Study A study in California found that those who killed whites were over 3 times more likely to be sentenced to death than those who killed blacks and over 4 times more likely than those who killed Latinos. This shows how people may be persuaded or influenced to give a sentenecing bases on race. Facts about the Death Penalty. Washington, DC: Death Penalty Information Center, 1999. Death Penalty Information Center. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. Statistic Over 75% of the murder victims in cases resulting in an execution were white, even though nationally only 50% of murder victims generally are white. This shows how race plays a role in sentencing and may be favoring whites, Facts about the Death Penalty. Washington, DC: Death Penalty Information Center, 1999. Death Penalty Information Center. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. Article/study Defense costs for death penalty trials in Kansas averaged about $400,000 per case, compared to $100,000 per case when the death penalty was not sought. A trial in Kansas that involves death penalty can be 4x the price of a normal trial. Facts about the Death Penalty. Washington, DC: Death Penalty Information Center, 1999. Death Penalty Information Center. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.
Statistics For every 7 executions-486 since 1976-1 other prisoner on death row has been found innocent That the jails do not know if the person is really guilty. "The Ethics of Capital Punishment." Alibris. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2016. Current Event Cantu was convicted of capital murder, and in 1993, the Texas teen was executed due to him being sentenced to the death penalty. About 12 years after his death, investigations show that Cantu likely didn’t commit the murder. Again Texas made a mistake and killed someone who was innocent. They are killing innocent people. "Cameron Todd Willingham - Innocent and Executed "The Only Statement I Want to Make Is That I Am an Innocent Man Convicted of a Crime I Did." N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Feb. 2016. Statistics Out of the 3,500 inmates who are currently on death row, at least 14 percent are innocent. Most of the time, these people are black which is racial bias. This shows that just because they are black they decide to use them as targets and kill them even if they are innocent. Whitaker, Charles. "The Death Penalty Debate: Are We Killing Innocent Black Men?" Ebsco Host. Johnson Publishing Company, Inc., n.d. Web. <web.a.ebscohost.com> Current Events Cantu was convicted of capital murder, and in 1993, the Texas teen was executed due to him being sentenced to the death penalty. About 12 years after his death, investigations show that Cantu likely didn’t commit the murder. Again Texas made a mistake and killed someone who was innocent. Again Texas made a mistake because the death penalty was legal. "8 People Who Were Executed and Later Found Innocent - N.p., 04 May 2010. Web. 02 Mar. 2016. Constitutional Connection Amendment 14 states that you must treat everyone equally and the laws apply to everyone the same no matter what race, religion, color, gender, etc. If they are going to use this mostly based on racial bias, then it is unfair and must be abolished. This is important because they can’t favor one religion over another and they are favoring some over others. Constitution
Study/article In Texas, a death penalty case costs an average of $2.3 million, about three times the cost of imprisoning someone in a single cell at the highest security level for 40 years. This shows how the death penalty is costing a lot more than other serious punishments would cost in Texas. Facts about the Death Penalty. Washington, DC: Death Penalty Information Center, 1999. Death Penalty Information Center. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. Statistics ”A 2008 ruling by the Supreme Court in Kennedy v. Louisiana, however, abolished the death sentence of a man convicted of raping a child, effectively holding that states may only use the death penalty in murder cases only.” This shows that someone innocent almost had the death penalty.Point: Capital Punishment should be abolished Ballaro, Beverly, and Ames C. Cushman. "Capital Punishment Should Be Abolished." Points Of View Reference Center. Great Neck Publishing, n.d. Web. March 1 2016 quote “The longer we continue to support this expensive and failed policy, the more we fall short of our values as a people.”- Martin O’Mall y. Martin is saying that he thinks the death penalty is against our values and should not be continued. Martin is the governor of Maryland. The death penalty is going against our values as a country and as people. "Election 2016: All 13 Candidates Positions on the Death Penalty." Election 2016: All 13 Candidates Positions on the Death Penalty. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
Statistics “The development of DNA evidence has brought about a deluge of cases throughout the country in which people convicted of crimes are later proven innocent. Among these are 111 death row inmates who, since 1973, were released from prison after being found innocent of the crimes for which they were convicted.” This proves that if the death penalty was given to these people they were innocent. Witherbee, Amy. "Crime or Punishment? The Argument Against Capital Punishment." Points of View Reference Center. Great Neck Publishing, 2015. Web. 1 Mar. 2016. Statistics “Point: Capital Punishment Should Be Abolished” stated, “Capital punishment is useless as a deterrent, morally indefensible, discriminatory in practice, and prone to errors that may have led to the execution of wrongfully convicted people.” Wrongfully accused people received the death penalty which shows that they should have never died so in conclusion the death penalty should be abolished. Ballaro, Beverly, and Ames C. Cushman. "Capital Punishment Should Be Abolished." Points Of View Reference Center. Great Neck Publishing, n.d. Web.Mar 1 2016 . <web.b.ebscohost.com> Statistics “Point: Capital Punishment Should Be Abolished” states, “In addition, death penalty is described as an expensive and inefficient way to prevent criminal activity.” This proves that the death penalty is a lot of money and it is not worth it. Ballaro, Beverly, and Ames C. Cushman. "Capital Punishment Should Be Abolished." Points Of View Reference Center. Great Neck Publishing, n.d. Web.Mar 1 2016 . <web.b.ebscohost.com> Statistics “The Death Penalty Information Center” Stated, “New York reinstated the death penalty in 1995. In 2004, the state's high court overturned the law. Eventually, all 7 death sentences that had been imposed were overturned. No one was executed. The legislature repeatedly rejected attempts to The death penalty is so expensive and not even used, its not worth it. "Costs of the Death Penalty." Death Penalty Information Center. N.p., 7 Jan. 2015. Web. 02 Mar. 1 2016. 3/1/16>.
reinstate the death penalty. During the time when the law was in effect, NY spent about $170 million over 9 years, producing no final death sentences or executions.” Statistics “The Supreme Court should bring the United States in line with the rest of the civilized world and hold that death is a cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment” This shows that the constitution also believes this punishment is cruel and unusual. "Costs of the Death Penalty." Death Penalty Information Center. N.p., 7 Jan. 2015. Web. 02 Mar. 1 2016. 3/1/16>. Statistics “Point: Capital Punishment Should Be Abolished” states, “In recent years, the evidence has shown that the death penalty process consumes tremendous amounts of money and resources and fails to deter criminals.” This proves that the amounts of money to use the death penalty is crazy because its fails to deter criminals. Ballaro, Beverly, and Ames C. Cushman. "Capital Punishment Should Be Abolished." Points Of View Reference Center. Great Neck Publishing, n.d. Web.Mar 1 2016 . <web.b.ebscohost.com>
Statistics “It is time for the Court to restore America’s moral and human rights leadership in the world by going the rest of the distance and finally agreeing that death is a cruel and unusual punishment for any crime.” This shows that the death penalty does not show leadership for America. Witherbee, Amy. "Crime or Punishment? The Argument Against Capital Punishment." Points of View Reference Center. Great Neck Publishing, 2015. Web. 1 Mar. 1 2016. <web.b.ebscohost.com> Statistics “Additionally, a botched lethal injection given to an inmate on death row in Oklahoma attracted an especially large amount of national—and to the United States’ capital “punishment standards and procedures in 2014. This event, combined with another chaotic execution performed in Ohio earlier in the year, raised further concerns and questions regarding the types of drugs used as well as the definition of “cruel and unusual” punishment.” This proves that lethal injecttion looks bad for our country all over, it is cruel and unusual, it should be abolished. Issitt, Micah L., and Heather Newton. "Death Penalty: An Overview." Points of View Reference Center. Great Neck Publishing, 2015. Web. 1 Mar. 2016. quote “Numerous other studies of capital punishment laws around the country have also found that death penalty charges are more likely when a victim is white than a Huggins This is important because capital punishment is based on racial bias most of the time which is very unfair to those who are discriminated against. Huggins, Andrew Welsh. "Ohio Death Penalty Committee Looks at Racial Bias." Ebsco. AP Regional State Report, n.d. Web. <web.a.ebscohost.com> minority.”-
statistics On February 3, 1997, a vote to 280 to 119, declared that capital punishment is very strongly affected by racial bias. This is important because many agree that racial bias plays a huge role in capital punishment which could be killing an innocent person. Wayne, Jim. "Racial Bias in Capital Sentencing." Ebsco. America Press Inc., 1999. Web. Section 5: Opposing Evidence Type of evidence Opposing Facts Significance Citation Statement Convicts serving life can still kill guards and other inmates.Convicts who escape, often commit and other violent acts against innocent people. Also, when a murderer is sentenced to , it does not mean that he will carry out that entire sentence. This shows that the death penalty is necessary for the safety of others. Lowe, Wesley. "Capital Punishment Protects Public Safety More Effectively than Does Life Imprisonment." Capital Punishment. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2016. Current event “Kenneth McDuff, for instance, was convicted of the 1966 shooting deaths of two and the vicious rape-strangulation of their 16-year-old female companion. A Fort Worth jury ruled that McDuff should die in the electric chair, a sentence commuted to life in prison in 1972 after the U.S. Supreme This is again showing that laws change and life in prison is just not good enough. The congress change laws every day and prisoners in jail for life sentences may be released due to laws. Killing them will keep the country safer! Lowe, Wesley. "Capital Punishment Protects Public Safety More Effectively than Does Life Imprisonment." Capital Punishment. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 <web.a.ebscohost.com>
Court struck down the death penalty as then imposed.” Mar. 2016. Statistics Public polls regularly reveal that at least 50 percent of the American people want the death penalty for crimes of murder. People in the survey are saying that they want the death penalty for anyone who commits a crime of murder. These people feel that if you take a life, yours should be taken too. Bowman, Jeffrey. "Counterpoint: The Death Penalty Is Necessary." N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016. current event “In 1962, James Moore raped and strangled 14-year-old Pamela Moss. Her parents decided to spare Moore the death penalty on the condition that he be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Later on, thanks to a change in sentencing laws in 1982, James Moore is eligible for parole every two years!” Because of changing laws criminals can become eligible for a change in their sentencing. This does not mean it has to happen but the death penalty could stop this from happening since they will not be alive to get this chance. Lowe, Wesley. "Capital Punishment Protects Public Safety More Effectively than Does Life Imprisonment." Capital Punishment. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2016. Current Events According to “Defending the death penalty”, “Geoghan was beaten and strangled to death in his prison cell by a fellow inmate, a convicted murderer, in August 2003. If Massachusetts had the death penalty this wouldn’t have happened.” The Death Penalty can insure that murderers never kill again. Pierce, Matt. "Defending the Death Penalty." Point of View Reference Center. Great Neck Publishing, 2015. Web. 1 Mar. 2016. Court Cases In 1968, Kenneth Allen McDuff was sent to court for murdering someone for the fourth time. His punishments in the past were just going to jail but they decided after the fourth time to This is important because it shows how capital punishment reduced the risk of people being murdered. If the killers aren’t alive, less people are killed. Pearce, Matt. "Counterpoint: Defending the Death Penalty." Ebsco. Great Neck Publishing, n.d.
be deterred the most: the murderers themselves. Life sentences always leave open the possibility of a killer getting a chance to kill again. The death penalty never does.” so the execute them. Death Penalty." Point of View Reference Center. Great Neck Publishing, 2015. Web. 1 Mar. 2016. quote “ Life sentences always leave open the possibility of a killer getting a chance to kill again. The death penalty never does.” - Matt Pearce This is important because it shows how murderers will never murder because the now know they will be killed if they do. Pearce, Matt. "Counterpoint: Defending the Death Penalty." Ebsco. Great Neck Publishing, n.d. Web. statistics In 2011, the murder rare was 18% higher than in states without capital punishment. This is important because states who don’t use capital punishment have more murders showing that the death penalty reduces the amount of murders. Issitt, Micah, and Heather Newton. "Death Penalty: An Overview." Ebsco. Great Neck Publishing, n.d. Web. Section 6 & 7: Supportive and Opposing Arguments— Cite your sources Kallie Kantanas Main Argument: The death penalty can be killing someone innocent. Evidence: “Point: Capital Punishment should be abolished” states, ”A 2008 ruling by the Supreme Court in Kennedy v. Louisiana, however, abolished the death sentence of a man convicted of raping a child, effectively holding that states may only use the death penalty in murder cases only.” This shows that someone innocent almost had the death penalty.Point: Capital Punishment should be abolished
Types of Evidence Supportive Information-Facts Significance-Relevance to your topic Citation 1. 8th Amendment Cruel unusual punishment That the death penalty was in violation of this (Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted) 2. Studies A new study in California revealed that the cost of the death penalty in the state has been over $4 billion since 1978. Study considered pretrial and trial costs, costs of automatic appeals and state habeas corpus petitions, costs of federal habeas corpus appeals, and costs of incarceration on death row. (Alarcon & Mitchell, 2011). The death penalty costs more money to impose than keeping a criminal in jail for life Types of Evidence Supportive Information-Facts Significance-Relevance to your topic Citation
8. Quote 9. Statistic As stated by Jesuit Priest and Community Professor of the Humanities at St. “The fatal constitutional infirmity in the punishment of death is that it treats 'members of the human race like animals "Retribution is just another word for revenge, and the desire for revenge is one of the lowest human emotions nonhumans” Savings from abolishing the death penalty in Kansas, for example, are estimated at $500,000 for every case in which the death penalty is not sought1 The death penalty treats humans like animals. Humans are not animals. It costs more to keep someone on death row than in prison for life this money could instead be better spent on measures that are of much greater benefit to the criminal justice system- greater policing, education, and other crime-prevention measures that are far more cost-effective Part V: Opposing Evidence Types of evidence could include the following: (At least 6 Pieces of Evidence Required) 2 Statistics #’s (studies, polls/surveys, and research results) 2 Constitutional Connections (5 Basic Principles, Amendments, Bill of Rights) 1Court Case relating to topic (Who, What, Where, When, Why) 1 Previous, existing, and/or pending Legislation (Laws) Additional supporting evidence: Current events (news article, journal article, magazine article, blog) Types of Evidence Supportive Significance-Relevant to your topic Citation