Capital Punishment

Many murderers are tried for death row, but seldom are they put on it. In many cases the fear of any possible innocence will automatically eliminate the chances of he or she being put on death row. Another major cause of life imprisonment rather than death to discuss in a term paper is mental illness. It is important to know that there is a major difference between mental illness and mental retardation. Mental retardation means that the mind of the murderer has no way of understanding the crime they have committed. Cases like this will be found in favor of life imprisonment in an asylum or a place for the mentally handicap. Cases which involve mental illness relies on a jury to decide the fate if they are found guilty. Mental illness can be anything from great levels of stress to insanity. In some cases prosecutors will simply not seek the death penalty. Foe example, in San Mateo, California, where death penalty rates are high, Seti Scanlan begged the jury to sentence him to death. The prosecutors, as well as the victims family decided to give this man life imprisonment. In some cases, life in jail can be worse that death because the murderer has time to realize the crime he or she has committed, and also he or she knows that they will never leave imprisonment because they will never be allowed parole.

The death penalty will be an issue of controversy for years to come. Citation to use in accustom essay: The death penalty is the simple concept of taking another man or woman's life, in revenge of taking an innocent man or woman's life. There will always be groups to protest the penalty, but as far as the law is concerned, each death is justified. Law officials, as well as many people feel safer knowing that a murder may not be committed simply because of the fear the death penalty installs. Only the truly mentally sick refuse to fear the idea of being put to death by the government. The death penalty has come a long way through the years to become more humane, despite the idea of killing another human being. It was originally a painful hanging. Years later it was changed to death by electric chair, and now recently it has been changed to death by lethal injection. Reasons for condoning the death penalty are justice, revenge, a feeling of justification for the victim's family, and possible prevention of another murder. It may be an inhumane act but the idea of being put to death by the government may have possibly prevented possible murders throughout the years.