Death Penalty Comment No. 4
The murder rate has risen about 30 percent over the last year. The death penalty has been in decline in recent years with fewer executions and fewer death sentences. Do you think the decline in the death penalty is influencing the rise in murder? Explain you opinion.
17 comments:
#8
I do not think that the decline of the death penalty is causing a rise in murder. I believe this because if someone is willing to kill someone, then they are not thinking of the repercussions of the murder. If people were worried about the consequences of murder then there would have been a significantly lower amount of murder while the death penalty was prominently a sentence for first degree murder. Despite the death penalty being a consequence for murder there were still a large amount of murders. So I think that there is no correlation between the death penalty and murder rates.
Student #13:
Personally, I do not believe that the decline in the death penalty is influencing the rise in murder. I do believe that the main purposes of the death penalty are incapacitation and deterrence, however, I don't necessarily think that they are effective all the time. When taking into account the influence of the death penalty, you must also understand that the thought of death is not negatively connotated amongst everyone. Some people fully recognize and are at peace with the consequences that will arise from their actions; even if it costs them their life. Therefore, I believe those individuals specifically would have no problem continuing to murder until they are caught. From a less specific perspective, we currently live in a very violent and enabling social climate. By enabling, I mean that most violent behaviors are "justified" by another person or entity. Furthermore, the erratic, inappropriate, and irrational emotions that accompany those behaviors are validated and normalized rather than treated by professionals. For example, criminals tend to be glorified in today's social climate. With the media exposing their troubling history and the behaviors/emotions it caused, it makes it much easier for an adolescent or adult struggling with the same hardships to resonate with that criminal, and therefore validate committing the same crimes or performing similar actions. This explanation may come off to readers as a stretch, however, when researched and contemplated further, it makes much more sense. Therefore, I would argue that our increasingly violent social climate and tendency to enable the inappropriate, destructive, and illegal behaviors happening around us has influenced the rise in murder rather than the decline in capital punishment itself.
I do not think the decline in the use of the death penalty that is causing murder rates to rise again. I think that many different social factors related to COVID and other social factors. When crime was on the rise in the 1980s and 1990s I would assume more people were being executed than today. I know that there have been many studies examining the deterrence that the death penalty creates as a punishment; they have been inclusive or found that it does not deter crime. So, I do no think that the less frequent use of the death penalty is connected to the rising crime rates.
student #6:
I do not think the rise of the murder rate is influenced by the decline in executions and death sentences. There are many factors that play into the increase in murder rates. There is no solid evidence that the death penalty being in place deters murder or any crime for that matter. Therefore, I believe a decrease in executions and death sentences did not encourage or lead to the higher murder rate. The other factors that contribute to the murder rates rising by 30% within that last year are COVID-19, political unrest, and police brutality which has led to police officers being more timid because they are afraid accidentally using excessive force. Especially now that police officers are being penalized, prosecuted, and even jailed for their actions. Also, the murder rates rose in the 80's and 90's, whenever executions and death sentences were occuring much more often, so that could not have cause that rise in murder rates in the past. Why would it do so now? The main reason I do not believe the decrease in executions and death penalty convictions have lead to a higher crime rate is because there are so many other possible causes.
Even though murder rates have been on the rise, I do not believe that it is in strict correlation with the decline of the death penalty. If a criminal has the urge to kill or harm someone then they will go through every means necessary to complete that act. Because they are strong-headed in the act of killing the individual is not cognizant of consequences such as the death penalty. This might contribute to why some members that are being executed are honestly apologetic. I do not believe they are strictly correlated because of the other factors that have caused the high murder and low death penalty rates. These may include COVID, political unrest, police brutality, timid police, protesting, gangs, abortion, and drug related crimes. Those are other factors that have contributed directly. Also, many states have gone away with the use of the death penalty for any offenses.
Student #7
Despite use of the death penalty decreasing and murder rate increasing, I do not believe there is a correspondence between these two pieces of information. Since it is hard to tell and study while living through, I believe there is some mediator that would explain both of these facts. Several theories exist, such as COVID, police issues, and political unease, to name a few.
Suggesting correlation also says that individuals do not commit murder out of fear of the death penalty, that it is a deterrent for crime. However, many murders are acts of passion (though this usually omits them from the death penalty). The idea that we are ration creatures that weigh the costs and benefits of each of our actions is a stretch, making it hard to believe that the lack of "deterrent" is causing a rise in crime. This may be the case for some situations, but increasing 30% may be pushing it.
Student #15 said:
I do not believe the decline in executions and decline in capital sentences has directly influenced the rise in murder. While there might seem to be a correlation, I believe that there are other underlying, more influential factors that are affecting the rise in murders. While one of the main purposes of having the death penalty is deterrence, I believe that people who commit capital offenses are not really worried about the repercussions of their actions and the possible punishments they could face if/when they are caught. I feel as though more social aspects are at play for the rise in murders, especially with the mandated quarantine put in place in more recent times. Along with COVID-19 possibly being a factor that contributed to the rise in murders, other social factors such as political unrest and racial violence could lead to offenders seeing a higher "tolerance" to capital/violent offenses. The controversial political stance of the death penalty, alone, could result in a decline in death sentences, as 23 states have abolished the death penalty -- which declines not only sentences, but executions as well -- and 3 states are on death penalty moratorium -- which decreases the amount of executions conducted compared to earlier years. All these factors seem to be more influential -- at least -- compared to simple deterrence the idea of capital punishment is supposed to inflict on potential capital offenders; in other words, that are other, more influential factors that are in play that can better explain the rise in murders than just the decline in death penalty sentences and executions.
Student #17
I do not think the decline in the death penalty is affecting the rise in murders. The death penalty was being used to scare people from killing, but sometimes it did just the opposite. Some people wanted to die, so they would do anything to get sentenced to death. I believe crime is rising with all the new technology and believe they will not get caught. Also, society seems to blame others about issues instead of trying to change it. Most of the murders we hear about is a crime of passion committed by a loved one or someone close to the victim. Even if the death penalty was still an option, it would not stop people from committing crimes of passion. I knew some people, including myself once their mind is made up about it is impossible to get them to change it.
Student #18
I don't think that the death penalty decline is affecting the rise in murder rates. The death penalty is used to show the outcomes of what could happen if you do commit any crime that could put you on death row. I think that the rise in crime rates have gone up because people are becoming careless due to the motivation within the crimes that are committed.
I think that the decline in executions may have an affect on the amount of murders happening in some circumstances. there is the idea that since the punishment is not being carried through with that criminals are not as scared as they norammyl would be to kill people. where the other side of this coin you could say that these criminals are just looking at committing capital murders and first degree murder as just a life sentence since there have been no executions. in my opinion i think that the people of this world have been going through something that only few generations can say that they went through. I believe that this psychological affect on people during the time of Covid-19 has affected peoples willingness to commit crimes or people who do suffer from mental illness like psychopathy or some anti-social disorder seeing this as an opportunity to commit this heinous crimes.
#16
While the murder rate rises in the wake of Covid, I don't think there is much coloration to this to the amount a execution's there are in the US. This can be attributed to the softness of the criminal justice system in the prime time of the 20th century when social justice is at an all time high in terms of people speaking out, doing something, using social media, and cancel culture. Along with this Maryland, Illinois, Colorado have all gotten rid of the death penalty in the last ten years. And perhaps the biggest reason for this is Covid. Not only are homicide rates rising, but simple administration and burification processes are stalled and put off and on zoom so the trial process is already very very long this complicates this even more and prolongs it. While in quarantine people have been isolated with little to no real human interaction. This essentially drives people crazy resulting in high crime rates going up. The lower death penalty rate does not relate to the higher crime rate. This can be attributed to self-isolation, quarantine, financial instability, getting laid off, losing a close family member or friend, and many other things that have made life harder for the average person in times of Covid.
Student # 5
I dont believe the decline in the death penalty is influencing more murders. I believe that we are still facing the effects and the hard times of a pandemic. The cases might not be as high but the availability of jobs and goods have put many people on edge. This could be one of the reasons of murder. People facing hard times with limited resources sometimes result in committing crimes. I think that the legal system has gone a little soft and I think people are committing crimes and looting and rioting more than ever. Our police are in shambles over what to do and what not to do, and frankly I don't think people are afraid of the consequences that they may face
I don't think the decline of the death penalty has anything to do with rising murder rates. Most people who commit murder either don't care about the consequences, or think they are smart enough to avoid them. If the death penalty correlated with murder rates, the mere fact that we have it would deter murder. There are other factors that could influence murder rates. Maybe the clearance rate is so low that it instills confidence in being able to get away with murder. Some people also don't care about their lives, so the death penalty means nothing to them. Not only that, but when people get the death penalty they sit in prison for a long time. There is a great chance that they die of natural causes before their execution date. I feel like the people who the death penalty scares the most, are the people who it would most likely never apply to.
#2
The most compelling argument that can be made in support of the death penalty is that it deters crime. In our justice system we see murder as one of, if not, the worst crime you can commit. With that in mind the death penalty is only used for our worst crime which is 1st degree murder. The murder rate includes 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree murder and the death penalty can only be used as one of the options for “punishment” in only one of those crimes. Not only that but those that commit crimes especially the ones that commit 1st degree murder are not worried about the punishment, it is in our justice system the worst crime you can commit so the idea that the death penalty is not going to deter them from committing the crime. I don’t know myself what is influencing the murder rate to rise but I don’t think the death penalty has anything to do with it.
Student #10
I do not think the rise in murder is related to the fall in the number of executions. The biggest argument for the death penalty is that it deters murders, but if that were to be true murders would’ve dropped significantly. Hence why I think people aren’t thinking when they murder someone that they are going to land a spot on Death Row. Personally, I think the rise in murder can be equated to everything the country and the world has gone through in the past 2 years. People are frustrated. We are in a global pandemic and people are mad, their normal lives were uprooted, and they were thrown into a world filled with disease, death, and economic shortages. Everyone is frustrated. The government has made us empty promises about this whole thing being over and all we can respond with is anger and frustration. People are getting hurt because more people are angry. This is not excusing anyone’s actions just offering an explanation.
student #20,
I do not believe that the rise in murder rates have a correlation with the decline of Executions. I think the rise in murder rates have to do with peoples reaction to COVID-19 and different political issues we have had lately. Now if the rise in murder rates did effect the Death Penalty like people think it does we would of seen a significant change in the number of people executed in the last year.
Student #1
I think that the decline in the death penalty could have some impact on the rise in murders. I do not think that it is the only factor but it may be a small one. The death penalty can be used as an awarness against violence and murdering. It can be seen as an eye for an eye type of punishment. No matter how it is seen when it is published, posted, or seen in the public that someone was put on the death penalty. I think that makes others think before they act out on that crazy ex or whatever the case may be. If the death penalty was starting to be used again and it was put on the news, social media, etc. I definitely think that the murder rate would decline.
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