English Literature

Capital punishment is a term used to refer to death penalty. It is used in the current days, just as in the ancient times as a way of punishing the various crimes committed. According to Katz, Levitt  Shustorovich (2003), execution does not in any way influence the rate of crime. In fact, any other type of punishment, like incarceration, has a greater effect on recidivism rates than the death penalty. In further support of the death penalty, they argue that there is no recorded evidence which shows the influence of execution on crime rate. On the other hand, the Holy bible and the Koran have strongly supported death as payment for any sort of murder. Man requires to be treated with dignity. Therefore, the only way the cry of justice can be met is by executing those tried of murder. According to the group, Religious Tolerance (2005), justice and vengeance is only gotten when the convicted murderers are executed. The public is assured that once the murderers are convicted, there is no reoccurrence of the crime, or what is known as recidivism. This essay seeks to justify the effectiveness of capital punishment in relation to deterrence, retribution and the relationship of the convictions to the race of the offenders.

Capital punishment is an effective deterrent
An article by BBC (2010) gives an analogy that brings out the relationship between capital punishment and its deterrence. When a child puts his or her finger in the fire, he or she gets burnt. As a result, the child avoids such a situation again. When execution is used as a form of punishment, potential offenders avoid any crime that would lead it. According to the Legal Dictionary (2010), the term deterrence is well understood in two fold. Specific deterrence refers to the act of persuading the offender in court so that he or she can avoid committing further crimes. General deterrence is meant to warn other members of the society who have an intention of committing crimes. Andenaes (1974) argues that the purpose of any form of punishment to offenders is to send certain stimulus to the members of the society, as it sends messages to the whole society. The stimulus restricts the society members to attempt any undesired actions. The criminal laws that are set down become threats to the public.

BBC (2010) states that capital punishment deters people from committing crimes. Most criminals reconsider their criminal acts when they realize that their lives are at stake. Additionally, it gets rid of homicides that might recommit their crime. Human beings have the nature of always seeking protection of their lives. Therefore, the fear associated with death deters human beings from committing crimes. When executions are humiliating and painful, they are viewed as horrific. Therefore, they deter others from committing crimes. Death penalty is more likely to deter people who have time to think about the effects of a crime. The effectiveness of capital punishment is best seen when the punishment is administered immediately the crime is committed.

The group Capital Punishment (2010) states that in Singapore, the level of crime rate is very low. Research has revealed that the low crime and recidivism rates are as a result of capital punishment in the countrys legal system. This is a high indication that death penalty is a deterrent of criminal activities in this country.

Campbell (2004) gives an example of Charles Manson case as one which portrays recidivism. Though he was out and in of prison before his last trial, he still continued with criminal activities. Charles Mansons murder case has been rated as one of the most bizarre cases in the U.S. He was arrested for mass murder in 1971.His trial set a number of records, including one which lasted for more than nine months. Previously, Charles had been arrested for a number of times as a result of human rights violation, theft and forgery. The method of punishment that had been used on him did not deter him from continuing with his criminal activities. Charles Manson was sentenced to life imprisonment even after the concrete evidence showed that he was responsible for the seven acts of murder, which he called  the helter skelter.

Retribution and capital punishment
Concerning retribution and capital punishment, Religious Tolerance (2005) argues that the argument behind retribution in justice is that all criminals deserve punishment. More importantly, the guilty people deserve punishment which is equivalent to the crime that they have committed. Real justice requires that all guilty people have to suffer for their wrongdoings. In this case, a murderer deserves death as it is the only way his or her crime can be paid. Retribution is often supported with the argument an eye for an eye.

 BBC (2010) carries a story claiming that proper imposition of punishment is the one that responds to the societys cry for justice. It is the response which satisfies the families of the offended .The group Religious Tolerance, (2005) states that the supporters of capital punishment have one argument, that It is by exacting the highest penalty for the taking of human life that we affirm the highest value of human life.

According to Rule, (2007), Theodore Ted Bundys trial is a good example of retribution in relation to capital punishment. Bundy was involved in a homicidal rampage which took three years. This was as a result of a breakup he had with his girlfriend, Stephanie Brooks. It was found out that Bundy only killed ladies who had long dark hair with a part in the middle the same way Stephanie did hers. The resentment that Bundy had towards Stephanie made him murder at least eight women in Washington. He later relocated to Colorado where he continued with his homicide rampage. In 1978, he abducted and raped a twelve year old girl, and later murdered her in Florida. This was the last criminal act that Bundy had ever committed. On January 24, 1989, Bundy was executed in an electric chair.

The Group, Religious Tolerance (2005) argues that there is great controversy on the issue of race in relation to capital punishment. Many critics of capital punishment argue that the targeted groups are the racial minorities. This is however not true. The prevalence of minorities is simply a reflection of the rates at which different races in the U.S. commit murder. Several studies have found out that the prosecution of white victims is higher than that of black victims as far as capital punishment is concerned. In June, 2001, the Department of Justice issued a report on race in relation to capital cases prosecution. The report indicated that there was evidence based on ethnicity or race in the U.S. as far as application of capital punishment was concerned.

As recorded in the Capital punishment (2010) website, the laws of the Supreme courts state that accused offenders are not supposed to claim that they have been received sentences on racial basis. The offender should seek for a specific person who has discriminated him on the basis of his race, either the judge or the prosecutor. Otherwise, no other evidence would show that an accused person has been discriminated on a racial basis.

Conclusion
Capital punishment is a very effective way of curbing criminal activities. This is because it deters the potential criminals from participating in criminal activities. It is also a perfect way of retaliation. It ensures that the rights of the murdered have been met. There is no racial bias when capital punishment is applied to criminals in the U.S. All members of the public are treated fairly, and they get the punishment they deserve any time they act against the U.S. law. Therefore, capital punishment is justified, and it is the only form of punishment that can ensure recidivism rates are low in the U.S. The U.S. and the world in general should work towards ensuring that it is supported through funding.