The death penalty has been a part of the U.S. justice system since the birth of this Nation. It has been debated off and on throughout the history of the United States. Proponents of capital punishment say that it deters murders, while people against capital punishment say there is no deterrent effect. There are other reasons for and against cited by those on both sides of the issue, including: cost, innocence, and immorality.
Case Assignment
After reviewing the readings on the background page, write a 4- to 5-page paper in which you define the death penalty as it is applied in the United States, and then answer the following questions:
1. Based on the required readings, is the death penalty fair? Support your position.
2. After reviewing “Fact Sheet” from Death Penalty Information Center, what significant statistics can you pull out (e.g., race, sex, location)?
• relate and interpret the data to discuss costs
• false/true convictions
• reduction in crime
