Is the Death Penalty Deterrent

Is the Death Penalty Deterrent

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Is the Death Penalty Deterrent?

Amnesty International. (2013). The Death Penalty and Deterrence. US Death Penalty Facts. Retrieved http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/death-penalty/us-death-penalty-facts/the-death-penalty-and-deterrence Amnesty International formulated this article by analyzing other studies regarding the death penalty and its impact. As such, the article concludes that these studies are ‘fundamentally flawed’ since they do not acknowledge the impact on non-capital punishments (Amnesty International, 2013). Additionally, the article concludes that these studies used implausible and incomplete models. Therefore, Amnesty International claims that the death penalty cannot be considered a deterrent to murder. Statistically speaking, Amnesty International maintains that states that implement the death penalty register lower murder rates compared to those that do. In this regard, this article succeeds in answering my research question. However, I would recommend that Amnesty International conduct future research to investigate the trend of murder in countries that implement the death penalty since it was incepted. In comparison, this article uses a similar approach to Michael Booth’s and arrives to a similar conclusion as well.

Booth, M. (2013). Death Penalty. No Credible Evidence on Whether Death Penalty Deters, Experts Say. Retrieved from http://www.denverpost.com/ci_23374844/no-credible-evidence-whether-death-penalty-deters-experts Michael Booth takes a central position on this issue but uses data from experts to conclude deterrence in the death penalty remains unproven. Booth uses reliable sources such as the Death Penalty Information Center to support this premise. His method of research is similar to that of Amnesty International and includes drawings conclusions from already conducted studies. Booth analyses these studies and uses his judgment to conclude that capital punishment does not deter crime. Booth however challenges some studies that attack states that implement capital punishment when others do not. Booth (2013) maintains that all states are independent and therefore should make legislations that concern them. I suggest that Booth consider studies from other countries when he engages in future research to establish a well-rounded conclusion. This article makes a similar observation held by Amnesty International that death penalty deterrence is unproven.

Death Penalty Information Center. (2009). Facts about Deterrence and the Death Penalty. Criminologists’ views on Deterrence and the Death Penalty. Retrieved from http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-about-deterrence-and-death-penalty This is an article by the Death Penalty Information Center. It looks to investigate on the impact of the death penalty and the rate of crime in the United States. Primarily, questionnaires were sent to top criminologists in the US. In accordance with this article, most of the respondents believe that capital punishment is not a deterrent to crimes such as homicide. Death Penalty Information Center (2009) concludes that the death penalty is not deterrent to crime rates in the United States. Instead, it distracts Congress from coming u with valid solutions to deal with crime. This article offers ample relation to my study because it investigates the death penalty whether it achieves its set objective. As such, the article provides an answer to my research question. I would encourage the Death Penalty Information Center to carry out an independent research rather than rely on the opinion of questionnaire respondents. In comparison, this article uses a different approach to that of Amnesty International but arrives to a similar conclusion.

Pataki, G. (1996). Death Penalty is Deterrent. Capital Punishment Gives Killers Good Cause to Fear Arrest and Conviction. Retrieved from http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/articles/pataki.htm George Pataki is a former governor of the New York State who was in office three consecutive years between 1995 and 2006. His governance saw New York implement the death sentence. In this regard, he wrote an article, one after its inception stating that the rate of murder had declined in his state. George bases his research on statistical studies that were carried out in New York. His office compared crime rates in New York before and after capital punishment came into play. Pataki’s (1996) concluded that capital punishment deters crime. In this regard, Pataki’s research article manages to answer my question. In the future, Pataki should conduct further research to establish whether the impact of the death penalty in New York was short term or long term. In comparison, Pataki uses an independent approach to Michael Booth by conducting a statistical research rather than analyzing research studies.

Reference

Amnesty International. (2013). The Death Penalty and Deterrence. US Death Penalty Facts. Retrieved http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/death-penalty/us-death-penalty-facts/the-death-penalty-and-deterrence

Bedau, H. A., & Cassell, P. G. (2004). Debating the death penalty: Should America have capital punishment? : The experts on both sides make their best case. New York: Oxford University Press.

Booth, M. (2013). Death Penalty. No Credible Evidence on Whether Death Penalty Deters, Experts Say. Retrieved from http://www.denverpost.com/ci_23374844/no-credible-evidence-whether-death-penalty-deters-experts

Death Penalty Information Center. (2009). Facts about Deterrence and the Death Penalty. Criminologists’ views on Deterrence and the Death Penalty. Retrieved from http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-about-deterrence-and-death-penalty

Pataki, G. (1996). Death Penalty is Deterrent. Capital Punishment Gives Killers Good Cause to Fear Arrest and Conviction. Retrieved from http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/articles/pataki.htm

Williams, M. E. (2002). The death penalty. San Diego, Calif: Greenhaven Press.