The Death Penalty Should Be Abolished

I will refute my opponents attempt to support his contentions. C1: Deterrence My opponent claims that comparing the homicide rate in death penalty states and non-death penalty states, yet this is the most accurate way to determine whether the death penalty has the capacity to deter crime or is a deterrence. My opponent seems to think that calculating in certain other factors will increase the accuracy of studies, yet it does the opposite. Calculating in other factors will lessen the accuracy of studies attempting to determine if the death penalty. The most accurate attempt to calculate whether the death penalty deters crime is to compare homicide rates in death penalty and non-death penalty states, which I have done. I have shown in three graphs that the homicide rates in death penalty states is greater that states with out the death penalty. [1] [2] [3] My opponent has also has conceded that many criminologists acknowledge that the death penalty does not deter crime. [4] C2: Bargaining Chip My opponent is correcting in stating that plea bargains prevent the trial system, and right to a speedy trial is guaranteed by the sixth amendment of the Constitution. [5] My opponent believes that I stated that plea bargains give up the defendant’s right to any legal representation, while I said plea bargains give up the defendant’s competent legal representation. Quite often the defendant, when threatened with the thought of execution from the death penalty, makes up a false confession and would mislead the investigation. C3: Accuracy The entire article I sourced was concerning that the scientist who invented DNA stated that there are flaws in the DNA testing process, and as such can be related to the United States. Your initial accuracy contention was nearly entirely focused on DNA accuracy, and I have refuted that by using several sources showing how DNA testing has numerous flaws. [6] [7] C4: Popularity Forgive me for not mentioning the date on the poll. The poll was researched on 2010. [8]The public opinion section of the fact sheet is near the bottom of the page. Once again, though, popular opinion is not a reason for the death penalty to exist. I will now support my contentions C1: Life in Prison My opponent gives no sources or research that supports his claim that an increasing amount of people in prison would cause an increase in the homicide rate in prisons. I have given a source that shows that homicide rates in prisons in the United States is actually decreasing. [9] C2: Risk of Innocent Lives My opponent ignores the fact that the Death Penalty information Center estimates every 1/7 innocent people are wrongfully executed, and as such has conceded that there is a risk of innocent lives. Conclusion I have proven that the death penalty does not act as a deterrent, using the death penalty for plea bargains have several flaws, there are many flaws in DNA testing, and that many people in the United States do not support the death penalty. I have also life in prison is just as effective than the death penalty and that there is a risk of innocent lives from the death penalty. For the above reasons, vote con! Sources [1] . http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org...[2] . http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org...[3] . http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org...[4] . http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org...[5] . http://criminal.findlaw.com...[6] . http://www.theage.com.au...[7] . http://madamenoire.com...[8] . http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org...[9] . http://www.bjs.gov...