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...