The Realities of the Death Penalty
By Gabby Ciraolo People often question whether or not the death penalty is a justified means of punishment. The answer to this question depends entirely on what you believe the punishment should accomplish. Retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and incapacitation are the four purposes of punishment. Retribution--otherwise known as revenge--and deterrence--built around the idea that punishment is more painful than a crime is pleasurable--are the two forms of punishment most often brought up when discussing the death penalty. It is a widely held belief that the only adequate punishment for murder is capital punishment--many people believe that retribution is justice. A study conducted by Professor Beckett at the University of Washington found that jurors in Washington state are 3x more likely to recommend a death sentence for a black defendant than they would for a white defendant in a similar case. Additionally, a study in California discovered that people found guilty of killing a