2,331. That is how many Americans are sitting on death row as of January 2023. The death penalty is an institutionalized practice designed to result in executing persons in response to actual or supposed misconduct. This method of execution has been used on criminals since the early eighteenth century. But we believe the United States should abolish the use of the death penalty as punishment.
In the United States there are twenty seven states that can still legally execute offenders. “The New York Times” conducted a study that showed states without the death penalty have lower homicide rates than states that the death penalty is still in effect. They reported that in the last 20 years, states that still use the death penalty have had 48%- 101% higher percentages of homicide rates compared to states where it is illegal. Typical death row prisoners spend an average of eleven to twelve years waiting before their execution. Other than the United States, all western countries have abolished the use of the death penalty. Most industrialized countries have either abolished it as well or put a suspension on executions.
The death penalty has also been shown to have a brutal effect on society. Amnesty International conducted a poll in the U.S. that showed a major drop in support of the death penalty when life in prison without parole became an alternative. In 2006, when life in prison without parole was an option, support for the death penalty dropped from 65% to 48%. Most people believe we should not sacrifice a human’s life as a cost cutting measure. In 2022, a poll showed 55% of respondents believed the death penalty was morally acceptable. This was near an all time low. This poll has been taking place for twenty one years, and in these twenty one years, in 2006 acceptance hit an all time high at 71%.
Execution is the ultimate punishment a state can conflict onto a person. Once someone has already committed a capital offense, they have no way to lessen their punishment. This can create a mixture of emotions in one’s self. This can cause someone on death row to commit a multitude of additional crimes, as there will be no worse punishment. After being placed on death row there is little face-face contact. 81% of states that still use the death penalty only allow one hour or less of recreational time, and in these states, half of them provide only a cage or pen. Along with this, they are given no access to religious services. This causes many death row inmates to become violent and mean.
While some may argue that criminals who are put on death row deserve the death penalty, it has not been shown to be effective in helping crime rates within the United States. It has shown that the states without the death penalty actually have lower rates. So, yes, we believe the death penalty should be abolished in the United States, as it has been proven to not be beneficial.
