NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Capitol punishment today is regarded as the severest type of penalty, for any crime. This type of punishment was originally used by primitive people. Early primates, however, did not always consider it a penalty but sometimes a purification of the soul. When family units began to unite into colonies and colonies into states, there were two categories of crimes, public wrongs and private wrongs.
Public wrongs were usually things such as witchcraft and treason. The offenders were believed to be carries of a plaque so they were either burned at the stake, boiled in oil, stoned or drowned. These penalties were deemed a cleansing process, no punishments. Private wrongs were such things as murder theft, or assault. These crimes were punishable by the use of the Mosaic Law, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. The decision as to what punishment would be inflicted was left up to the private person.
It was for these reasons that Capitol Punishment was justified. Later on as man realized that he could choose between right and wrong, he started using Capitol Punishment more, only now it was used as awarding to others instead of a cleansing process. Towards the end of this century the death penalty was used less and less until finally it was only prescribed in exceptional cases such as first degree murder. There was great controversy concerning the courts decision on Capitol Punishment. One of the arguments favoring the punishment was that it would serve as a stiff warning to others who planned on committing the same or similar crimes that they would not get away with it.
Although, there was always many people who argued against Capitol Punishment that no-one should be put to death for any crime committed simply because it was considered murder. Some people also argued against the reasoning that it would stand as a warning to others because in most of the states that excited the criminals for murder their crime rates either stayed the same or increased. Another argument that is for the death penalty is mainly for the peace of mind for the victims family is the sentence of life in prison. This is a penalty that is morally unfair to everyone involved since it allows the criminal to remain alive, while their victims life is over. While some argued that this was a just punishment in place of the death penalty the strongest argument that was brought up concerning the sentence to life was that since 1920 three hundred and thirteen of the inmates sentenced to life in prison or to death were wrongfully accused. Unfortunately, the only good thing that could come out of sentencing someone to life in prison rather than the death penalty is that if they are later found innocent of their crime, they are at least able to get out and try to go on with their life.
For those who were sentenced to death, that were innocent, there is no giving them their life back. Capitol Punishment is a crime that has been around for many, many years and is just now becoming a penalty that makes some would-be criminals stop and think before they commit the crime.
Free research essays on topics related to: life in prison, death penalty, wrongs, capitol punishment, capitol
Research essay sample on Life In Prison Capitol Punishment