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117 Death Penalty Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
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The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, is a highly controversial topic that has sparked fierce debates for centuries. It is the act of legally executing an individual as punishment for a crime they have committed, often involving heinous offenses like murder. The moral, ethical, and legal implications of the death penalty have been scrutinized by scholars, activists, and policymakers worldwide.
If you are tasked with writing an essay on the death penalty, it's essential to choose a compelling topic that will allow you to explore different perspectives, arguments, and real-life examples. To help you in this endeavor, we have compiled a list of 117 death penalty essay topic ideas and examples:
- The effectiveness of the death penalty in deterring crime rates.
- The moral and ethical dilemmas surrounding the death penalty.
- The impact of race on death penalty sentencing.
- The role of mental illness in death penalty cases.
- The financial costs of implementing the death penalty.
- The death penalty and its impact on victims' families.
- The death penalty and wrongful convictions.
- The international perspectives on the death penalty.
- The history and evolution of capital punishment.
- The death penalty and its impact on prison overcrowding.
- The role of the media in shaping public opinion on the death penalty.
- The death penalty and its impact on society's perception of justice.
- The racial bias in death penalty sentencing.
- The death penalty and its impact on the criminal justice system.
- The death penalty and its effectiveness in reducing crime rates.
- The death penalty as a form of revenge or retribution.
- The death penalty and its impact on human rights.
- The death penalty and its connection to socioeconomic factors.
- The death penalty and its impact on public safety.
- The role of religion in supporting or opposing the death penalty.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rehabilitation of offenders.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of inmates.
- The death penalty and its connection to poverty.
- The death penalty and its impact on the families of executed individuals.
- The death penalty and its correlation with educational attainment.
- The death penalty and its impact on the criminal justice system's integrity.
- The death penalty and its connection to police brutality.
- The death penalty and its impact on international relations.
- The death penalty and its connection to political ideologies.
- The death penalty and its impact on the public's trust in the justice system.
- The death penalty and its correlation with firearm-related crimes.
- The death penalty and its impact on racial tensions within communities.
- The death penalty and its connection to prison reform.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of victims' families.
- The death penalty and its correlation with economic inequality.
- The death penalty and its impact on the morale of prison staff.
- The death penalty and its connection to human dignity.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of the accused.
- The death penalty and its correlation with drug-related crimes.
- The death penalty and its impact on the families of victims.
- The death penalty and its connection to political populism.
- The death penalty and its impact on the public's perception of law enforcement.
- The death penalty and its correlation with domestic violence crimes.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of witnesses.
- The death penalty and its connection to gender inequality.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rehabilitation of society as a whole.
- The death penalty and its correlation with organized crime.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of minorities.
- The death penalty and its connection to international human rights treaties.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of jurors.
- The death penalty and its correlation with hate crimes.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
- The death penalty and its connection to legal representation for defendants.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of defense attorneys.
- The death penalty and its correlation with drug trafficking offenses.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of indigenous peoples.
- The death penalty and its connection to restorative justice practices.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of executioners.
- The death penalty and its correlation with crimes against humanity.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of immigrants.
- The death penalty and its connection to public opinion on crime rates.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of judges.
- The death penalty and its correlation with human trafficking offenses.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of refugees.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of lethal injection as a method of execution.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of prison guards.
- The death penalty and its correlation with terrorism-related offenses.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of individuals with disabilities.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of the electric chair as a method of execution.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of corrections officers.
- The death penalty and its correlation with cybercrime offenses.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of children.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of the gas chamber as a method of execution.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of prosecutors.
- The death penalty and its correlation with white-collar crimes.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of women.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of hanging as a method of execution.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of victims' advocates.
- The death penalty and its correlation with environmental crimes.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of prisoners.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of firing squad as a method of execution.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of crime scene investigators.
- The death penalty and its correlation with hate speech crimes.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of LGBTQ+ inmates.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of stoning as a method of execution.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of forensic experts.
- The death penalty and its correlation with animal cruelty offenses.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of religious minorities.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of beheading as a method of execution.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of forensic psychologists.
- The death penalty and its correlation with plagiarism offenses.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of political dissidents.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of crucifixion as a method of execution.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of crime journalists.
- The death penalty and its correlation with art forgery offenses.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of prisoners of conscience.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of crime scene photographers.
- The death penalty and its correlation with tax evasion offenses.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of war criminals.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of drowning as a method of execution.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of forensic anthropologists.
- The death penalty and its correlation with copyright infringement offenses.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of refugees seeking asylum.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of drawing and quartering as a method of execution.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of forensic pathologists.
- The death penalty and its correlation with insider trading offenses.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of prisoners of war.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of lethal gas as a method of execution.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of crime scene analysts.
- The death penalty and its correlation with money laundering offenses.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of human rights defenders.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of breaking on the wheel as a method of execution.
- The death penalty and its impact on the mental health of forensic entomologists.
- The death penalty and its correlation with tax fraud offenses.
- The death penalty and its impact on the rights of political refugees.
- The death penalty and its connection to the use of impalement as a method of execution.
Remember, when writing an essay on the death penalty, it is crucial to research and provide evidence to support your arguments. Use these topic ideas and examples as a starting point to develop a well-rounded and thought-provoking piece of writing.
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Death Penalty - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free
The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, remains a contentious issue in many societies. Essays on this topic could explore the moral, legal, and social arguments surrounding the practice, including discussions on retribution, deterrence, and justice. They might delve into historical trends in the application of the death penalty, the potential for judicial error, and the disparities in its application across different demographic groups. Discussions might also explore the psychological impact on inmates, the families involved, and the society at large. They could also analyze the global trends toward abolition or retention of the death penalty and the factors influencing these trends. A substantial compilation of free essay instances related to Death Penalty you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.
Death Penalty and Justice
By now, many of us are familiar with the statement, "an eye for an eye," which came from the bible, so it should be followed as holy writ. Then there was Gandhi, who inspired thousands and said, "an eye for an eye will leave us all blind." This begs the question, which option do we pick to be a good moral agent, in the terms of justice that is. Some states in America practice the death penalty, where some states […]
The Controversy of Death Penalty
The death penalty is a very controversial topic in many states. Although the idea of the death penalty does sound terrifying, would you really want a murderer to be given food and shelter for free? Would you want a murderer to get out of jail and still end up killing another innocent person? Imagine if that murder gets out of jail and kills someone in your family; Wouldn’t you want that murderer to be killed as well? Murderers can kill […]
Stephen Nathanson’s “An Eye for an Eye”
According to Stephen Nathanson's "An Eye for an Eye?", he believes that capital punishment should be immediately abolished and that the principle of punishment, "lex talionis" which correlates to the classic saying "an eye for an eye" is not a valid reason for issuing the death penalty in any country, thus, abolishment of Capital Punishment should follow. Throughout the excerpt from his book, Nathanson argues against this principle believing that one, it forces us to "commit highly immoral actions”raping a […]
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Does the Death Penalty Effectively Deter Crime?
The death penalty in America has been effective since 1608. Throughout the years following the first execution, criminal behaviors have begun to deteriorate. Capital punishment was first formed to deter crime and treason. As a result, it increased the rate of crime, according to researchers. Punishing criminals by death does not effectively deter crime because criminals are not concerned with consequences, apprehension, and judges are not willing to pay the expenses. During the stage of mens rea, thoughts of committing […]
The Death Penalty: Right or Wrong?
The death penalty has been a controversial topic throughout the years and now more than ever, as we argue; Right or Wrong? Moral or Immoral? Constitutional or Unconstitutional? The death penalty also known as capital punishment is a legal process where the state justice sentences an individual to be executed as punishment for a crime committed. The death penalty sentence strongly depends on the severity of the crime, in the US there are 41 crimes that can lead to being […]
About Carlton Franklin
In most other situations, the long-unsolved Westfield Murder would have been a death penalty case. A 57-year-old legal secretary, Lena Triano, was found tied up, raped, beaten, and stabbed in her New Jersey home. A DNA sample from her undergarments connected Carlton Franklin to the scene of the crime. However, fortunately enough for Franklin, he was not convicted until almost four decades after the murder and, in an unusual turn of events, was tried in juvenile court. Franklin was fifteen […]
About the Death Penalty
The death penalty has been a method used as far back as the Eighteenth century B.C. The use of the death penalty was for punishing people for committing relentless crimes. The severity of the punishment were much more inferior in comparison to modern day. These inferior punishments included boiling live bodies, burning at the stake, hanging, and extensive use of the guillotine to decapitate criminals. In the ancient days no laws were established to dictate and regulate the type of […]
The Death Penalty should not be Legal
Imagine you hit your sibling and your mom hits you back to teach that you shouldn't be hitting anyone. Do you really learn not to be violent from that or instead do you learn how it is okay for moms or dads to hit their children in order to teach them something? This is exactly how the death penalty works. The death penalty has been a form of punishment for decades. There are several methods of execution and those are […]
Effectively Solving Society’s Criminality
Has one ever wondered if the person standing or sitting next to them has the potential to be a murderer or a rapist? What do those who are victimized personally or have suffered from a tragic event involving a loved-one or someone near and dear to their heart, expect from the government? Convicted felons of this nature and degree of unlawfulness should be sentenced to death. Psychotic killers and rapists need the ultimate consequences such as the death penalty for […]
Religious Values and Death Penalty
Religious and moral values tell us that killing is wrong. Thou shall not kill. To me, the death penalty is inhumane. Killing people makes us like the murderers that most of us despise. No imperfect system should have the right to decide who lives and who dies. The government is made up of imperfect humans, who make mistakes. The only person that should be able to take life, is god. "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind". […]
Abolishment of the Death Penalty
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to relate many different criminological theories in regard to capital punishment. We relate many criminological theories such as; cognitive theory, deviant place theory, latent trait theory, differential association theory, behavioral theory, attachment theory, lifestyle theory, and biosocial theory. This paper empirically analyzes the idea that capital punishment is inhumane and should be abolished. We analyze this by taking into consideration false convictions, deterrence of crime, attitudes towards capital punishment, mental illness and juvenile […]
Punishment and the Nature of the Crime
When an individual commits a crime then he/she is given punishment depending on the nature of the crime committed. The US's way of giving punishment to an offender has been criticized for many years. There are 2 types of cases; civil and criminal cases. In civil cases, most of the verdict comprises of jail time or fine amount to be paid. These are not as severe except the one related to money laundering and forgery. On the other hand, criminal […]
The Death Penalty and Juveniles
Introduction: In today's society, many juveniles are being sent to trial without having the chance of getting a fair trial as anyone else would. Many citizens would see juveniles as dangerous individuals, but in my opinion how a teenager acts at home starts at home. Punishing a child for something that could have been solved at home is something that should not have to get worse by giving them the death penalty. The death penalty should not be imposed on […]
Is the Death Penalty “Humane”
What’s the first thing that pops up in your mind when you hear the words Capital Punishment? I’m assuming for most people the first thing that pops up is a criminal sitting on a chair, with all limbs tied down, and some type of mechanism connected to their head. Even though this really isn't the way that it is done, I do not blame people for imagining that type of image because that is how movies usually portray capital punishment. […]
Euthanasia and Death Penalty
Euthanasia and death penalty are two controversy topics, that get a lot of attention in today's life. The subject itself has the roots deep in the beginning of the humankind. It is interesting and maybe useful to learn the answer and if there is right or wrong in those actions. The decision if a person should live or die depends on the state laws. There are both opponents and supporters of the subject. However different the opinions are, the state […]
The Death Penalty is not Worth the Cost
The death penalty is a government practice, used as a punishment for capital crimes such as treason, murder, and genocide to name a few. It has been a controversial topic for many years some countries still use it while others don't. In the United States, each state gets to choose whether they consider it to be legal or not. Which is why in this country 30 states allow it while 20 states have gotten rid of it. It is controversial […]
Ineffectiveness of Death Penalty
Death penalty as a means of punishing crime and discouraging wrong behaviour has suffered opposition from various fronts. Religious leaders argue that it is morally wrong to take someone's life while liberal thinkers claim that there are better ways to punish wrong behaviour other than the death penalty. This debate rages on while statistically, Texas executes more individuals than any other state in the United States of America. America itself also has the highest number of death penalty related deaths […]
Is the Death Penalty Morally Right?
There have been several disputes on whether the death penalty is morally right. Considering the ethical issues with this punishment can help distinguish if it should be denied or accepted. For example, it can be argued that a criminal of extreme offenses should be granted the same level of penance as their crime. During the duration of their sentencing they could repent on their actions and desire another opportunity of freedom. The death penalty should be outlawed because of too […]
Why the Death Penalty is Unjust
Capital punishment being either a justifiable law, or a horrendous, unjust act can be determined based on the perspective of different worldviews. In a traditional Christian perspective, the word of God given to the world in The Holy Bible should only be abided by. The Holy Bible states that no man (or woman) should shed the blood of another man (or woman). Christians are taught to teach a greater amount of sacrifice for the sake of the Lord. Social justice […]
The Death Penalty and People’s Opinions
The death penalty is a highly debated topic that often divided opinion amongst people all around the world. Firstly, let's take a look at our capital punishments, with certain crimes, come different serving times. Most crimes include treason, espionage, murder, large-scale drug trafficking, and murder towards a juror, witness, or a court officer in some cases. These are a few examples compared to the forty-one federal capital offenses to date. When it comes to the death penalty, there are certain […]
The Debate of the Death Penalty
Capital punishment is a moral issue that is often scrutinized due to the taking of someone’s life. This is in large part because of the views many have toward the rule of law or an acceptance to the status quo. In order to get a true scope of the death penalty, it is best to address potential biases from a particular ethical viewpoint. By looking at it from several theories of punishment, selecting the most viable theory makes it a […]
The History of the Death Penalty
The History of the death penalty goes as far back as ancient China and Babylon. However, the first recorded death sentence took place in 16th Century BC Egypt, where executions were carried out with an ax. Since the very beginning, people were treated according to their social status; those wealthy were rarely facing brutal executions; on the contrary, most of the population was facing cruel executions. For instance, in the 5th Century BC, the Roman Law of the Twelve Tablets […]
Death Penalty is Immoral
Let's say your child grabs a plate purposely. You see them grab the plate, smash it on the ground and look you straight in the eyes. Are they deserving of a punishment? Now what if I say your child is three years old. A three year old typically doesn't know they have done something wrong. But since your child broke that one plate, your kid is being put on death row. You may be thinking, that is too harsh of […]
The Death Penalty in the United States
The United States is the "land of the free, home of the brave" and the death penalty (American National Anthem). Globally, America stands number five in carrying executions (Lockie). Since its resurrection in 1976, the year in which the Supreme Court reestablished the constitutionality of the death penalty, more than 1,264 people have been executed, predominantly by the medium of lethal injection (The Guardian). Almost all death penalty cases entangle the execution of assassins; although, they may also be applied […]
Cost of the Death Penalty
The death penalty costs more than life in prison. According to Fox News correspondent Dan Springer, the State of California spent 4 billion dollars to execute 13 individuals, in addition to the net spend of an estimated $64,000 per prisoner every year. Springer (2011) documents how the death penalty convictions declined due to economic reasons. The state spends up to 3 times more when seeking a death penalty than when pursuing a life in prison without the possibility of parole. […]
The Solution to the Death Penalty
There has never been a time when the United States of America was free from criminals indulging in killing, stealing, exploiting people, and even selling illegal items. Naturally, America refuses to tolerate the crimes committed by those who view themselves as above the law. Once these convicts are apprehended, they are brought to justice. In the past, these criminals often faced an ultimate punishment: the death penalty. Mercy was a foreign concept due to their underdeveloped understanding of the value […]
Costs: Death Penalty Versus Prison Costs
The Conservatives Concerned Organization challenges the notion that the death penalty is more cost effective compared to prison housing and feeding costs. The organization argues that the death penalty is an expensive lengthy and complicated process concluding that it is not only a bloated program that delays justice and bogs down the enforcement of the law, it is also an inefficient justice process that diverts financial resources from law enforcement programs that could protect individuals and save lives. According to […]
Death Penalty as a Source of Constant Controversy
The death penalty has been a source of almost constant controversy for hundreds of years, splitting the population down the middle with people supporting the death penalty and people that think it is unnecessary. The amount of people that are been against the death penalty has grown in recent years, causing the amount of executions to dwindle down to where there is less than one hundred every year. This number will continue to lessen as more and more people decide […]
Death Penalty is Politically Just?
Being wrongfully accused is unimaginable, but think if you were wrongfully accused and the ultimate punishment was death. Death penalty is one of the most controversial issues in today's society, but what is politically just? When a crime is committed most assume that the only acceptable consequence is to be put to death rather than thinking of another form of punishment. Religiously the death penalty is unfair because the, "USCCB concludes prisoners can change and find redemption through ministry outreach, […]
George Walker Bush and Death Penalty
George Walker Bush, a former U.S. president, and governor of Texas, once spoke, "I don't think you should support the death penalty to seek revenge. I don't think that's right. I think the reason to support the death penalty is because it saves other people's lives." The death penalty, or capital punishment, refers to the execution of a criminal convicted of a capital offense. With many criminals awaiting execution on death row, the death penalty has been a debated topic […]
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How To Write an Essay About Death Penalty
Understanding the topic.
When writing an essay about the death penalty, the first step is to understand the depth and complexities of the topic. The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, is a legal process where a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime. This topic is highly controversial and evokes strong emotions on both sides of the debate. It's crucial to approach this subject with sensitivity and a balanced perspective, acknowledging the moral, legal, and ethical considerations involved. Research is key in this initial phase, as it's important to gather facts, statistics, and viewpoints from various sources to have a well-rounded understanding of the topic. This foundation will set the tone for your essay, guiding your argument and supporting your thesis.
Structuring the Argument
The next step is structuring your argument. In an essay about the death penalty, it's vital to present a clear thesis statement that outlines your stance on the issue. Are you for or against it? What are the reasons behind your position? The body of your essay should then systematically support your thesis through well-structured arguments. Each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of the death penalty, such as its ethical implications, its effectiveness as a deterrent to crime, or the risk of wrongful convictions. Ensure that each point is backed up by evidence and examples, and remember to address counterarguments. This not only shows that you have considered multiple viewpoints but also strengthens your position by demonstrating why these opposing arguments may be less valid.
Exploring Ethical and Moral Dimensions
An essential aspect of writing an essay on the death penalty is exploring its ethical and moral dimensions. This involves delving into philosophical debates about the value of human life, justice, and retribution. It's important to discuss the moral justifications that are often used to defend the death penalty, such as the idea of 'an eye for an eye,' and to critically evaluate these arguments. Equally important is exploring the ethical arguments against the death penalty, including the potential for innocent people to be executed and the question of whether the state should have the power to take a life. This section of the essay should challenge readers to think deeply about their values and the principles of a just society.
Concluding Thoughts
In conclusion, revisit your thesis and summarize the key points made in your essay. This is your final opportunity to reinforce your argument and leave a lasting impression on your readers. Discuss the broader implications of the death penalty in society and consider potential future developments in this area. You might also want to offer recommendations or pose questions that encourage further reflection on the topic. Remember, a strong conclusion doesn't just restate what has been said; it provides closure and offers new insights, prompting readers to continue thinking about the subject long after they have finished reading your essay.
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142 Death Penalty Research Questions & Title Ideas
Are you looking for the best death penalty research title? StudyCorgi has got you covered! On this page, you’ll find plenty of death penalty titles and research questions about capital punishment. Feel free to use them for your debate, argumentative paper, and other writing assignments.
📌 Death Penalty Subtopics
🏆 best death penalty essay titles, 📚 death penalty essay topics for college, 👍 good death penalty research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting death penalty topics for discussion, ❓ death penalty research questions, 🔎 questions about the death penalty for research project, ✍️ creative titles for death penalty essay, 📝 death penalty title ideas for essays.
If you’re wondering what to include in your research questions about death penalty, here are some subtopics you can consider.
Is capital punishment fair? | |
Does the death penalty effectively deter crime? | |
What crimes should be punished by the death penalty? | |
Should capital punishment be applicable to juveniles or mentally disabled offenders? | |
What methods should be used for the death penalty (electric chair, lethal injection, etc.) |
- Is the Death Penalty Effective?
- Death by Fire: The Death Penalty in Texas
- Death Penalty Abolishment: Arguments For and Against
- Justification of the Death Penalty
- The Death Penalty: Arguments in Favor
- Death Penalty: The Utilitarianism Ethical Theory
- Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished?
- Forensic Psychologist’s Role in Death Penalty Trial Forensic psychologists play critical roles in court cases. They help the judges to investigate the claims from a professional dimension.
- Death Penalty: Contradictions Several crimes can lead to the death penalty: rape, racism, and murder. The death penalty has many and serious disadvantages and advantages.
- Arguments Against Death Penalty Death penalties are nothing more than relics of the past. They were never enough to stop or even curb crime in any given country at any given period.
- Death Penalty: Legal and Moral Issues Discussion of the legal and moral issues that literally are of life and death importance and is a major barometer when measuring a society’s collective conscience.
- Death Penalty Validity as a Form of Punishment The paper assesses the validity of the death penalty as a form of punishment for controlling the increasing crime rates and tries to provide a solution or an option that can eliminate an extreme step.
- “What Will Doom the Death Penalty” by Daniel LaChance This reading essay summarizes, explains, and evaluates the main points of the reading: “What Will Doom the Death Penalty: Capital Punishment, Another Failed Government Program?” by Daniel LaChance.
- The Justness of Socrates’s Decision to Accept the Death Penalty Socrates was sentenced to death for instilling ‘wrong’ political views in the youth, but instead of escaping his death, the philosopher accepted it with honor.
- The Advantages of the Death Penalty This paper claims that the death penalty justified from an ethic since it reduces the number of criminals, satisfy the victims, and the state will not suffer financial losses.
- Violation of the Human Right to Life: Death Penalty The problem of the death penalty cannot be separated from the general concept of human rights as it violates the paramount right of a human to life.
- Death Penalty as Viewed within the Framework of Retributive Justice Modern society strives to develop compassion and understanding and reduce cruelty, as the value of human life and individuality is steadily growing.
- The Death Penalty: James Holmes’ Case The death penalty does not violate the Sixth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. It does shape certain procedural aspects.
- Aspects of Death Penalty Acceptance The death penalty is a form of punishment that should be used to justify criminals when they commit severe crimes concerning other people.
- Court Cases That Impacted to Death Penalty Daryl Atkins, who has an IQ of 59, was found guilty of murdering an Air Force enlisted man inside a convenience shop and was sentenced to death for his crime.
- Death Penalty and “Eye for an Eye” System The argument that the death penalty fits the narrative of the “eye for an eye” idea is valid. However, the state has the right to take away someone’s rights.
- Against the Death Penalty in the US The article presents arguments against the death penalty in the United States, focusing on its ineffectiveness as a deterrent, high costs, and racial and subjective biases.
- Death Penalty Position in Society Death penalty is the most severe punishment a government may sentence a person to for breaking the law, for example, by committing murder.
- Death Penalty in Case of Mental Illnesses American legal thought posited that the defendant’s mental competence was a necessary prerequisite for issuing and implementing the death penalty.
- Juvenile Justice and the Death Penalty When discussing the death penalty, especially for juvenile perpetrators, three concepts are critical: justice, deterrence, and possibility of error.
- The Case Roper v. Simmons: Concept of National Consensus About Juvenile Death Penalty The aim of this work is to investigate the case of the national consensus concerning the issue of the juvenile death penalty on the example of the case Roper v. Simmons.
- Criminal Justice in Texas: Todd Willingham and Death Penalty The case of Cameron Todd Willingham was a controversial criminal justice case handled in Texas. The man was charged with the murder of his three young children by arson.
- Death Penalty: To Be or Not To Be? This essay is aimed at discussing the ongoing death penalty debate with reference to Adam Liptak’s and Stephen Breyer’s arguments.
- The Death Penalty in the United States The article “The Rise, Fall, and Afterlife of the Death Penalty in the United States” examines the past, present, and possible future of capital punishment in the United States.
- Death Penalty Should Be Abolished in the United States The death penalty hinders the United States’ progress and should be criminalized to avoid more harm than good in the government’s efforts to realize the American dream.
- Racial Disparities in Death Penalty Sentencing The assessment of the racial disparities problem and its correlations with the principles of death penalty sentencing is of high importance from a legal and social perspective.
- Death Penalty: Practice and Ethics of the Use This paper discusses capital punishment as a legal measure, the history of the death penalty, and the appropriateness and relevance of this punishment.
- Judicial Error and the Death Penalty This research paper provides a critical analysis of the feasibility of stopping the death penalty in the United States through the lens of the innocence of victims.
- Zimbabwe and Zambia Death Penalty Comparison The post compares capital punishment in Zimbabwe and Zambia, last death sentence dates, and methods of execution.
- Death Penalty Debates in the United States: Inhumane Practice The process of the death penalty is highly flawed, and there are numerous ethical and practical challenges that suggest that capital punishment should be abolished.
- Death Penalty and Other Issues That Surround It In the United States, capital punishment has been used for a long period of time and it is still practiced today. This paper will seek to analyze death penalty and related issues.
- The Death Penalty in the USA The death penalty in the USA exists in some states, and it must be to discipline people and to threaten them from murders and other great crimes.
- Key Points for Abolishing the Death Penalty in the USA This briefing paper is presented to American people so that all doubts and plans of retaining the death penalty despite all the Supreme Court rulings and the bad effects of it shall henceforth be erased from our minds.
- Death Penalty as a Cruel Murder While many arguments have been put forward for and against it, there is no doubt that the Death Penalty is nothing but a cruel murder perpetrated by the State.
- Death Penalty Abolition: Why It Is Needed? The death penalty should be done away with and instead replaced by a more humane form of punishing criminals irrespective of the intensity of the offense.
- Participation in Government: The Death Penalty The death penalty is also referred to as capital punishment and is commonly reserved for capital offenses. The term capital has its origins in the Latin word capita.
- The Death Penalty and Its Basic Reasons The death penalty also known as capital punishment is the execution of a person by the state as punishment for a crime.
- Should the United States Abolish the Death Penalty? Being the agent responsible for the administration of the death penalty, the state is the chief proponent of the same as a form of punishment.
- Death Penalty from a Prison Officer’s Perspective The death penalty can be considered as an ancient form of punishment in relation to the type of crime that had been committed.
- Death Penalty and Its Theoretical Justification The activity of the justice system equally depends on the fairness of the justification and the validity of the punishment.
- Death Penalty and Utilitarian Ethics This paper will analyze the ethical grounds of utilizing the death penalty for recidivist violent criminals based on Bentham’s utilitarianism.
- Death Penalty from Religious and Historical Standpoints The paper evaluates the benefits and analyzes the death penalty from a modern, religious, and historical perspective.
- What Will Doom the Death Penalty? The increasing levels of crime in the United States encouraged more people to embrace the idea of capital punishment. This discussion gives a detailed analysis of this article.
- Death Penalty Trends in American Justice System This paper discusses the death penalty abolition in Illinois, Innocence Project, sentencing of the mentally retarded individuals, and the case of Stanley Williams.
- Death Penalty and Its Issues Serious criminals have usually imposed a death sentence. This type of punishment continues to exist, even nowadays. However, it seems completely irrelevant in a humanistic society.
- Death Penalty in America: LaChance’s Analysis and Critique In his article, Daniel LaChance analyzes the phenomenon of the death penalty in America and the social attitude towards it. LaChance expresses a negative attitude.
- Death Penalty as Unjustified Measure Nowadays The person living in the 21st century should believe that the death penalty simply increases violence and grief and does not help the victim’s close ones recover from their pain.
- Death Penalty: History and Rationale After WWII, the death penalty was limited through the creation of the international Human Rights Doctrines. The procedure of death punishment became more humane.
- The Death Penalty and Mentally Retarded Capital Offenders The present paper attempts to discuss causes of wrongful conviction of capital offenders and the psychological assessment criteria that could be used by forensic psychologists.
- Ethical Perspectives on Capital Punishment: Arguments for Abolition Capital punishment remains a contested issue in many societies across the globe. Many countries have abolished this form of punishment. Such countries believe that the malpractice is unethical.
- Evaluating the Adequacy of the Death Penalty: Ethical and Legal Perspectives The death penalty is inadequate, as it leads to the punishment of not guilty people, feeling of insecurity, high volume of stress, cruelty of the execution process.
- Death Penalty: Corporal Punishment in 58 Countries This paper seeks to establish that corporal punishment is not the best way to correct wrongdoers. It shows how death penalty is applicable and effective.
- The Debate Over Whether the Death Penalty Is Just or Unjust
- Death Penalty and Its Deterrent Effect of Murder Rates in Society
- The Death Penalty and Its Effects on America
- Potential Savings From Abolition of the Death Penalty in North Carolina
- Pros and Cons Side of the International and Domestic Legislation on the Death Penalty
- Ethical Issues either for or Against the Death Penalty
- The Pros and Cons of Life Imprisonment and the Death Penalty
- Religious and Morality Issues of Death Penalty
- The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Death Penalty in the United States
- The Death Penalty and Its Effect on the Social Position of the Criminal
- Marxist Ideology and the Death Penalty
- The Relationship Between Race & the Use of the Death Penalty
- Thailand Should Kept Death Penalty for Certain Crime
- How Can Death Penalty Prevent Repeat Offenders?
- The Death Penalty and New Studies of Disparate Racial Impact
- Death Row and Death Penalty in the United States
- The Death Penalty Preserves Human Dignity
- Death Penalty Support and Argument Rebuttal
- The Death Penalty and Mental Illness
- Should the Death Penalty Be Reinstated in the UK?
- The Death Penalty Should Be Removed to Avoid Wrongly Punishing the Innocent
- Life Sentence Without Parole – Better Than Death Penalty
- Does the Death Penalty Breach Human Rights?
- What Crimes Carried the Death Penalty?
- Does Jodi Arias Deserve the Death Penalty?
- Why Is the Death Penalty Good?
- Does the Death Penalty Deter Crime?
- Why We Should Ban the Death Penalty?
- How Might the Death Penalty Prevent Crime?
- Why the Death Penalty Should Be Abolished?
- How Objective and Justifiable Are Our Reasons for Enforcing the Death Penalty?
- Is the Death Penalty Ethical?
- What Are Three Arguments for the Death Penalty?
- What Is a Pro Argument for Death Penalty?
- Should the Death Death Penalty Be Legal?
- What Are the Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty?
- Should the Death Penalty Apply to Juvenile Criminals?
- What Is the Strongest Argument in Favor of the Death Penalty?
- Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished Across the Nations?
- Why Is the Death Penalty Good for Society?
- What Effects Does the Death Penalty Cause to Society?
- What Role Does Race Play in the Death Penalty?
- Who Is Most Affected by the Death Penalty?
- Why Does the United States Government Need the Death Penalty?
- Who Has Power Over the Death Penalty?
- Why Some People Think That the Death Penalty Is Unfair and Unacceptable?
- Why Did the Death Penalty Become a Thing?
- Who Was the First Person to Get the Death Penalty?
- Why the Death Penalty Is Appropriate for Cases Where Defendants Have Mental Retardation?
- When Did Death Penalty End?
- When Was the Death Penalty Most Popular?
- How does the use of the death penalty vary in different countries?
- What factors affect public support for capital punishment?
- How does the death penalty affect crime rates?
- How does capital punishment affect marginalized communities?
- What racial and gender disparities exist in death sentencing?
- How does international law address the death penalty?
- What is the role of mental disability in death penalty cases?
- What are the financial costs of maintaining capital punishment?
- How does the media portrayal of the death penalty affect public attitudes?
- Are there more effective alternatives to the death penalty?
- The emotional toll of the death penalty on families.
- The human rights aspect of capital punishment.
- Views on capital punishment expressed in art.
- How can we make the criminal justice system more compassionate?
- Factors affecting the death penalty verdicts.
- The psychological impact of capital punishment on offenders and executioners.
- Religious perspectives on the death penalty.
- The cultural significance of historical executions.
- Personal stories of inmates sentenced to death.
- Does the death penalty perpetuate violence?
- The consequences of wrongful convictions in capital punishment.
- The death penalty vs. life imprisonment.
- Capital punishment and the possibility of redemption.
- Media’s influence on policies related to capital punishment.
- Is it ethical to execute juvenile offenders?
- The significance of DNA evidence in death penalty cases.
- The role of vengeance in capital punishment.
- Controversies surrounding lethal injections.
- The issue of human dignity in capital punishment.
- Federal vs. state jurisdictions concerning the death penalty.
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These essay examples and topics on Death Penalty were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.
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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Human Rights — Death Penalty
Argumentative Essays on Death Penalty
It's difficult to write about the complex and often controversial subject of the death penalty. Selecting an engaging and personally resonant essay topic is crucial for a successful academic endeavor. We emphasize the importance of creativity in this process and aims to make the information accessible to students of varying academic levels. Let's embark on this journey together, exploring topics that not only challenge but also expand our understanding and critical thinking skills.
Essay Topics by Type
Below, you'll find a curated list of essay topics categorized by type, each with a distinct focus ranging from technology and society to personal growth and academic interests.
Argumentative Essay Topics
- The Morality of the Death Penalty: Is it a justified form of punishment?
- Cost Implications: Comparing the economic impact of the death penalty versus life imprisonment.
- Effectiveness as a Deterrent: Does the death penalty truly deter crime?
Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
- Death Penalty Practices Worldwide: How different countries approach capital punishment.
- Historical vs. Modern Perspectives: The evolution of the death penalty in the legal system.
Descriptive Essay Topics
- A Day in the Life: Describing the process of a death penalty case from verdict to execution.
- Public Perception: How media representations influence views on the death penalty.
Persuasive Essay Topics
- Abolition Arguments: Persuading against the continuation of the death penalty in modern society.
- Rehabilitation over Retribution: The case for prioritizing rehabilitation for criminals.
Narrative Essay Topics
- Personal Testimony: Narratives from families affected by the death penalty.
- Life on Death Row: A day in the life of a death row inmate, based on real accounts and research.
Introduction Paragraphs
Each essay topic comes with a suggested introductory paragraph to kickstart your writing process.
The Morality of the Death Penalty
In the debate over the death penalty, the crux of the argument often revolves around its moral standing. This essay will explore the multifaceted dimensions of capital punishment, questioning its justification as a punitive measure. Thesis Statement: Despite its intention to serve justice, the death penalty raises significant ethical concerns, challenging the principles of human rights and dignity.
Death Penalty Practices Worldwide
Capital punishment varies significantly across different cultural and legal landscapes. This essay aims to compare and contrast the application of the death penalty in various countries, shedding light on the global diversity of justice. Thesis Statement: A comparative analysis reveals profound differences in ethical, legal, and procedural frameworks governing the death penalty, reflecting broader societal values and norms.
Conclusion Paragraphs
Concluding paragraphs are crafted to summarize the main points and reinforce the thesis, adding a final reflection or call to action.
This essay has traversed the ethical landscape surrounding the death penalty, examining its complex implications on society and the justice system. The evidence suggests that the moral costs of capital punishment far outweigh its purported benefits. Final Reflection: In the pursuit of a more humane and just society, abolishing the death penalty emerges as a necessary step forward.
Through a comparative lens, we have explored the diverse approaches to the death penalty, revealing a spectrum of global attitudes towards justice and punishment. These differences underscore the influence of cultural, legal, and ethical considerations in shaping capital punishment policies. Call to Action: It is imperative for nations to reevaluate their stance on the death penalty in light of international human rights standards.
The Death Penalty: a Philosophical Exploration
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The Death Penalty: Pros and Cons
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Should The Death Penalty Be Abolished
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The Ethics of Capital Punishment: Death is not a Right Decision
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The death penalty, known as capital punishment, refers to the act of carrying out the prescribed execution of a convicted offender who has been sentenced to death by a court of law for committing a criminal offense.
The history of the death penalty stretches back thousands of years. Its origins can be traced to ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, where various forms of execution were practiced, including hanging, beheading, and stoning. Throughout history, the death penalty has been used by different societies as a means of punishment for a range of offenses. In medieval Europe, the death penalty became more prevalent, with common methods including burning at the stake, drawing and quartering, and hanging. The practice was often carried out publicly as a form of deterrence and to demonstrate the power of the ruling authority. Over time, there have been shifts in public opinion and legal systems regarding the death penalty. In the 18th century, the Enlightenment era brought forth ideas of human rights and the reformation of justice systems, leading to calls for the abolition of cruel and excessive punishments. In the modern era, many countries have abolished the death penalty, considering it a violation of human rights and the right to life. However, the death penalty remains in practice in several countries around the world, albeit with varying degrees of usage and controversy.
Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United States, Japan, Taiwan, China, India, North Korea, Singapore, Iraq, Vietnam, Yemen, Somalia, Bangladesh, South Sudan, etc.
Hanging, shooting, lethal injection, beheading, stoning, inert gas asphyxiation, electrocution and gas inhalation.
Furman v. Georgia: In 1972, this groundbreaking legal case had a profound impact on the death penalty in the United States. The Supreme Court's decision resulted in a temporary suspension of capital punishment across the nation. The ruling declared that the arbitrary application of the death penalty violated the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution. Consequently, states were compelled to revise their death penalty laws in order to address concerns of arbitrariness and ensure a fairer application of the ultimate punishment. The Troy Davis case: Troy Davis, who was convicted of murder in Georgia in 1991, garnered international attention and raised substantial doubts about the fairness and accuracy of the death penalty. Despite maintaining his innocence until his execution in 2011, his case shed light on issues such as the reliability of eyewitness testimony, the potential for racial bias within the criminal justice system, and the inherent risk of wrongful convictions.
Public opinion on the death penalty is diverse and varies across different countries and cultures. However, there are several common trends and perspectives. Supporters of the death penalty argue that it serves as a deterrent to crime and provides justice for victims and their families. They believe that certain crimes warrant the ultimate punishment and that the death penalty acts as a form of retribution. On the other hand, opponents of the death penalty raise concerns about its morality, effectiveness, and potential for wrongful convictions. They argue that capital punishment violates the right to life, promotes violence, and is irreversible in cases of wrongful execution. Many argue that the justice system is fallible and prone to errors, raising questions about the reliability and fairness of capital punishment. Public opinion on the death penalty has been shifting in some countries, with a growing trend towards abolition. Factors such as evolving societal values, concerns about human rights, and the recognition of the potential for errors and biases within the justice system have contributed to changing perspectives.
1. Deterrence. 2. Retribution. 3. Justice for victims. 4. Cost-effectiveness. 5. Upholding societal values.
1. Irreversibility. 2. Human rights. 3. Ineffectiveness as a deterrent. 4. Racial and socioeconomic biases. 5. Moral and ethical considerations.
The topic of the death penalty is of paramount importance due to its profound implications on society, justice, and human rights. It raises fundamental questions about punishment, ethics, and the role of the state in administering justice. The death penalty sparks intense debates on multiple fronts, including its effectiveness as a deterrent, the potential for wrongful convictions, and the moral implications of state-sanctioned killing. Examining the death penalty forces us to confront inherent biases and flaws within the criminal justice system, such as racial and socioeconomic disparities in sentencing. It prompts discussions on the irreversibility of capital punishment and the risks of executing innocent individuals. Moreover, it demands an exploration of alternative approaches to punishment, rehabilitation, and the potential for reforming criminal justice systems.
The topic of the death penalty is highly relevant and worth exploring in an essay for students due to its interdisciplinary nature and profound societal impact. Writing an essay on this subject provides an opportunity for students to delve into complex ethical, legal, and social issues. Studying the death penalty encourages critical thinking and analysis of the justice system, including questions about fairness, human rights, and the potential for error. It prompts students to examine the moral implications of state-sanctioned killing and grapple with issues of punishment and rehabilitation. Furthermore, researching the death penalty enables students to explore the historical and cultural aspects of capital punishment, analyzing its evolution and variations across different societies. They can investigate case studies, legal precedents, and empirical evidence to evaluate the effectiveness, equity, and potential biases associated with the death penalty.
1. In 2020, Amnesty International reported that at least 483 executions were carried out in 18 countries worldwide. The top five executing countries were China, Iran, Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. 2. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, as of April 2021, 185 innocent individuals have been exonerated and released from death row in the United States since 1973. 3. The United States is among the few Western democracies that still retain the death penalty. However, its use has significantly declined over the years. In 2020, the country recorded the lowest number of executions (17) in nearly three decades.
1. Donohue III, J. J., & Wolfers, J. (2009). Estimating the impact of the death penalty on murder. American Law and Economics Review, 11(2), 249-309. (https://academic.oup.com/aler/article-abstract/11/2/249/232287) 2. Goldberg, A. J., & Dershowitz, A. M. (1970). Declaring the death penalty unconstitutional. Harvard Law Review, 1773-1819. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/1339687) 3. Soss, J., Langbein, L., & Metelko, A. R. (2003). Why do white Americans support the death penalty?. The Journal of Politics, 65(2), 397-421. (https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1111/1468-2508.t01-2-00006) 4. Banner, S. (2022). The death penalty. In The Death Penalty. Harvard University Press. (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.4159/9780674020511/html) 5. Hoyle, C. (2008). Death Penalty. In Elgar Encyclopedia of Human Rights. Edward Elgar Publishing. (https://www.elgaronline.com/display/book/9781789903621/b-9781789903621.death.penalty.xml) 6. Radelet, M. L., & Borg, M. J. (2000). The changing nature of death penalty debates. Annual Review of Sociology, 26(1), 43-61. (https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.soc.26.1.43) 7. Vidmar, N., & Ellsworth, P. (1973). Public opinion and the death penalty. Stan. L. Rev., 26, 1245. (https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/stflr26&div=63&id=&page=) 8. Donohue, J. J., & Wolfers, J. (2006). Uses and abuses of empirical evidence in the death penalty debate. (https://www.nber.org/papers/w11982) 9. Ellsworth, P. C., & Gross, S. R. (1994). Hardening of the attitudes: Americans' views on the death penalty. Journal of social Issues, 50(2), 19-52. (https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1994.tb02409.x) 10. Wolfgang, M. E., & Riedel, M. (1973). Race, judicial discretion, and the death penalty. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 407(1), 119-133. (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/000271627340700110)
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Top 10 Pro & Con Arguments
Life without Parole
Retribution
Victims’ Families
Methods of Execution
Medical Professionals’ Participation
Federal Death Penalty
1. Legality
The United States is one of 55 countries globally with a legal death penalty, according to Amnesty International. As of Mar. 24, 2021, within the US, 27 states had a legal death penalty (though 3 of those states had a moratorium on the punishment’s use).
Proponents of the death penalty being legal argue that such a harsh penalty is needed for criminals who have committed the worst crimes, that the punishment deters crime, and that the US Supreme Court has upheld the death penalty as constitutional.
Opponents of the death penalty being legal argue that the punishment is cruel and unusual, and, thus, unconstitutional, that innocent people are put to death for crimes they did not commit, and that the penalty is disproportionately applied to people of color.
Read More about This Debate:
Should the Death Penalty Be Legal?
ProCon.org, “International Death Penalty Status,” deathpenalty.procon.org, May 19, 2021 ProCon.org, “Should the Death Penalty Be Legal?,” deathpenalty.procon.org, Sep. 20, 2021 ProCon.org, “States with the Death Penalty, Death Penalty Bans, and Death Penalty Moratoriums,” deathpenalty.procon.org, Mar. 24, 2021
2. Life without Parole
Life without Parole (also called LWOP) is suggested by some as an alternative punishment for the death penalty.
Proponents of replacing the death penalty with life without parole argue that imprisoning someone for the duration of their life is more humane than the death penalty, that LWOP is a more fitting penalty that allows the criminal to think about what they’ve done, and that LWOP reduces the chances of executing an innocent person.
Opponents of replacing the death penalty with life without parole argue that LWOP is just an alternate death penalty and parole should always be a consideration even if the prisoner never earns the privilege. While other opponents argue that life without parole is not a harsh enough punishment for murderers and terrorists.
Should Life without Parole Replace the Death Penalty?
ProCon.org, “Should Life without Parole Replace the Death Penalty?,” deathpenalty.procon.org, Sep. 20, 2021
3. Deterrence
One of the main justifications for maintaining a death penalty is that the punishment may prevent people from committing crimes so as to not risk being sentenced to death.
Proponents who argue that the death penalty is a deterrent to capital crimes state that such a harsh penalty is needed to discourage people from murder and terrorism.
Opponents who argue that the death penalty is not a deterrent to capital crimes state that there is no evidence to support the claim that the penalty is a deterrent.
Does the Death Penalty Deter Crime?
ProCon.org, “Does the Death Penalty Deter Crime?,” deathpenalty.procon.org, Sep. 20, 2021
4. Retribution
Retribution in this debate is the idea that the death penalty is needed to bring about justice for the victims, the victims’ families, and/or society at large.
Proponents who argue that the death penalty is needed as retribution argue that “an eye for an eye” is appropriate, that the punishment should match the crime, and that the penalty is needed as a moral balance to the wrong done by the criminal.
Opponents who argue that the death penalty is not needed as retribution argue that reformative justice is more productive, that innocent people are often killed in the search for retribution, and that “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”
Should the Death Penalty Be Used for Retribution for Victims and/or Society?
ProCon.org, “Should the Death Penalty Be Used for Retribution for Victims and/or Society?,” deathpenalty.procon.org, Sep. 20, 2021
5. Victims’ Families
Whether the death penalty can bring about some sort of closure or solace to the victims’ families after a horrible, life-changing experience has long been debated and used by both proponents and opponents of the death penalty.
Proponents who argue that the death penalty is needed to bring about closure and solace to victims’ families argue that the finality of the death penalty is needed for families to move on and not live in fear of the criminal getting out of prison.
Opponents who argue that the death penalty is needed to bring about closure and solace to victims’ families argue that retributive “justice” does not bring closure for anyone and that the death penalty can take years of media-friendly appeals to enact.
Does the Death Penalty Offer Closure or Solace to Victims’ Families?
ProCon.org, “Does the Death Penalty Offer Closure or Solace to Victims’ Families?,” deathpenalty.procon.org, Sep. 20, 2021
6. Methods of Execution
Because the drugs used for lethal injection have become difficult to obtain, some states are turning to other methods of execution. For example, South Carolina recently enacted legislation to allow for the firing squad and electric chair if lethal injection is not available at the time of the execution.
Proponents of alternate methods of execution argue that the state and federal government have an obligation to carry out the sentence handed down, and that, given the recent botched lethal injection executions, other methods may be more humane.
Opponents of alternate methods of execution argue that we should not be reverting to less humane methods of execution, and that the drug companies’ objection to use of lethal injection drugs should signal a need to abolish the penalty altogether.
Should States Authorize Other Methods of Execution Such as Hanging or the Firing Squad?
ProCon.org, “Should States Authorize Other Methods of Execution Such as Hanging or the Firing Squad?,” deathpenalty.procon.org, Sep. 20, 2021
7. Innocence
Reports indicate over 150 innocent people have been found not-guilty and exonerated since the death penalty was reinstated in 1973.
Proponents of abolishing the death penalty because innocent people may be executed argue that humans are fallible and the justice system is flawed, putting more Black and brown people on death row than are guilty of capital crimes, and that we cannot risk executing one innocent person just to carry about retributive “justice.”
Opponents of abolishing the death penalty because innocent people may be executed argue that the fact that death row inmates have been exonerated proves that the checks and balances to prevent innocent people from being executed are in place and working well, almost eliminating the chance that an innocent person will be executed.
Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished Because Innocent People May Be Executed?
ProCon.org, “Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished Because Innocent People May Be Executed?,” deathpenalty.procon.org, Sep. 20, 2021
8. Morality
Both religious and secular debates have continued about whether it is moral for humans to kill one another, even in the name of justice, and whether executing people makes for a moral and just government.
Proponents who argue that the death penalty is a moral punishment state that “an eye for an eye” is justified to promote a good and just society than shuns evil.
Opponents who argue that the death penalty is an immoral punishment state that humans should not kill other humans, no matter the reasons, because killing is killing.
Is the Death Penalty Immoral?
ProCon.org, “Is the Death Penalty Immoral?,” deathpenalty.procon.org, Sep. 20, 2021
9. Medical Professionals’ Participation
With the introduction of lethal injection as execution method, states began asking that medical professionals participate in executions to ensure the injections were administered properly and to provide medical care if the execution were botched.
Proponents who argue that medical professionals can participate in executions ethically state that doctors and others ensure that the execution is not “cruel or unusual,” and ensure that the person being executed receives medical care during the execution.
Opponents who argue that medical professionals cannot participate in executions ethically state that doctors and others should keep people alive instead of participate in killing, and that the medicalization of execution leads to a false acceptance of the practice.
Is Participation in Executions Ethical for Medical Professionals?
ProCon.org, “Is Participation in Executions Ethical for Medical Professionals?,” deathpenalty.procon.org, Sep. 20, 2021
10. Federal Death Penalty
The federal death penalty has only been carried out 16 times since its reinstatement after Furman v. Georgia in 1988: twice in 2001, once in 2003, ten times in 2020, and three times in 2021. Several moratoriums have been put in place by presidents in the interims. Under President Joe Biden, the US Justice Department has enacted a moratorium on the death penalty, reversing President Donald Trump’s policy of carrying out federal executions.
Proponents of keeping the federal death penalty argue that justice must be carried out to deter crime and offer closure to families, and that the federal government has an obligation to enact the sentences handed down by the courts.
Proponents of banning the federal death penalty argue that the United States federal government should set an example for the states with a ban, and that only a ban will prevent the next president from executing the prisoners on death row.
Should the US President Reinstate the Federal Death Penalty?
ProCon.org, “Most Recent Executions in Each US State,” deathpenalty.procon.org, Aug. 26, 2021 ProCon.org, “Should the US President Reinstate the Federal Death Penalty?,” deathpenalty.procon.org, Sep. 20, 2021
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An Ultimate Selection of Death Penalty Research Topics
The death penalty has been by far the most contentious and widely discussed matter in the legislative sector. Ever since most of the modern world shifted from authoritarianism to democracy, the question of capital punishment has remained an increasingly heated and hot-button issue. It’s been harshly criticized by thousands of avid abolitionists and referred to as an inhumane practice, while argued to be an effective form of punishment by its numerous supporters. As a result, the matter of capital punishment has found its application in the academic niche as well, where students desperately look for death penalty research topics to write custom essays .
Generating a cool topic for a death penalty research paper can be as tough as the problem itself. It’s hard to come up with the topic you will be covering in your research paper when it comes to a scantly studied subject. For this reason, our paper writing service writers have prepared for you a comprehensive selection of topics on this highly controversial and debated subject.
Best death penalty research topics
It’s hard to create a list of generalized research paper topics , but we successfully coped with this task to make your choice easier.
- The death penalty discriminates against black crime victims.
- The death penalty in Iran.
- The death penalty throughout history and cultures.
- The death penalty in Saudi Arabia.
- The death penalty in the religious context.
- The moral aspect of the death penalty.
- Pros and cons of the death penalty.
- Evolution of the death penalty.
- The effectiveness of the death penalty in preventing crimes.
- Families of executed people: psychological context.
Death penalty topics for essays
It doesn’t if you need essays about sharks or about execution, the question is always an effective way to attract readers’ attention from the very beginning.
- Would you like to be a witness to an execution? Why or why not? Under what circumstances if any?
- Should the death penalty be a fair punishment?
- Do people who commit heinous crimes deserve the death penalty?
- Should the death penalty be used for juveniles?
- The death penalty is not the best punishment for hardcore criminals.
- The death penalty versus life imprisonment.
- The death penalty: proper or not? Is it moral? Is it constitutional?
- Is the death penalty effective?
- The death penalty: should it be allowed on the mentally ill?
- Does the death penalty have a racial bias in sentencing?
Topics on the death penalty for argumentative essays
While creating music research topics or finance research topics for argumentative essays can require a strong imagination, death penalty is a much easier topic when it comes to argumentative papers.
- Euthanasia and the death penalty: barbarism or practicality?
- Is the death penalty too harsh?
- Can the death penalty be effective?
- Should the death penalty be re-established in Turkey?
- Why the death penalty is inhumane.
- Should clinical psychologists conduct competency assessments in death penalty cases?
- How should capital punishment be performed?
- Can the death penalty be seen as an act of revenge, not as a punishment?
- The chance of executing innocent people: who should take the blame.
- Does capital punishment make society more peaceful?
- Can we consider the death penalty as a means of revenge and not a means of punishment?
Death penalty topics for speeches
While qualitative research topics can be complicated to write about, a good speech can be much easier to write. Especially if you already have a list of topics to choose from.
- The act of forgiveness: is it applicable to serial killers?
- There’s always a chance to execute an innocent person. How can this problem be solved?
- Does the death penalty have a positive effect on crime rates?
- Pros and cons of the death penalty
- It is better to keep ten criminals alive than to execute one innocent person?
- The death penalty as a method of intimidation in third world countries
- Is the death penalty equal punishment for committing crimes that cause death?
- The psychology of a person condemned to death: what hides beneath the mask of flesh
- The status of the death penalty in the world’s most developed countries
- The responsibilities of lawyers in the case of condemnation to capital punishment
Given the depth and complicacy of the subject of the death penalty, it’s painfully time-consuming for students to devise the proper topic for their paper. Capital punishment as a research subject has been a moot point even for seasoned law scholars, let alone college or university students who are only beginning to take up the art of law. That’s why we hope that our all-around topic selection will lay the groundwork for your academic journey into the maze of the death penalty problem. And if you have issues with writing such a paper, you can always use trustful research paper writing services to get not only a topic but a full example of the essay to follow and create your own paper.
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Death Penalty: Arguments For and Against Essay
Introduction, arguments against death penalty, arguments for death penalty, death penalty policies around the world.
The area of the current research concerns the death penalty and whether it might be abolished in the future. Various experts have argued against the lethal sentence policies claiming that they are unethical, barbaric, and economically unfavorable. However, in the academic field, some authorities continue to justify this punishment method. The current research reviews various articles and websites concerning the lethal sentence controversies and establishes the correlation between the existing works. As a result, the main flaws within the present scholarship are the unresolved issue of whether death penalty policies are effective or not and whether there are any benefits to society from the lethal sentence. The authorities do not seem to find a consensus on this issue, but there is a prospect that this problem will be resolved in future works.
The first argument against the lethal sentence is a lack of deterrence among criminals. According to Amnesty International Australia (2019), there is no evidence that the prospect of death prevents potential perpetrators. Furthermore, some authorities state that the lethal sentence does not decline the number of crimes and is only used as an instrument of vengeance (Amnesty International, 1997). Another reason to cancel the death penalty is the unnecessary brutality of the process. Despite the introduction of less gruesome methods of killing, such as lethal injection, Deshwal (2017) claims that “sterilized and depersonalized methods of execution do not eliminate the brutality of the penalty” (para. 5). Finally, the majority of the population generally believes that lethal sentences are merely unethical and should be abolished (Jouet, 2020). Ultimately, most experts refer to the mentioned-above arguments to illustrate the obligation to cancel death penalties.
On the contrary, some authorities believe that the lethal sentence is necessary and is a useful tool to prevent potential crimes. The first argument supporting this perspective is retribution for the illegal activity. From the philosophical point of view, as mentioned by Immanuel Kant, the murderer should atone by giving up their own life (Flanders, 2013). Another reason for the lethal sentence is the probability that the perpetrator would kill again after prison. According to Radelet and Borg (2000), after the cancellation of most death penalties in America in 1972, about one percent of the criminals killed again. It might seem as an insignificant number, but ultimately the lethal sentence would have prevented it. As previously mentioned, the death penalty policy does not have evidence to deter people from criminal activity. However, public opinion frequently differs from the statistics gathered by experts. According to Seal (2017), throughout the twentieth-century people extensively considered that the death penalty is obligatory to prevent illegal activity. Therefore, some individuals would only feel safe and secure if the government practices the lethal sentence.
The attitude toward the death penalty varies depending on the regions of the world. In America, the lethal sentence for most crimes was canceled in 1972 by the Supreme Court (Nice, 1992). However, in multiple other countries, the death penalty policies still exist. For instance, while some regions ease restrictions and reduce the number of crimes that are punishable with the lethal sentence, China does the opposite (Lehmann, 2012). Up until the twenty-first century, the Chinese government has purposefully used the death penalty even for non-violent crimes, such as theft or bribes (Lehmann, 2012). Nevertheless, the overall number of countries that have abolished the lethal sentence is continually growing (Hood & Hoyle, 2009). Ultimately, the perspectives regarding the death penalty depend on the region, but more and more governments reject this type of punishment.
Summing up, the opinions about the death penalty vary vastly depending on the countries and the academic experts. Overall, this subject is extremely complicated since the effectiveness of death penalties in terms of criminal deterrence and prevention of potential crimes is almost impossible to prove, and, thus, various perspectives emerge. However, despite the complexity and sensitivity of the topic, most countries have discontinued this policy due to ethical and economical reasons.
Amnesty International. (1997). The death penalty: Criminality, justice and human rights . Refworld. Web.
Amnesty International Australia. (2019). Five reasons to abolish death penalty . Web.
Deshwal, S. (n.d.). Death penalty: Contemporary issues . Indian National Bar Association. Web.
Flanders, C. (2013). The case against the case against the death penalty. New Criminal Law Review: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal, 16 (4), 595-620.
Hood, R., & Hoyle, C. (2009). Abolishing the death penalty worldwide: The impact of a “new dynamic”. Crime and Justice, 38 (1), 1-63.
Jouet, M. (2020). Death penalty abolitionism from the enlightenment to modernity. American Journal of Comparative Law . Web.
Lehmann, E. (2012). The death penalty in a changing socialist state: Reflections on ‘modernity’ from the Mao Era to contemporary China. Honor Theses, 6 , 1-86.
Nice, C. D. (1992). The States and the death penalty. The Western Political Quarterly, 45 (4), 1037-1048.
Radelet, M. L., & Borg, M. J. (2000). The changing nature of death penalty debates. Annual Review of Sociology, 26 , 43-61.
Seal, L. (2017). Perceptions of safety, fear and social change in the public’s pro-death penalty discourse in mid twentieth-century Britain. Crime, Histoire & Sociétés / Crime, History & Societies, 21 (1), 1-24.
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5 Death Penalty Essays Everyone Should Know
Capital punishment is an ancient practice. It’s one that human rights defenders strongly oppose and consider as inhumane and cruel. In 2019, Amnesty International reported the lowest number of executions in about a decade. Most executions occurred in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt . The United States is the only developed western country still using capital punishment. What does this say about the US? Here are five essays about the death penalty everyone should read:
“When We Kill”
By: Nicholas Kristof | From: The New York Times 2019
In this excellent essay, Pulitizer-winner Nicholas Kristof explains how he first became interested in the death penalty. He failed to write about a man on death row in Texas. The man, Cameron Todd Willingham, was executed in 2004. Later evidence showed that the crime he supposedly committed – lighting his house on fire and killing his three kids – was more likely an accident. In “When We Kill,” Kristof puts preconceived notions about the death penalty under the microscope. These include opinions such as only guilty people are executed, that those guilty people “deserve” to die, and the death penalty deters crime and saves money. Based on his investigations, Kristof concludes that they are all wrong.
Nicholas Kristof has been a Times columnist since 2001. He’s the winner of two Pulitizer Prices for his coverage of China and the Darfur genocide.
“An Inhumane Way of Death”
By: Willie Jasper Darden, Jr.
Willie Jasper Darden, Jr. was on death row for 14 years. In his essay, he opens with the line, “Ironically, there is probably more hope on death row than would be found in most other places.” He states that everyone is capable of murder, questioning if people who support capital punishment are just as guilty as the people they execute. Darden goes on to say that if every murderer was executed, there would be 20,000 killed per day. Instead, a person is put on death row for something like flawed wording in an appeal. Darden feels like he was picked at random, like someone who gets a terminal illness. This essay is important to read as it gives readers a deeper, more personal insight into death row.
Willie Jasper Darden, Jr. was sentenced to death in 1974 for murder. During his time on death row, he advocated for his innocence and pointed out problems with his trial, such as the jury pool that excluded black people. Despite worldwide support for Darden from public figures like the Pope, Darden was executed in 1988.
“We Need To Talk About An Injustice”
By: Bryan Stevenson | From: TED 2012
This piece is a transcript of Bryan Stevenson’s 2012 TED talk, but we feel it’s important to include because of Stevenson’s contributions to criminal justice. In the talk, Stevenson discusses the death penalty at several points. He points out that for years, we’ve been taught to ask the question, “Do people deserve to die for their crimes?” Stevenson brings up another question we should ask: “Do we deserve to kill?” He also describes the American death penalty system as defined by “error.” Somehow, society has been able to disconnect itself from this problem even as minorities are disproportionately executed in a country with a history of slavery.
Bryan Stevenson is a lawyer, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, and author. He’s argued in courts, including the Supreme Court, on behalf of the poor, minorities, and children. A film based on his book Just Mercy was released in 2019 starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx.
“I Know What It’s Like To Carry Out Executions”
By: S. Frank Thompson | From: The Atlantic 2019
In the death penalty debate, we often hear from the family of the victims and sometimes from those on death row. What about those responsible for facilitating an execution? In this opinion piece, a former superintendent from the Oregon State Penitentiary outlines his background. He carried out the only two executions in Oregon in the past 55 years, describing it as having a “profound and traumatic effect” on him. In his decades working as a correctional officer, he concluded that the death penalty is not working . The United States should not enact federal capital punishment.
Frank Thompson served as the superintendent of OSP from 1994-1998. Before that, he served in the military and law enforcement. When he first started at OSP, he supported the death penalty. He changed his mind when he observed the protocols firsthand and then had to conduct an execution.
“There Is No Such Thing As Closure on Death Row”
By: Paul Brown | From: The Marshall Project 2019
This essay is from Paul Brown, a death row inmate in Raleigh, North Carolina. He recalls the moment of his sentencing in a cold courtroom in August. The prosecutor used the term “closure” when justifying a death sentence. Who is this closure for? Brown theorizes that the prosecutors are getting closure as they end another case, but even then, the cases are just a way to further their careers. Is it for victims’ families? Brown is doubtful, as the death sentence is pursued even when the families don’t support it. There is no closure for Brown or his family as they wait for his execution. Vivid and deeply-personal, this essay is a must-read for anyone who wonders what it’s like inside the mind of a death row inmate.
Paul Brown has been on death row since 2000 for a double murder. He is a contributing writer to Prison Writers and shares essays on topics such as his childhood, his life as a prisoner, and more.
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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.
Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.
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Discover a comprehensive list of 117 thought-provoking death penalty essay topics and examples, igniting your curiosity and inspiring critical discussions on this important and controversial issue.
Searching for fresh death penalty title ideas? We’ve got some to offer! ️ Explore the pros and cons of capital punishment with titles for death penalty essay.
Looking for a good essay, research or speech topic on Death Penalty? Check our list of 95 interesting Death Penalty title ideas to write about!
83 essay samples found. The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, remains a contentious issue in many societies. Essays on this topic could explore the moral, legal, and social arguments surrounding the practice, including discussions on retribution, deterrence, and justice.
Looking for the best death penalty research questions? 💡 StudyCorgi has plenty of creative and catchy death penalty essay titles available for free. Check out this page!
Compare and Contrast Essay Topics. Death Penalty Practices Worldwide: How different countries approach capital punishment. Historical vs. Modern Perspectives: The evolution of the death penalty in the legal system. Descriptive Essay Topics. A Day in the Life: Describing the process of a death penalty case from verdict to execution.
Whether the death penalty can bring about some sort of closure or solace to the victims’ families after a horrible, life-changing experience has long been debated and used by both proponents and opponents of the death penalty.
The death penalty: should it be allowed on the mentally ill? Does the death penalty have a racial bias in sentencing? Topics on the death penalty for argumentative essays
Death Penalty: Arguments For and Against Essay. Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human •No AI. Table of Contents. Introduction. The area of the current research concerns the death penalty and whether it might be abolished in the future.
Here are five essays about the death penalty everyone should read: “When We Kill” By: Nicholas Kristof | From: The New York Times 2019. In this excellent essay, Pulitizer-winner Nicholas Kristof explains how he first became interested in the death penalty. He failed to write about a man on death row in Texas.