result, they can be forced to endure unlawful trials and cases where they may be innocent.

sm2966_ — 2023-11-15 18:59:37 UTC

There can also be mental aspects associated with the death penalty, as more people will often resort to methods of violence and civil unrest. In turn, it could potentially create more crime to be happening in society, and it only worsens the scope of such being a reality.

The Alternatives

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There have been objections to replace capital punishment with something more acceptable such as “life without parole.” In these cases, this would possibly balance the number of appeals sent in before someone gets executed and also would drastically take away the injustice done to these prisoners.

sm2966_ — 2023-11-15 19:01:51 UTC

The government can implement laws and different public policies to permanently remove capital punishment. There is also a legislation drafted that is known as “People’s Justice Guarantee,” and the government can use this piece of proposed legislation to support the cause. As a result, it could possibly pave the way for a future in which there is no capital punishment at all.

sm2966_ — 2023-11-15 19:03:10 UTC

Because the death penalty is sometimes used against individuals who do not have the financial means to get proper representation to defend their case, another alternative could possibly be prioritized on implementing a type of life sentencing that concerns the peoples’ conditions during their sentencing and gives them the pathway to a sufficient living environment.

Community Justice

sm2966_ — 2023-11-19 23:54:50 UTC

Several advocates have been raising their support for the establishment of community justice, which takes into account the interests of the public as a whole, in addition to removing the well-known "punishment-first approach'' in the past.

sm2966_ — 2023-11-20 00:03:11 UTC

sm2966_ — 2023-11-20 00:05:26 UTC

There also has been a great number of individuals who tend to lean towards the alternatives of the death penalty, which involves life in prison and parole until a certain number of years. This research is supported by the website deathpenaltyinfo.org.

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Use of the death penalty

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In recent times, more recently in 2023, there have been a number of countries that have been on the decline in utilizing capital punishment

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Economy of care

sm2966_ — 2023-11-20 00:16:53 UTC

Those who are in ardent support against the use of capital punishment also voice their concerns to implementing an economy of care. In other words, an economy of care is just a means of using the money invested in executions to fund elsewhere, which can come namely in education, housing, health care, and many other categories that benefit marginalized groups.

Money

sm2966_ — 2023-11-20 00:20:09 UTC

The money used to fund the resources needed for executions often stem from an increase in taxes, and taking away money from the vital services needed for our country in police and highway funding, which is demonstrated in a study done by EJUSA.

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Support

sm2966_ — 2023-11-20 00:30:48 UTC

To further elaborate, countries alongside the United States that continue to effectively practice the death penalty include China, India, and Islamic states. Specifically, in China, the country often uses lethal injections similarly to the United States but also employs public executions through the form of gunshots.

sm2966_ — 2023-11-20 00:32:13 UTC

Alongside the United States, China is shown to be a major employer of capital punishment, and the results are staggering

sm2966_ — 2023-11-20 00:32:38 UTC