Death Sentence

Death Sentence, sometimes also known as capital punishment, was a common punishment for crimes throughout the ages. The death sentence has increasingly fallen out of practice. Currently only 58 nations have the death sentence with 95 countries fulling abolishing it. Even in those countries where the death sentence is still practiced, there is a movement towards more humane methods of execution such as lethal injection.

Arguments against the death sentence

1. The death setntence has no deterrent effect. Academic debate has mainly focused on whether capital punishment has any deterrent effect,with many academics concluding it does not.
2. The death sentence is more costly than life imprisonment.Recent studies have demonstrated that the death penalty, which requires multiple layers of appeal to protect against the execution of innocent defendants, is more costly than life imprisonment.
3. The death sentence risks the execution of innocent defendants.
4. The death sentence is arbitrary and disproportionately affects minorities.
5. The death penalty prolongs suffering for victim's families by adding extensive post-trial appeals.
6. The death sentence disproportionately affects defendants with inadequate legal counsel