Wrongful Convictions And The Costs Of Executions example essay topic

Capital punishment is an act of executing, killing, or putting one to death for committing hideous crimes. In the state of Georgia, crimes such as treason, murder, and aircraft high jacking, can cause conviction of the death penalty. Race, wrongful convictions, and the costs of executions are some of the controversial issues surrounding capital punishment. Race plays an important role when determining the death penalty. In a study conducted by the General Accounting Office found that 82% of the population who murdered Caucasians is more likely to be convicted than those who murdered African Americans. Since 1976 there have been several interracial murders in the United States.

The number of white defendants vs. black victims has represented 12 executions in the U.S. since 1976. However, there have been 192 executions of black defendants vs. white victims in the United States, which is more than quadrupled in number. The current U.S. death row population by race includes 1,457 (42%) African Americans, 353 (10%) Hispanics, 1,580 (45.5%) Caucasians and 81 (2.3%) accounts for other races. According to the General Accounting office, the United States can not prevent accidental executions of innocent people. This is primarily due to wrongful identification of defendants in many cases. Crimes are often solved with the most convenient suspect rather right or wrong, which also leads to wrongful death of innocent people.

Additionally, many convicts are blamed merely because they "fit" the description of the intended suspect, which leads to erroneous convictions. Within the last century, recent studies show that more than four-hundred innocent people have been convicted of crimes caused by others. Twenty-three of the four-hundred blameless people were put to death. The death penalty has been reinstated and there have been 96 men and women found innocent minutes before their execution. This is an unjustifiable mistake that can not be corrected due to irreplaceable circumstances with life.

Once life has ended, it will never be replaced. It costs taxpayers twice as much to execute an inmate than to incarcerate him / her for life. The study mentioned above states the death penalty costs 48% more than the costs of a court trial in which the prosecutors seek life imprisonment for the defendant. These are outrageous figures that utilize taxpayer's dollars uselessly. The same study shows that each case ranges from 1-1.25 million dollars than the average murder case without parole. Some people insist that the death penalty be utilized as a preventive measure against crime.

However, when one commits murder without justice he / she is capable of recommitting the crime. Therefore, I feel life without parole should be utilized rather than corrupt taxpayers dollars. I am not for or against capital punishment; however, I firmly believe that one must be held accountable for their actions. The amount of money wasted on executions is ludicrous; therefore I feel other means should be implemented when enforcing capital punishment. I do not think the crime rate in the U.S. would change depending upon enforcement of the death penalty, because society is based on instant actions. As you can see, costs, race and identification of the defendant population plays a crucial role in capital punishment.

These facts prove the injustice of execution in Georgia as well as other states. Prior to implementing the death penalty, I feel costs, individual lifestyles and the committed crime should be weighed heavily and cautiously. This would save money for taxpayers and the lives of wrongfully accused defendants. These facts should be proven without a shadow of doubt in every situation prior to putting someone to death.