Ethical Issues in Capital Punishment

Ethical Issues in Capital Punishment

Introduction

Capital Punishment and other criminal sanctions have always been in a debate as being unethical and immoral (BBC 2013). The ethical theories does not support the capital punishment as moral stake is that it is not the right of the state to decide about the life of an individual. However, the ethical objection also depends on the difference between the acts and omissions. The purpose of the study is to analyze the capital punishment in the light of the ethical theories.

Discussion

Deterrence perspective

The deterrent effect is being convicted if ones commits murder. This act is considered to be self evident as an individual will think twice before executing a murder if his life is on stake. The fear of being punished with capital punishment may stop the person from committing the crime in the first place.

However, some may think that the person is emotionally charge and will not think about the consequences when executing such an act. The mental state, anger or depression may not make the person capable of being deterred. It has been argued that the statistical evidence of the crime rate shows the failure of deterrence effect (Nagin & Pepper, 2012). The deterrence is most effective in the case when the punishment is immediately given. This can be evident from an example of child who learns the harm of putting the hand in fire as of the instant pain. The legal system should act quick making it effective deterrent punishment.

Both perspectives have a valid argument, as the deterrence effect will vary from situations and persons. I believe that deterrence effect may have a little impact on the action a person takes when he is not emotionally or mentally stable. An individual would act on impulse rather thinking of ...