Abstract
The paper discusses Cesare Beccaria's argument against any justification of capital punishment from the perspectives of utilitarianism and contractarianism. The paper looks at Beccaria's thesis that all punishment must be swift and serve the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people. The paper also explains Beccaria's ideas on the principle of proportionality and capital punishment's deterrence value.

From the Paper
"Beccaria's utilitarian theory prescribes that crimes must be prevented in an economical way that results in the greatest reduction of pain and the greatest maximization of happiness for the greatest number of people. Based on this theory, punishments should be proportionate to the crime, and use the least amount of pain necessary to deter potential offenders. The problem with this theory is that a punishment inflicted upon an innocent person will be just as effective on the people as would a punishment inflicted upon a guilty person. Thus there is a need for the "retributive argument and the contractarian concern with individual rights" (Bellamy, 1997, p. 24)."

Tags:proportionality, deterrence, social, contract, crime

Abstract
This paper is an argument in favor of the death penalty. It uses several different sources to support the author's argument that the death penalty saves lives, and does not unjustly take the life of someone who has committed a violent crime.

From the paper:

"Execution is forever. So is murder. Therefore, execution is the appropriate punishment for the murder of an innocent victim. If we apply the ?Golden Rule? to the situation (do unto others, as you wish done to yourself), we see that execution is inevitably the correct step for us to make (Shell, 120). A person?s right to live is lost when one intentionally takes an innocent life, everyone has the right to one life, his own. If he unlawfully takes the life of another he, eo ipso, loses his own right to life. Every person who can understand the nature and effects of his acts is responsible for them, and should be blamed and punished accordingly, if he could know that what he did was wrong."

Tags:death, penalty, capital, punishment, execution, murderer, lives, convict

From the Paper
"Texas, the US state with the highest rate of executions, spends approximately $2.3 million on each case (three times the cost to incarcerate an individual for 40 years) (Death Penalty Focus). The cost of executing Ted Bundy was at least $6 million (Buehler 1998). The comparable figure for Florida is $3.2 million per capital trial. And in California, a study has been conducted which concludes that the state would save $90 million per year if it were to abolish the death penalty (Death Penalty Focus)."

Tags:chair, controversy, crime, death, electric, execution, injection, lethal, murder, penalty

Abstract
This paper takes a look at the history of the debate for and against the death penalty. Included is a discussion on whether or not the death penalty is it too harsh.

From the Paper
"Should there be a death penalty? Is the death penalty to harsh of a punishment? Some may disagree; some may say that the death penalty is not harsh enough. Most don't even take the time to think about it. As of right now thirty-eight states have the death penalty. Almost seven hundred fifty people have been executed since the re-institution of the death penalty. The death penalty can range in age; you could be as young as eighteen years old or as old as ninety to be sentenced with it. There are many different ways of execution. Some are gas chambers, hangings, electrocutions, and the most popular one being lethal injection."

Tags:abolitionists, debate, history, issues, execution, killing, Karla, Faye, Tucker, electric, chair, capital, major, anti-terrorism, death, penalty, punishment, act, opposing, pro

Abstract
This paper follows the classical method of persuasion in a call for the reinstitution of the death penalty into modern-day justice systems. The paper argues that the death penalty not only stands as a deterrent in the minds of those who would break the law, but it reduces crime and, at the same time, reinforces the value of human life.

From the Paper
"Kill the Death Penalty, that is. Although it has been an underlying part of the moral system of all civilizations for thousands of years, only recently have its ethics and justice been called into question. Capital punishment has become a much debated issue in current social and political circles; there are many active Abolitionist groups, all with one aim - to abolish the Death Penalty. But in this age of moral decay and increasing crime, it needs more than ever to be reestablished."

Tags:electric, chair, injection, punishment

Abstract
The writer discusses whether or not the Criminal Justice System is gender blind, whether males or females are favored by any inherent gender bias, and what an appropriate level of gender bias is for the justice system. The paper cites particular cases and sources that illustrate both sides of the argument.

From the Paper
"The blindfold worn by the Lady Justice signifies the impartiality aspired to by the criminal justice system. Ideally, the courts should treat each person before it equally, in a manner blind to any distinguishing features. In reality, our criminal justice system takes into account many distinguishing features of defendants placed within its boundaries. A defendant's age determines whether they will be tried as an adult or juvenile, a determination that brings with it many differences in sentencing options. A defendant's socio-economic status can be seen as determining the quality of legal counsel available, and can also influence sentencing in cases where resources provide better treatment options. While many would like to argue that a person's race does not impact the criminal justice process, studies have confirmed otherwise, finding that the race of the offender and of the victim does play a role in sentencing (Kleck, 1981; Glaeser et al., 2000). Thus, when it is asked whether or not justice is 'gender-blind,' it is not surprising to find out that it is not. Research has consistently found a sex effect operating within the justice system (Daly, 1995). Theorists have offered different explanations for this sex effect, often citing the patriarchal paternalism prevalent in all aspects of modern Western societies (Bernat, 2001; Gilbert, 2001; Daly, 1999). Beyond determining what the sex effects are, and why they may exist, the important question is whether or not justice should be gender blind. The possibility exists that gender disparities in sentencing are simply reflective of actual gender differences within society and therefore, warranted. This paper will provide an overview of the support showing that justice is not gender-blind, the competing explanations for gender biases, and the debate over whether gender bias is warranted as a method of reflecting the actual differences between the genders."

Tags:action, affirmative, bias, discrimination, feminism

Abstract
An argumentative essay about the banning of capital punishment in all countries. The history, social problems, cost, and moral responsibility of the death sentence are discussed and used to show that all societies would benefit without this punishment, otherwise seen as law assisted murder. This essay argues that capital punishment lacks proper and moral justification and should not exist because it is morally unjust. Many points are supported by statistics and a common overview of certain communities and their actions.

From the Paper
"The death penalty, the poor man's justice, is a negative aspect of a society, promotes murder for murder, and encourages lawful infliction of death. Capital punishment is the lawful execution of a criminal by the state, yet is quite problematic. Many people debate on the issues of morality, with some suggesting that this is not punishment but cold revenge. The law is here to protect us as individuals, and those who commit crimes also have the right to be protected. Lacking proper and moral justification, capital punishment should be banned because it is not a deterrent, it is classified as cruel and unusual punishment, and it is morally unjust."

Tags:america, capital, death, justice, law, morals, murder, penalty, punishment, texas, usa

Abstract
The paper provides a history of the use of capital punishment and the rise of the movement for its abolishment. The paper then discusses whether the death penalty is a deterrent to crime and concludes that it is not. It then argues that the death penalty does not do justice to a crime. The paper also argues that the justice system is biased against non-whites and that there is a chance that an innocent person may be wrongfully accused and put to death, an irrevocable punishment.

From the Paper
"There are few issues in society today that bring up more emotion and controversy than capital punishment. Throughout human history people have been executed for various forms of unlawful activity. The death penalty is still a widely practiced form of punishment throughout the world. Many liberal democracies have outlawed the custom, citing that it is a cruel and unusual punishment; however, one country notwithstanding remains aboard the figurative train the United States of America. I decisively believe state sponsored capital punishment is debauched. However there are numerous arguments opposing my viewpoint. What are some ethical and logical arguments of the advocates and adversaries of the ultimate vengeance?"

Tags:death-penalty, life, justice, race, crime

Abstract
This paper argues that capital punishment should never be reinstated in Canada, because too many innocent people have been hanged due to common human error, because capital punishment is uncivilized punishment, and because capital punishment does nothing to deter citizens from committing crimes.

Tags:incarceration, penalties, prison, punishment, sentencing, human, rights

Abstract
This paper explores the pros and cons of capital punishment, and argues in favor of a system using the death penalty as a mode of punishment for criminals.

The Current System
Flaws in the System
An Alternative

From the Paper
"Throughout recorded human history, the concept of just retribution, as well as the death penalty has been present in the bulk of social and religious groups. The death sentence was in use in Ancient Greece, what is widely considered the cradle of civilization, as well as ancient Rome, Egypt, and all through antiquity, right up to the present day. "

Tags:capital, death, penalty, punishment, Timothy, McVeigh, justice, criminal, retribution, crime, flaws, death, row, Actus, Rheus, Mens, Rea