The death penalty:Too much room for error includes outline and research

Essay by tebo10College, UndergraduateB, May 2004

download word file, 5 pages 4.5

Thesis Statement

The death penalty should be abolished from the United States.

I. The death penalty is not an effective deterrent for monstrous crimes.

A. "Scientific studies have consistently failed to find convincing evidence

that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than other

punishment" (Amnesty)

B. "A New York Times survey, released in September 2000, found that

during the last 20 years, the homicide rate in the states with the death

penalty has been 48 percent to 101 percent higher than in the states

with out the death penalty."(Amnesty USA)

II. The economic ramifications of the death penalty are higher than the costs

of a life term sentence.

A. "Numerous studies have shown that it is significantly less expensive

than capital punishment."(Death Penalty)

B. "The defense costs were about four times higher in cases where death

was sought than in comparable cases where death was not

sought."(Death Penalty)

III. The chance of being proven innocent is too great when dealing with the

death penalty.

A. "Since 1973, 112 people have been released from death row, with

evidence of their innocence."(Death Penalty)

B. James Liebmen stated "An astonishing 82 percent of death row

inmates did not deserve the death penalty" also "One in twenty death

row inmates are later found not guilty."(American Civil)

C. "In many cases, it was good fortune rather than the criminal justice

system that established innocence."(American Civil)

D. "It is irrevocable and can be inflicted on the innocent; it has never been shown to deter crime more effectively than other punishment." (Amnesty)

IV. Justice of the victim is not achieved through the death penalty.

A. The death penalty is a way to let the criminal off easy.

B. By giving a criminal life in prison with out parole, there is no chance

the criminal will get...