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Death Penalty

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Should the death penalty be allowed?

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US Executions from 1608-2002

Forms of Execution in the United States, 1977 - 2009

33 States with Death Penalty / 41 Federal Capital Crimes

Major Death Penalty Cases in the US Supreme Court

Death Row Inmates, 1953-2009

Executions by Country, 2010 (from Amnesty International)

Thomas Edison Electrocutes Topsy the Elephant, Jan. 4, 1903

2012 Presidential Candidates' Positions on the Death Penalty

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Should the death penalty be allowed?

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1,188 people were executed in the US from 1977 through 2009, primarily by means of lethal injection. Most death penalty cases involve the execution of murderers although capital punishment can also be applied for treason, espionage, and other crimes.

Proponents of the death penalty say it is an important tool for preserving law and order, deters crime, and costs less than life imprisonment. They argue that retribution or "an eye for an eye" honors the victim, helps console grieving families, and ensures that the perpetrators of heinous crimes never have an opportunity to cause future tragedy.

Opponents of capital punishment say it has no deterrent effect on crime, wrongly gives governments the power to take human life, and perpetuates social injustices by disproportionately targeting people of color (racist) and people who cannot afford good attorneys (classist). They say lifetime jail sentences are a more severe and less expensive punishment than death.

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Death Penalty ProCon.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit website that presents facts, studies, and pro and con statements related to debate over the legality of the death penalty.

Pros & Cons by Category

CORE QUESTION

Should the death penalty be allowed?

Background / General

What is the death penalty and capital punishment?

What makes a death penalty case different from other criminal cases?

What are considered capital crimes in the United States?

What are the forms of execution in the United States?

Moral & Ethical Issues

Is the death penalty immoral?

Should physicians participate in executions?

What is the Hippocratic Oath?

Legal Considerations

Is the death penalty unconstitutional?

Has DNA testing led to significant improvements in the criminal justice system?

Is poor representation by public defense attorneys a widespread problem in capital cases?

Is prosecutorial misconduct a widespread problem in capital cases?

What is clemency?

Does clemency serve as a safeguard in capital punishment cases?

Deterrence & Retribution

Does the death penalty deter crime?

Should executions be made public?

Should the death penalty be used for retribution?

Social Issues

Does a person's race affect the likelihood of him/her receiving the death penalty?

Does a person's income level affect the likelihood of him/her receiving the death penalty?

Should a death penalty moratorium be implemented?

Should victims' opinions matter when considering the death penalty?

Death Penalty vs. Life in Prison

What is life in prison without parole?

Is life in prison without parole a better option than the death penalty?

Does the death penalty cost less than life in prison without parole?

Religious Views

Does Buddhism support the death penalty?

Does Christianity support the death penalty?

Does Hinduism support the death penalty?

Does Islam support the death penalty?

Does Judaism support the death penalty?

Share your thoughts on death penalty and read, vote on, and reply to existing comments. Join the debate.

ProCon.org Notices (archived after 30 days)

5/9/2012 - Connecticut Repeals the Death Penalty - Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) signed a law on Apr. 25, 2012 repealing the death penalty. The repeal only applies to future sentences, leaving 11 men on death row. Connecticut now joins 16 other states and DC in abandoning capital punishment.

Archived Notices (archived after 30 days)

Last updated on 5/9/2012 1:45:02 PM PST