• International Relations Topics Topics: 176
  • International Organizations Essay Topics Topics: 97
  • Elections Research Topics Topics: 124
  • Diplomacy Essay Topics Topics: 78
  • Totalitarianism Research Topics Topics: 72
  • Political Parties Essay Topics Topics: 105
  • Capital Punishment Essay Topics Topics: 65
  • Federalism Essay Topics Topics: 74
  • United Nations Research Topics Topics: 116
  • Political Science Paper Topics Topics: 96
  • Public Administration Topics Topics: 133
  • International Law Essay Topics Topics: 117
  • Donald Trump Paper Topics Topics: 90
  • Socialism Topics Topics: 92
  • European Union Essay Topics Topics: 75

142 Death Penalty Research Questions & Title Ideas

Are you looking for the best death penalty research title? StudyCorgi has got you covered! On this page, you’ll find plenty of death penalty titles and research questions about capital punishment. Feel free to use them for your debate, argumentative paper, and other writing assignments.

📌 Death Penalty Subtopics

🏆 best death penalty essay titles, 📚 death penalty essay topics for college, 👍 good death penalty research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting death penalty topics for discussion, ❓ death penalty research questions, 🔎 questions about the death penalty for research project, ✍️ creative titles for death penalty essay, 📝 death penalty title ideas for essays.

If you’re wondering what to include in your research questions about death penalty, here are some subtopics you can consider.

Is capital punishment fair?
Does the death penalty effectively deter crime?
What crimes should be punished by the death penalty?
Should capital punishment be applicable to juveniles or mentally disabled offenders?
What methods should be used for the death penalty (electric chair, lethal injection, etc.)
  • Is the Death Penalty Effective?
  • Death Penalty Abolishment: Arguments For and Against
  • Death by Fire: The Death Penalty in Texas
  • Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished?
  • Forensic Psychologist’s Role in Death Penalty Trial
  • Justification of the Death Penalty
  • Violation of the Human Right to Life: Death Penalty
  • The Justness of Socrates’s Decision to Accept the Death Penalty Socrates was sentenced to death for instilling ‘wrong’ political views in the youth, but instead of escaping his death, the philosopher accepted it with honor.
  • The Death Penalty: Arguments in Favor The death penalty is a general discussion topic in modern society and is complicated. Federal and state courts progressively approve death penalty statutes.
  • Death Penalty: Contradictions Several crimes can lead to the death penalty: rape, racism, and murder. The death penalty has many and serious disadvantages and advantages.
  • Arguments Against Death Penalty Death penalties are nothing more than relics of the past. They were never enough to stop or even curb crime in any given country at any given period.
  • Death Penalty as Viewed within the Framework of Retributive Justice Modern society strives to develop compassion and understanding and reduce cruelty, as the value of human life and individuality is steadily growing.
  • The Death Penalty: James Holmes’ Case The death penalty does not violate the Sixth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. It does shape certain procedural aspects.
  • Aspects of Death Penalty Acceptance The death penalty is a form of punishment that should be used to justify criminals when they commit severe crimes concerning other people.
  • Court Cases That Impacted to Death Penalty Daryl Atkins, who has an IQ of 59, was found guilty of murdering an Air Force enlisted man inside a convenience shop and was sentenced to death for his crime.
  • Death Penalty and “Eye for an Eye” System The argument that the death penalty fits the narrative of the “eye for an eye” idea is valid. However, the state has the right to take away someone’s rights.
  • The Advantages of the Death Penalty This paper claims that the death penalty justified from an ethic since it reduces the number of criminals, satisfy the victims, and the state will not suffer financial losses.
  • Against the Death Penalty in the US The article presents arguments against the death penalty in the United States, focusing on its ineffectiveness as a deterrent, high costs, and racial and subjective biases.
  • Death Penalty: The Utilitarianism Ethical Theory Utilitarianism gives moral justification for the death penalty as long as it promotes society’s total well-being, approval, and happiness.
  • Death Penalty Position in Society Death penalty is the most severe punishment a government may sentence a person to for breaking the law, for example, by committing murder.
  • Death Penalty in Case of Mental Illnesses American legal thought posited that the defendant’s mental competence was a necessary prerequisite for issuing and implementing the death penalty.
  • Juvenile Justice and the Death Penalty When discussing the death penalty, especially for juvenile perpetrators, three concepts are critical: justice, deterrence, and possibility of error.
  • System of the Death Penalty in the United States Mitigation is a valuable and efficient tool for choosing an appropriate punishment during the juridical process and might be highly relevant for other social work practices.
  • The Case Roper v. Simmons: Concept of National Consensus About Juvenile Death Penalty The aim of this work is to investigate the case of the national consensus concerning the issue of the juvenile death penalty on the example of the case Roper v. Simmons.
  • Criminal Justice in Texas: Todd Willingham and Death Penalty The case of Cameron Todd Willingham was a controversial criminal justice case handled in Texas. The man was charged with the murder of his three young children by arson.
  • Death Penalty: To Be or Not To Be? This essay is aimed at discussing the ongoing death penalty debate with reference to Adam Liptak’s and Stephen Breyer’s arguments.
  • The Death Penalty in the United States The article “The Rise, Fall, and Afterlife of the Death Penalty in the United States” examines the past, present, and possible future of capital punishment in the United States.
  • Death Penalty Should Be Abolished in the United States The death penalty hinders the United States’ progress and should be criminalized to avoid more harm than good in the government’s efforts to realize the American dream.
  • Racial Disparities in Death Penalty Sentencing The assessment of the racial disparities problem and its correlations with the principles of death penalty sentencing is of high importance from a legal and social perspective.
  • Death Penalty: Practice and Ethics of the Use This paper discusses capital punishment as a legal measure, the history of the death penalty, and the appropriateness and relevance of this punishment.
  • Legislative Issues in Texas: The Death Penalty This article discusses the problem of imperfect trials in Texas, which allows a person to be mistakenly executed.
  • Judicial Error and the Death Penalty This research paper provides a critical analysis of the feasibility of stopping the death penalty in the United States through the lens of the innocence of victims.
  • Zimbabwe and Zambia Death Penalty Comparison The post compares capital punishment in Zimbabwe and Zambia, last death sentence dates, and methods of execution.
  • Death Penalty Debates in the United States: Inhumane Practice The process of the death penalty is highly flawed, and there are numerous ethical and practical challenges that suggest that capital punishment should be abolished.
  • Death Penalty and Other Issues That Surround It In the United States, capital punishment has been used for a long period of time and it is still practiced today. This paper will seek to analyze death penalty and related issues.
  • Death Penalty: Legal and Moral Issues Discussion of the legal and moral issues that literally are of life and death importance and is a major barometer when measuring a society’s collective conscience.
  • The Death Penalty in the USA The death penalty in the USA exists in some states, and it must be to discipline people and to threaten them from murders and other great crimes.
  • Should Death Penalty Be Abolished in the US? This essay examines whether the death penalty is an effective deterrent, and should it be abolished in the US.
  • Key Points for Abolishing the Death Penalty in the USA This briefing paper is presented to American people so that all doubts and plans of retaining the death penalty despite all the Supreme Court rulings and the bad effects of it shall henceforth be erased from our minds.
  • Death Penalty as a Cruel Murder While many arguments have been put forward for and against it, there is no doubt that the Death Penalty is nothing but a cruel murder perpetrated by the State.
  • Death Penalty Validity as a Form of Punishment The paper assesses the validity of the death penalty as a form of punishment for controlling the increasing crime rates and tries to provide a solution or an option that can eliminate an extreme step.
  • Death Penalty Abolition: Why It Is Needed? The death penalty should be done away with and instead replaced by a more humane form of punishing criminals irrespective of the intensity of the offense.
  • Participation in Government: The Death Penalty The death penalty is also referred to as capital punishment and is commonly reserved for capital offenses. The term capital has its origins in the Latin word capita.
  • The Death Penalty and Its Basic Reasons The death penalty also known as capital punishment is the execution of a person by the state as punishment for a crime.
  • Should the United States Abolish the Death Penalty? Being the agent responsible for the administration of the death penalty, the state is the chief proponent of the same as a form of punishment.
  • Death Penalty from a Prison Officer’s Perspective The death penalty can be considered as an ancient form of punishment in relation to the type of crime that had been committed.
  • Death Penalty and Its Theoretical Justification The activity of the justice system equally depends on the fairness of the justification and the validity of the punishment.
  • Death Penalty and Utilitarian Ethics This paper will analyze the ethical grounds of utilizing the death penalty for recidivist violent criminals based on Bentham’s utilitarianism.
  • “What Will Doom the Death Penalty” by Daniel LaChance This reading essay summarizes, explains, and evaluates the main points of the reading: “What Will Doom the Death Penalty: Capital Punishment, Another Failed Government Program?” by Daniel LaChance.
  • Death Penalty from Religious and Historical Standpoints The paper evaluates the benefits and analyzes the death penalty from a modern, religious, and historical perspective.
  • What Will Doom the Death Penalty? The increasing levels of crime in the United States encouraged more people to embrace the idea of capital punishment. This discussion gives a detailed analysis of this article.
  • Death Penalty Trends in American Justice System This paper discusses the death penalty abolition in Illinois, Innocence Project, sentencing of the mentally retarded individuals, and the case of Stanley Williams.
  • Death Penalty and Its Issues Serious criminals have usually imposed a death sentence. This type of punishment continues to exist, even nowadays. However, it seems completely irrelevant in a humanistic society.
  • Roots of Public Support for the Death Penalty In his article, Daniel LaChance analyzes the phenomenon of the death penalty in America and the social attitude towards it. LaChance expresses a negative attitude.
  • Death Penalty as Unjustified Measure Nowadays The person living in the 21st century should believe that the death penalty simply increases violence and grief and does not help the victim’s close ones recover from their pain.
  • Death Penalty: History and Rationale After WWII, the death penalty was limited through the creation of the international Human Rights Doctrines. The procedure of death punishment became more humane.
  • The Death Penalty and Mentally Retarded Capital Offenders The present paper attempts to discuss causes of wrongful conviction of capital offenders and the psychological assessment criteria that could be used by forensic psychologists.
  • Ethical Perspectives on Capital Punishment: Arguments for Abolition Capital punishment remains a contested issue in many societies across the globe. Many countries have abolished this form of punishment. Such countries believe that the malpractice is unethical.
  • Is Death Penalty Adequate? The death penalty is inadequate, as it leads to the punishment of not guilty people, feeling of insecurity, high volume of stress, cruelty of the execution process.
  • Death Penalty: Corporal Punishment in 58 Countries This paper seeks to establish that corporal punishment is not the best way to correct wrongdoers. It shows how death penalty is applicable and effective.
  • The Debate Over Whether the Death Penalty Is Just or Unjust
  • Death Penalty and Its Deterrent Effect of Murder Rates in Society
  • The Death Penalty and Its Effects on America
  • Potential Savings From Abolition of the Death Penalty in North Carolina
  • Pros and Cons Side of the International and Domestic Legislation on the Death Penalty
  • Ethical Issues either for or Against the Death Penalty
  • The Pros and Cons of Life Imprisonment and the Death Penalty
  • Religious and Morality Issues of Death Penalty
  • The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Death Penalty in the United States
  • The Death Penalty and Its Effect on the Social Position of the Criminal
  • Marxist Ideology and the Death Penalty
  • The Relationship Between Race & the Use of the Death Penalty
  • Thailand Should Kept Death Penalty for Certain Crime
  • How Can Death Penalty Prevent Repeat Offenders?
  • The Death Penalty and New Studies of Disparate Racial Impact
  • Death Row and Death Penalty in the United States
  • The Death Penalty Preserves Human Dignity
  • Death Penalty Support and Argument Rebuttal
  • The Death Penalty and Mental Illness
  • Should the Death Penalty Be Reinstated in the UK?
  • The Death Penalty Should Be Removed to Avoid Wrongly Punishing the Innocent
  • Life Sentence Without Parole – Better Than Death Penalty
  • Does the Death Penalty Breach Human Rights?
  • What Crimes Carried the Death Penalty?
  • Does Jodi Arias Deserve the Death Penalty?
  • Why Is the Death Penalty Good?
  • Does the Death Penalty Deter Crime?
  • Why We Should Ban the Death Penalty?
  • How Might the Death Penalty Prevent Crime?
  • Why the Death Penalty Should Be Abolished?
  • How Objective and Justifiable Are Our Reasons for Enforcing the Death Penalty?
  • Is the Death Penalty Ethical?
  • What Are Three Arguments for the Death Penalty?
  • What Is a Pro Argument for Death Penalty?
  • Should the Death Death Penalty Be Legal?
  • What Are the Pros and Cons of the  Death Penalty?
  • Should the Death Penalty Apply to Juvenile Criminals?
  • What Is the Strongest Argument in Favor of the Death Penalty?
  • Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished Across the Nations?
  • Why Is the Death Penalty Good for Society?
  • What Effects Does the Death Penalty Cause to Society?
  • What Role Does Race Play in the Death Penalty?
  • Who Is Most Affected by the Death Penalty?
  • Why Does the United States Government Need the Death Penalty?
  • Who Has Power Over the Death Penalty?
  • Why Some People Think That the Death Penalty Is Unfair and Unacceptable?
  • Why Did the Death Penalty Become a Thing?
  • Who Was the First Person to Get the Death Penalty?
  • Why the Death Penalty Is Appropriate for Cases Where Defendants Have Mental Retardation?
  • When Did Death Penalty End?
  • When Was the Death Penalty Most Popular?
  • How does the use of the death penalty vary in different countries?
  • What factors affect public support for capital punishment?
  • How does the death penalty affect crime rates?
  • How does capital punishment affect marginalized communities?
  • What racial and gender disparities exist in death sentencing?
  • How does international law address the death penalty?
  • What is the role of mental disability in death penalty cases?
  • What are the financial costs of maintaining capital punishment?
  • How does the media portrayal of the death penalty affect public attitudes?
  • Are there more effective alternatives to the death penalty?
  • The emotional toll of the death penalty on families.
  • The human rights aspect of capital punishment.
  • Views on capital punishment expressed in art.
  • How can we make the criminal justice system more compassionate?
  • Factors affecting the death penalty verdicts.
  • The psychological impact of capital punishment on offenders and executioners.
  • Religious perspectives on the death penalty.
  • The cultural significance of historical executions.
  • Personal stories of inmates sentenced to death.
  • Does the death penalty perpetuate violence?
  • The consequences of wrongful convictions in capital punishment.
  • The death penalty vs. life imprisonment.
  • Capital punishment and the possibility of redemption.
  • Media’s influence on policies related to capital punishment.
  • Is it ethical to execute juvenile offenders?
  • The significance of DNA evidence in death penalty cases.
  • The role of vengeance in capital punishment.
  • Controversies surrounding lethal injections.
  • The issue of human dignity in capital punishment.
  • Federal vs. state jurisdictions concerning the death penalty.

Cite this post

  • Chicago (N-B)
  • Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2022, January 16). 142 Death Penalty Research Questions & Title Ideas. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/death-penalty-essay-topics/

"142 Death Penalty Research Questions & Title Ideas." StudyCorgi , 16 Jan. 2022, studycorgi.com/ideas/death-penalty-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . (2022) '142 Death Penalty Research Questions & Title Ideas'. 16 January.

1. StudyCorgi . "142 Death Penalty Research Questions & Title Ideas." January 16, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/death-penalty-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "142 Death Penalty Research Questions & Title Ideas." January 16, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/death-penalty-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "142 Death Penalty Research Questions & Title Ideas." January 16, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/death-penalty-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Death Penalty were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 21, 2024 .

  • Call to +1 844 889-9952

155 Capital Punishment Research Topics & Essay Examples

  • 📝 Capital Punishment Paper Examples

🎓 Simple Research Topics about Capital Punishment

✍️ capital punishment essay topics for college, 🏆 best capital punishment essay titles, ❓ capital punishment research questions, 📝 capital punishment research paper examples.

  • Is the Death Penalty Just and Applied Fairly? This paper discusses do people have the right and moral permission to consciously vote on the decision to deprive someone of their life for the acts that a person has committed.
  • Death Penalty Closure and Crime Rate Effect From a certain perspective, it is not hard to view capital punishment as a state-sponsored program geared towards the destruction of people's lives.
  • Capital Punishment' History Those who are against the use of capital punishment made the argument that the threat of capital punishment does not discourage murderers from committing crime.
  • Death Penalty: Arguments for Abolishing This paper argues the death penalty should be abolished since it might lead to injustice, it imposes a financial burden to the society, and it is a barbaric form of punishment.
  • Death Penalty in the American Judicial System In the American judicial system, the death penalty is applied in military and civil proceedings. The sentence is anchored on the Eighth Amendment.
  • Death Penalty and Arguments For Its Abolishment Death penalty caused many debates among legislators, criminologists, journalists. The paper argues that it should either be abolished or reduced to the minimum.
  • The Contractions of American Capital Punishment Capital punishment can be described as the practice of sentencing a person to death after being judged and found guilty for a dreadful crime.
  • Capital Punishment and Its Moral Justification There can be cases when society finds that capital punishment is morally justifiable, even though everyone has the fundamental and inalienable right to life.
  • Capital Punishment's History and Types in America The argument presented in this paper is that capital punishment is a judicial method that presents both controversies and benefits.
  • Death Penalty, Its Acceptability and Issues It is often seen that when more offenders are put to death, it deters capital crimes more effectively than a life sentence.
  • The Death Penalty Imposition and Rebuttal In the US, capital Punishment has been used as the harshest form of retribution for society's most vicious offenses. This paper argues the pros and cons of the death penalty and the scope of the issue.
  • Public Policy and Governance Issues Policy analysis attempts to assess if a policy is worthy of, or convenient for implementation. This is achieved by looking at normative and subjective issues.
  • The Issue of Capital Punishment in America An investigation of the stipulations presented in the 8th Amendment indicates that the death penalty contravenes this part of the U.S. Constitution.
  • Capital Punishment and Its Ethics It is possible to practice the death penalty, but its implications must be tightly limited and regulated. The alleged criminal should not be sentenced to death immediately.
  • Capital Punishment: Arguments For and Against The aim of this paper is to compare and contrast the arguments for and against capital punishment presented in two essays.
  • Capital Punishment Is Ineffective in the US The issue of capital punishment is a controversial and debatable one involving different views and perspectives on the effective and protective role of this type of punishment.
  • Capital Punishment and Crime Deterrence The choice of measures that are supposed to deter crime is related to a wide range of issues at the confluence of ethics and other problems in criminal justice.
  • Capital Punishment Reintroduction in the UK The death penalty is what they call the “execution sentence for murder and other capital crimes, serious crimes or grave crimes such as murder, treason, rape and the like.”
  • Capital Punishment in Australia Capital punishment differs greatly from one country to the other. There are countries that have decided to do away with capital punishment and Australia is one of them.
  • The Death Penalty: An American History and Ethics The death penalty is a highly controversial and emotional subject about which most people seem to have strong opinions.
  • Argument Against Death Penalty Death penalty continues to elicit much debate and controversy in both academia and among criminal justice practitioners. There are various moral ethical and religious issues
  • No Justification for Capital Punishment Capital punishment opponents argue that the practice does not deter crime, which statistics reprove. Opponents also deny that the death penalty is a deterrent to crime
  • The Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty This paper argues that the death penalty is not only necessary but also the most efficient means for deterring future offenders.
  • Capital Punishment: For and Against Capital punishment is a procedure that was reached after considering certain factors, the concept of capital punishment is based on the principle of paying life for life.
  • Capital Punishment in the United States Handling criminal offenses is crucial in ensuring justice. The process of punishment should be done swiftly in order to ensure that such crimes are not repeated.
  • The Death Penalty as a Form of Criminal Punishment The article reflects the author's position on the death penalty, and also discusses the readiness of the American judicial system to implement it.
  • Why the Death Penalty Should Be Legalized in All 50 States It is much more rational and equitable to legalize the death penalty in all the fifty states of the US instead of abolishing it.
  • Is Capital Punishment a Justifiable Action? This paper aims to prove that capital punishment is an unjust practice, which cannot be used in modern democratic countries, including the United States.
  • Jury Sentencing in Capital Cases Jury sentencing has been mostly recognized in capital cases to preserve the connection between the modern societal values and the penal system.
  • Death Penalty-Capital Punishment The purpose of this paper is to discuss capital punishment and that there are many discriminations and inconsistencies that occur in the judicial proceedings.
  • The Death Penalty as a Wrong Form of Punishment The death penalty is a wrong form of punishment for any human being, for any crime, and the punisher goes unpunished.
  • Death Penalty: A Controversial Issue The death penalty is a phenomenon whose legitimacy, efficiency, and morality still divide society. This essay discusses the pros and cons of the death penalty.
  • A Utilitarian Approach to Capital Punishment A utilitarian approach and ethical analysis of capital punishment show that the advantages of capital punishment outshine its shortcomings.
  • Death Penalty as an Outdated Crime Punishment Capital punishment is still a controversial topic, insofar as for any civilized person death sentence must be abolished in all states due to its inhumane and unjust nature.
  • Death Penalty in the United States The main debate issues are the existence of the right of the state to deprive of life, the political and legal significance and, its expediency in the state legal system.
  • The Death Penalty and Arguments Against It Instead of focusing on the death penalty, we need to put out our resources upfront into prevention so that we can prevent murder in the first place.
  • The Positive and Negative Aspects of the Death Penalty According to American Law This paper looks at both the positive and negative aspects of the death penalty and society’s perception of it.
  • Death Penalty Debate Revisited: International and Comparative Perspectives There have been controversial international perspectives on death penalty most of which revolve around the execution of innocent victims.
  • Capital Punishment: Pros and Cons Capital punishment results in the government choosing to terminate the life of a person reliant on the severity of the crimes that they have committed.
  • Death Penalty in USA and China This paper discusses capital punishment and how it is implemented in both China and the USA by looking in-depth at the historical background legal procedures in both countries.
  • Death Penalty for First Degree Murder The death penalty is lawful in the U.S, which is currently being implemented by twenty-eight states, the military, the federal government, and American Samoa.
  • Capital Punishment and Deterrence to Crime Deterrence of crime entails the effect of stopping potential criminals from engaging in criminal activity on the basis of the expected consequences of engaging in the activity.
  • Evaluation of the Effectiveness Texas Death Penalty Law Texas is leading among states practicing capital punishment for a criminal offense. The conflicts surrounding capital punishment are numerous, with many calling for its abolition.
  • Capital Punishment Knowledge and Support Correlation The research seeks to establish the relationship that exists between knowledge acquisition with support for or opposition against capital punishment.
  • Research Methods for Criminal Justice in Regard to Capital Punishment Capital punishment is one of the most hotly debated issues in the US. About 67 percent of the US citizens supported the administration of capital punishment.
  • Capital Punishment in the USA The purpose of this paper is to discuss capital punishment in the USA and to give Arguments against and in support of capital punishment.
  • Prevention of Police Misbehavior Prevention of police misbehavior is no simple task. Discussions can be held and penalties can be imposed to help prevent cases of excessive force and abuse of power.
  • The Death Penalty and Its Deterrents The death penalty is considered one of the extremely volatile issues in America. The debate on the subject has caused a lot of divisions in American society.
  • The Death Penalty: Arguments For and Against This paper evaluates the pros and cons of the death penalty and comments on the appropriateness of abolishing the death penalty.
  • Capital Punishment Legislation in Pennsylvania The paper will deal with capital punishment in Pennsylvania, it will describe the general state of capital punishment legislation as well as the recent controversies regarding it.
  • Capital Punishment Debates in the United States Formerly, over 80% of the American population supported capital punishment. However, currently there is a strong opposition of capital punishment in the United States of America.
  • Should Death Penalty Be Banned as a Form of Punishment? The following paper suggests a literature review on the topic of the death penalty and justifies why it should not be banned.
  • The Death Penalty Should Not Be Banned as a Form of Punishment The death penalty has helped to curb crime rates, provide a safe environment, and administer justice. The paper will discuss several reasons why the death penalty should not be banned.
  • The Capital Punishment: Regulation in Human Society This paper seeks to prove that the death penalty is an inalienable regulation both in human society in general and in Wisconsin in particular.
  • Death Penalty for Juveniles and Mental Disabilities This paper explores different arguments advanced in four published articles, which investigate the constitutionality of imposing death penalties for juveniles and mentally retarded patients.
  • Capital Punishment Cases Handled in Los Angeles Policies The California State has put in place policies that encourage the administration of death punishment, emphasizing equality for the accomplishment of justice objectives.
  • The Death Penalty Debate in the United States The future of human civilization relies on the establishment of laws and codes of conduct that are to be followed by all members of society.
  • The Death Penalty Abolishment in Modern Society This essay aims to highlight the reasons why there is no place for such a severe sentence as the death penalty in modern society.
  • Is the Death Penalty a Deterrence? The death penalty is a promising method of preventing homicides. Potential offenders see benefits from violent crimes such as self-interest and pleasure.
  • Capital Punishment / Position Paper The main alternatives to punishment, particularly the death penalty, to which the state's efforts should be directed are preventive measures.
  • Why Death Penalty Is Acceptable The problem of the debate about whether it is acceptable to the death penalty lies in that it essentially refers to the idea of the legality of taking another person's life.
  • The Death Penalty in Texas The reputation that Texas has earned over the years among other U.S. states due to its current regulations regarding the use of capital punishment is quite shaky and controversial.
  • Punishment in America and Its Historical Evolution Although there has been a shift in recent years towards more lenient punishments, there are still local differences in perspective, mainly expressed in the punishment laws.
  • Capital Punishment: Arguments For and Against The arguments against capital punishment are more convincing because the justice system has been flawed historically, and crimes, including murder, vary in culpability.
  • Capital Punishment Is a Just Punishment The paper states that the debate about capital punishment is a never-ending one that continues to polarize opposing and supporting camps.
  • Capital Punishment: The Philosophical Perspective According to Kant, in the case of malicious killing, the punishment cannot be measured by the amount of deliberate violence over a person's freedom.
  • Justifying the Abolishment of Death Penalty American legislators, public activists, human rights defenders, and others are in acute arguments about what punishment most dangerous and brutal criminals should receive.
  • Christian View on Topic of Capital Punishment As a Christian human life is valuable and no one has the right to be deprived of the value of their life, the offender can be given time to reform or rehabilitate.
  • Capital Punishment and Arguments Against Arguments against capital punishment are quite beneficial. Approaches other than capital punishments can resolve some challenges.
  • Human Fallibility in Capital Punishment Human fallibility will always be present in capital punishment cases, regardless of the objectivity of the process or the distance that jurors put between themselves.
  • Discussion of Capital Punishment The paper discusses death penalty does not help a community because it violates moral norms, does not stop people from committing crimes and may be mistaken.
  • Researching of Capital Punishment Capital punishment may serve as a more frightening factor than a life sentence for potential criminals, reducing crime rates even further.
  • Why the Death Penalty Is Wrong The research demonstrates how unethical capital sentence is. The proponents argue that it is ethical to deprive some people of life if it helps society live peacefully.
  • Death Sentence: Legalizing Global Capital Punishment Capital punishment has always been a topic surrounded by controversies in many humanitarian disciplines such as philosophy, law, and sociology.
  • Application of Capital Punishment for Crimes Other Than First-Degree Murders This paper aims to find the answer to the question of whether capital punishment should be used for crimes other than first-degree murder.
  • Discussion of Death Penalty Aspects The paper argues death penalty is unjust since it affects vulnerable people, such as the underprivileged and mentally ill, who are unable to adequately defend themselves.
  • Arguing Against the Application of Capital Punishment Although capital punishment is believed to deter crime, murder, and facilitate retribution, it is inhumane, brutalizes society, and can be used as a tool for controlling and vengeance.
  • Death Penalty, Its Feasibility and Legitimacy The death penalty as capital punishment in the modern world is seen rather as an unnecessary measure associated with ethical concerns.
  • Capital Punishment vs. Life Imprisonment for Murderers and Pedophiles It is inappropriate to sentence criminals to death in a modern civilized world. Life imprisonment is the most appropriate punishment for murderers and pedophiles.
  • Death Penalty in Utah Should Be Abolished The death penalty should be abolished in Utah because it violates the right to life and also, it breaches the right not to be subjected to torture.
  • The Deterrent Effect of Capital Punishment Capital punishment defines sentencing convicted offenders to death for crimes considered most serious and executing that sentence.
  • Lethal Injection in Uncharted Territory: Reaction to Article The article by Salk claims that lethal injection reforms should be revised to be similar to that of human subject research as today they are performed without proper guidance.
  • Retributive Justice: The 9/11 Attack's Participant The paper is dedicated to exploring the case of one of the terrorists who participated in the 9/11 attacks in the US and was trialed and convicted in a US criminal court.
  • Cesare Beccaria's Attitude Toward the Death Penalty Cesare Beccaria considered the death penalty as one of the most useless punishments in terms of effectiveness and usefulness to society.
  • Death Penalty: The Controversy The concept of the death penalty is habitually associated with injustice since it violates human rights, namely the right to life.
  • Capital Punishment: Needless Inhumanity
  • Capital Punishment: Hypocrisy of the Death Penalty
  • Off With Their Heads: Terrorism and Electoral Support for Capital Punishment in Australia
  • Capital Punishment: Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right
  • Supreme Court Lobbying for the Push Back of Capital Punishment for Juvenile Offenders
  • The Controversy That Comes Along With Capital Punishment
  • Three Arguments Regarding Capital Punishment
  • The Merits and Pitfalls of Capital Punishment Today
  • Moral Debate Over Capital Punishment
  • Prison Has Better Retribution Than Capital Punishment
  • The Pros and Cons of Capital Punishment in the United States
  • The Two Distinguishable Figures in the Area of Capital Punishment in the US
  • Criticizing the Most Recognized Reasons for Capital Punishment
  • Hanging Down Under: Capital Punishment and Deterrence in Australia
  • Capital Punishment Infringes Upon Human Rights and Should Not Be Reinstated in Canada
  • Capital Punishment: The Ultimate Denial of Human Rights
  • Capital Punishment: Only Punishment That Fits the Crime
  • The Righteous Debate Against Capital Punishment
  • Discussing the Capital Punishment for Juvenile Offenders
  • Capital Punishment in Europe and Asia
  • The Controversy Surrounding the Issue of Capital Punishment in the United States
  • Justice, Euthanasia, and Capital Punishment in Plato’s Republic
  • Achieving Nothing but Revenge: Research Shows That Capital Punishment Is Unsuitable for Civilized Nations
  • Capital Punishment: Criminals Can Think Twice or Die Once
  • Philosophers and Capital Punishment: James, Ayer, and Strawson
  • Reasons the U.S. Should Use Capital Punishment
  • The Statistics of Capital Punishment in the U.S. and Europe
  • Death Penalty: The Pros and Cons of Capital Punishment
  • Ethical Concerns About Capital Punishment in the United States
  • Moral and Ethical Issues of Capital Punishment Since Ancient Times
  • Debate on the Merits of Capital Punishment
  • Death and Justice: How Capital Punishment Affirms Life
  • Capital Punishment and the Risk of Executing the Innocent
  • The Different Argumentative Cases of Capital Punishment Throughout History
  • Race, Capital Punishment, and the Cost of Murder
  • Capital Punishment: Providing Justice and Closure to the Victims and Their Families
  • Assumptions Matter: Model Uncertainty and the Deterrent Effect of Capital Punishment
  • The Effective and Humane Method of Capital Punishment
  • Capital Punishment Should Remain an Aspect of the United State’s Justice System
  • Interest Groups That Support Capital Punishment
  • Why People Hate Capital Punishment?
  • Does the Capital Punishment Have a Role in Civilized Society?
  • Does Capital Punishment Cheapens the Value of Human Life?
  • What Role Has Capital Punishment Played in America?
  • Legal Murder: Why Capital Punishment Is Morally Wrong?
  • Capital Punishment: Does It Really Improve America’s Justice System?
  • Capital Punishment: God’s Will or Cruelty of Man?
  • What if Capital Punishment Never Existed?
  • Capital Punishment: Why Does the Church Oppose It So Much?
  • Capital Punishment: Is It Really Necessary?
  • Capital Punishment: Proper Punishment or a Form of Revenge?
  • Capital Punishment: Who Are We to Take a Life?
  • Why Capital Punishment Should Be Abolished?
  • Does Capital Punishment Really Deter Crime?
  • Capital Punishment and Human Rights: Does the Death Penalty Breach Human Rights?
  • How Fragile Are Fragile Inferences? A Re-Evaluation of the Deterrent Effect of Capital Punishment
  • What’s Wrong With Capital Punishment?
  • Capital Punishment: Is Death Penalty Justifiable?
  • Capital Punishment: Should Execution of Inmates Be Televised?
  • Can Capital Punishment Ever Be Justified?
  • Capital Punishment: How Americans See It?
  • Capital Punishment and Torture: Unconstitutional or Just?
  • Capital Punishment and the Criminal Justice Field: Fair or Unjust?
  • Why Should the Government Not Approve Capital Punishment?
  • What Does Capital Punishment Mean in History?
  • Why Should Capital Punishment Be Illegal?
  • Does Capital Punishment Have a Local Deterrent Effect on Homicides?
  • The Death Penalty: A Punishment for the Poor?
  • The Death Penalty: Why We Should Have Capital Punishment?
  • Free Capital Punishment: Good or Bad Public Policy?

Cite this page

Select style

  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

DemoEssays. (2024, May 25). 155 Capital Punishment Research Topics & Essay Examples. https://demoessays.com/topics/capital-punishment-research-topics/

"155 Capital Punishment Research Topics & Essay Examples." DemoEssays , 25 May 2024, demoessays.com/topics/capital-punishment-research-topics/.

DemoEssays . (2024) '155 Capital Punishment Research Topics & Essay Examples'. 25 May.

DemoEssays . 2024. "155 Capital Punishment Research Topics & Essay Examples." May 25, 2024. https://demoessays.com/topics/capital-punishment-research-topics/.

1. DemoEssays . "155 Capital Punishment Research Topics & Essay Examples." May 25, 2024. https://demoessays.com/topics/capital-punishment-research-topics/.

Bibliography

DemoEssays . "155 Capital Punishment Research Topics & Essay Examples." May 25, 2024. https://demoessays.com/topics/capital-punishment-research-topics/.

Human Rights Careers

5 Death Penalty Essays Everyone Should Know

Capital punishment is an ancient practice. It’s one that human rights defenders strongly oppose and consider as inhumane and cruel. In 2019, Amnesty International reported the lowest number of executions in about a decade. Most executions occurred in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt . The United States is the only developed western country still using capital punishment. What does this say about the US? Here are five essays about the death penalty everyone should read:

“When We Kill”

By: Nicholas Kristof | From: The New York Times 2019

In this excellent essay, Pulitizer-winner Nicholas Kristof explains how he first became interested in the death penalty. He failed to write about a man on death row in Texas. The man, Cameron Todd Willingham, was executed in 2004. Later evidence showed that the crime he supposedly committed – lighting his house on fire and killing his three kids – was more likely an accident. In “When We Kill,” Kristof puts preconceived notions about the death penalty under the microscope. These include opinions such as only guilty people are executed, that those guilty people “deserve” to die, and the death penalty deters crime and saves money. Based on his investigations, Kristof concludes that they are all wrong.

Nicholas Kristof has been a Times columnist since 2001. He’s the winner of two Pulitizer Prices for his coverage of China and the Darfur genocide.

“An Inhumane Way of Death”

By: Willie Jasper Darden, Jr.

Willie Jasper Darden, Jr. was on death row for 14 years. In his essay, he opens with the line, “Ironically, there is probably more hope on death row than would be found in most other places.” He states that everyone is capable of murder, questioning if people who support capital punishment are just as guilty as the people they execute. Darden goes on to say that if every murderer was executed, there would be 20,000 killed per day. Instead, a person is put on death row for something like flawed wording in an appeal. Darden feels like he was picked at random, like someone who gets a terminal illness. This essay is important to read as it gives readers a deeper, more personal insight into death row.

Willie Jasper Darden, Jr. was sentenced to death in 1974 for murder. During his time on death row, he advocated for his innocence and pointed out problems with his trial, such as the jury pool that excluded black people. Despite worldwide support for Darden from public figures like the Pope, Darden was executed in 1988.

“We Need To Talk About An Injustice”

By: Bryan Stevenson | From: TED 2012

This piece is a transcript of Bryan Stevenson’s 2012 TED talk, but we feel it’s important to include because of Stevenson’s contributions to criminal justice. In the talk, Stevenson discusses the death penalty at several points. He points out that for years, we’ve been taught to ask the question, “Do people deserve to die for their crimes?” Stevenson brings up another question we should ask: “Do we deserve to kill?” He also describes the American death penalty system as defined by “error.” Somehow, society has been able to disconnect itself from this problem even as minorities are disproportionately executed in a country with a history of slavery.

Bryan Stevenson is a lawyer, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, and author. He’s argued in courts, including the Supreme Court, on behalf of the poor, minorities, and children. A film based on his book Just Mercy was released in 2019 starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx.

“I Know What It’s Like To Carry Out Executions”

By: S. Frank Thompson | From: The Atlantic 2019

In the death penalty debate, we often hear from the family of the victims and sometimes from those on death row. What about those responsible for facilitating an execution? In this opinion piece, a former superintendent from the Oregon State Penitentiary outlines his background. He carried out the only two executions in Oregon in the past 55 years, describing it as having a “profound and traumatic effect” on him. In his decades working as a correctional officer, he concluded that the death penalty is not working . The United States should not enact federal capital punishment.

Frank Thompson served as the superintendent of OSP from 1994-1998. Before that, he served in the military and law enforcement. When he first started at OSP, he supported the death penalty. He changed his mind when he observed the protocols firsthand and then had to conduct an execution.

“There Is No Such Thing As Closure on Death Row”

By: Paul Brown | From: The Marshall Project 2019

This essay is from Paul Brown, a death row inmate in Raleigh, North Carolina. He recalls the moment of his sentencing in a cold courtroom in August. The prosecutor used the term “closure” when justifying a death sentence. Who is this closure for? Brown theorizes that the prosecutors are getting closure as they end another case, but even then, the cases are just a way to further their careers. Is it for victims’ families? Brown is doubtful, as the death sentence is pursued even when the families don’t support it. There is no closure for Brown or his family as they wait for his execution. Vivid and deeply-personal, this essay is a must-read for anyone who wonders what it’s like inside the mind of a death row inmate.

Paul Brown has been on death row since 2000 for a double murder. He is a contributing writer to Prison Writers and shares essays on topics such as his childhood, his life as a prisoner, and more.

You may also like

essay titles for capital punishment

13 Facts about Child Labor

essay titles for capital punishment

Environmental Racism 101: Definition, Examples, Ways to Take Action

essay titles for capital punishment

11 Examples of Systemic Injustices in the US

essay titles for capital punishment

Women’s Rights 101: History, Examples, Activists

essay titles for capital punishment

What is Social Activism?

essay titles for capital punishment

15 Inspiring Movies about Activism

essay titles for capital punishment

15 Examples of Civil Disobedience

essay titles for capital punishment

Academia in Times of Genocide: Why are Students Across the World Protesting?

essay titles for capital punishment

Pinkwashing 101: Definition, History, Examples

essay titles for capital punishment

15 Inspiring Quotes for Black History Month

essay titles for capital punishment

10 Inspiring Ways Women Are Fighting for Equality

essay titles for capital punishment

15 Trusted Charities Fighting for Clean Water

About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

essay titles for capital punishment

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

essay titles for capital punishment

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

essay titles for capital punishment

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

Leverage Edu

  • School Education /

Capital Punishment Essay for Students in English: 250 and 350 Words Samples

essay titles for capital punishment

  • Updated on  
  • Mar 12, 2024

Capital Punishment Essay

Capital Punishment Essay: Capital punishment refers to sentencing a criminal with the death penalty after due process of law. This form of punishment can be traced back to the ancient Greek of the 7th century BC, which operated under the ‘Laws of Draco’. In addition to the Greeks, Romans also sanctioned citizens to the death penalty for murder, rape, arson, and treason. 

Likewise, present-day India awards the death penalty for heinous crimes against mankind such as murder, criminal conspiracy, dacoity with murder, encouraging mutiny, and waging war against the central government. However, as we have evolved as humans, courts resort to this extreme form of punishment in rarest of the rare cases. 

Also Read: Essay on Human Rights: Samples in 500 and 1500

Capital Punishment Essay in 250 Words

Capital punishment or the death penalty is the state-sanctioned execution of a person as punishment for a crime. It is usually the most severe punishment a judicial system can impose on offenders. It is usually reserved for the most serious crimes like rape and murder. 

Since time immemorial, mankind has opted for different methods of capital punishment. From hanging, beheading, and firing squads to burning, stoning, and poisoning humans have used every possible way to execute offenders. Methods can vary but all these have one thing in common i.e. inhumanity.  

Capital punishment, in all its forms, is considered barbaric. It is seen as cruel, savage, and a form of revenge, reminiscent of a bygone era where understanding and respect for human life were absent. Some argue that these methods even involve physical torture.

While some believe the death penalty deters crime, studies have shown no significant correlation between its use and a decrease in violent crimes. In simpler terms, the threat of execution does not necessarily prevent people from committing serious offences. Therefore, it becomes crucial to consider whether capital punishment truly serves any purpose in our modern world. 

Owing to the controversial characteristics of this punishment option, the ‘Abolition of the Death Penalty’ has become one of the most prominent discussions in the United Nations. Besides, Human Rights activists and organisations also raise their voices against capital punishment. With all the ongoing debate, there is optimism that this inhuman practice might be done away with in the future. 

Also Read: World Day for International Justice

Essay on Capital Punishment in 350 Words

Capital punishment or the death penalty has been a topic of contention in India. While the Supreme Court of India has reserved the death penalty for the rarest of rare cases, the penal process evokes a debate for and against this form of punishment. 

One of the primary arguments in favour of capital punishment is deterrence i.e. fear of severe forms of the death penalty will reduce crimes. Supporters of this penal process are of the view that the threat of capital punishment prevents a potential offender from committing heinous crimes like murder, rape, war against the government, and abetment to mutiny. Also, they propound that the assertion of severe punishments upholds the safety and security of people as the state has the responsibility to maintain social order and safeguard its people. 

However, people against capital punishment argue that the death penalty is inept in rehabilitating prisoners, which is the basic aim of any legal penal option. They also propose that punishment by execution does not deter people from committing crimes as individualist punishment overlooks broader social failures. Also, execution by barbaric measures shifts the responsibility of the state and peer groups from addressing the root causes of crime to individual punishment. 

Another reason for concern regarding capital punishment is the risk of executing innocent individuals due to flaws in the justice system. The possibility of wrongful convictions highlights the serious consequences of irreparable harm of taking a person’s life. This irreversible consequence outlines the significance of strict legal procedures and safety measures to prevent miscarriage of justice. 

Thus, the debate over capital punishment in India is a complex one, encompassing moral, legal, and societal considerations. While proponents argue for its necessity in ensuring justice and deterring crime, opponents raise valid concerns regarding its effectiveness, morality, and potential for miscarriages of justice. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, it is essential to critically examine these arguments and consider the broader implications of capital punishment on society and the individuals it affects.

It is time to #StopExecutions and #AbolishTheDeathPenalty – Join us now at https://t.co/LeukqEMJWA @RepEspaillat @EspaillatNY #LisaMontgomery #CoreyJohnson #DustinHiggs pic.twitter.com/wzTuklnrRx — Death Penalty Action (@DeathPenaltyAct) January 12, 2021

Ans: Yes. The legal system in India can grant capital punishment in case of murder, criminal conspiracy, abetment to mutiny, dacoity with murder, and waging war against the Union Government.

Ans: Start the essay on capital punishment by defining this penal process. Thereafter, cite arguments in favour and against the death penalty. Also, you can mention how the government and society benefit and lose through this ultimate yet barbaric form of justice.

Ans: Capital punishment refers to sentencing a criminal with the death penalty after due process of law. 

Explore other essay topics for students here:

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu.

' src=

Ankita Singh

Ankita is a history enthusiast with a few years of experience in academic writing. Her love for literature and history helps her curate engaging and informative content for education blog. When not writing, she finds peace in analysing historical and political anectodes.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

essay titles for capital punishment

Connect With Us

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

essay titles for capital punishment

Resend OTP in

essay titles for capital punishment

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

essay titles for capital punishment

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

essay titles for capital punishment

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

essay titles for capital punishment

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

essay titles for capital punishment

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

essay titles for capital punishment

Don't Miss Out

Encyclopedia Britannica

  • History & Society
  • Science & Tech
  • Biographies
  • Animals & Nature
  • Geography & Travel
  • Arts & Culture
  • Games & Quizzes
  • On This Day
  • One Good Fact
  • New Articles
  • Lifestyles & Social Issues
  • Philosophy & Religion
  • Politics, Law & Government
  • World History
  • Health & Medicine
  • Browse Biographies
  • Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
  • Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
  • Environment
  • Fossils & Geologic Time
  • Entertainment & Pop Culture
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Visual Arts
  • Demystified
  • Image Galleries
  • Infographics
  • Top Questions
  • Britannica Kids
  • Saving Earth
  • Space Next 50
  • Student Center
  • Introduction

Historical considerations

  • Moral arguments
  • Utilitarian arguments
  • Practical arguments
  • The abolition movement
  • Capital punishment in the early 21st century

capital punishment

capital punishment

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

  • Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Capital Punishment
  • Santa Clara University - Capital Punishment: Our Duty or Our Doom?
  • Cornell Law School - Legal Information Institute - Death penalty
  • capital punishment - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
  • capital punishment - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
  • Table Of Contents

capital punishment

Recent News

capital punishment , execution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction by a court of law of a criminal offense. Capital punishment should be distinguished from extrajudicial executions carried out without due process of law . The term death penalty is sometimes used interchangeably with capital punishment , though imposition of the penalty is not always followed by execution (even when it is upheld on appeal), because of the possibility of commutation to life imprisonment.

Capital punishment for murder , treason , arson , and rape was widely employed in ancient Greece under the laws of Draco (fl. 7th century bce ), though Plato argued that it should be used only for the incorrigible . The Romans also used it for a wide range of offenses, though citizens were exempted for a short time during the republic. It also has been sanctioned at one time or another by most of the world’s major religions. Followers of Judaism and Christianity, for example, have claimed to find justification for capital punishment in the biblical passage “Whosoever sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed” ( Genesis 9:6). Yet capital punishment has been prescribed for many crimes not involving loss of life, including adultery and blasphemy . The ancient legal principle Lex talionis ( talion )—“an eye for an eye , a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life”—which appears in the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi , was invoked in some societies to ensure that capital punishment was not disproportionately applied.

The prevalence of capital punishment in ancient times is difficult to ascertain precisely, but it seems likely that it was often avoided, sometimes by the alternative of banishment and sometimes by payment of compensation . For example, it was customary during Japan’s peaceful Heian period (794–1185) for the emperor to commute every death sentence and replace it with deportation to a remote area, though executions were reinstated once civil war broke out in the mid-11th century.

In Islamic law , as expressed in the Qurʾān , capital punishment is condoned . Although the Qurʾān prescribes the death penalty for several ḥadd (fixed) crimes—including robbery, adultery, and apostasy of Islam —murder is not among them. Instead, murder is treated as a civil crime and is covered by the law of qiṣās (retaliation), whereby the relatives of the victim decide whether the offender is punished with death by the authorities or made to pay diyah (wergild) as compensation.

Death was formerly the penalty for a large number of offenses in England during the 17th and 18th centuries, but it was never applied as widely as the law provided. As in other countries, many offenders who committed capital crimes escaped the death penalty, either because juries or courts would not convict them or because they were pardoned, usually on condition that they agreed to banishment; some were sentenced to the lesser punishment of transportation to the then American colonies and later to Australia. Beginning in the Middle Ages, it was possible for offenders guilty of capital offenses to receive benefit of clergy , by which those who could prove that they were ordained priests (clerks in Holy Orders) as well as secular clerks who assisted in divine service (or, from 1547, a peer of the realm) were allowed to go free, though it remained within the judge’s power to sentence them to prison for up to a year, or from 1717 onward to transportation for seven years. Because during medieval times the only proof of ordination was literacy, it became customary between the 15th and 18th centuries to allow anyone convicted of a felony to escape the death sentence by proving that he (the privilege was extended to women in 1629) could read. Until 1705, all he had to do was read (or recite) the first verse from Psalm 51 of the Bible—“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions”—which came to be known as the “ neck verse” (for its power to save one’s neck). To ensure that an offender could escape death only once through benefit of clergy, he was branded on the brawn of the thumb ( M for murder or T for theft). Branding was abolished in 1779, and benefit of clergy ceased in 1827.

essay titles for capital punishment

From ancient times until well into the 19th century, many societies administered exceptionally cruel forms of capital punishment. In Rome the condemned were hurled from the Tarpeian Rock ( see Tarpeia ); for parricide they were drowned in a sealed bag with a dog, cock, ape, and viper; and still others were executed by forced gladiatorial combat or by crucifixion . Executions in ancient China were carried out by many painful methods, such as sawing the condemned in half, flaying him while still alive, and boiling . Cruel forms of execution in Europe included “breaking” on the wheel, boiling in oil, burning at the stake , decapitation by the guillotine or an axe, hanging , drawing and quartering , and drowning. Although by the end of the 20th century many jurisdictions (e.g., nearly every U.S. state that employs the death penalty, Guatemala, the Philippines , Taiwan , and some Chinese provinces) had adopted lethal injection , offenders continued to be beheaded in Saudi Arabia and occasionally stoned to death (for adultery) in Iran and Sudan . Other methods of execution were electrocution , gassing, and the firing squad.

essay titles for capital punishment

Historically, executions were public events, attended by large crowds, and the mutilated bodies were often displayed until they rotted. Public executions were banned in England in 1868, though they continued to take place in parts of the United States until the 1930s. In the last half of the 20th century, there was considerable debate regarding whether executions should be broadcast on television, as has occurred in Guatemala. Since the mid-1990s public executions have taken place in some 20 countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria , though the practice has been condemned by the United Nations Human Rights Committee as “incompatible with human dignity.”

In many countries death sentences are not carried out immediately after they are imposed; there is often a long period of uncertainty for the convicted while their cases are appealed. Inmates awaiting execution live on what has been called “ death row ”; in the United States and Japan, some prisoners have been executed more than 15 years after their convictions . The European Union regards this phenomenon as so inhumane that, on the basis of a binding ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (1989), EU countries may extradite an offender accused of a capital crime to a country that practices capital punishment only if a guarantee is given that the death penalty will not be sought.

Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Death Penalty — Capital Punishment: Supporting the Death Penalty in the US

test_template

Capital Punishment: Supporting The Death Penalty in The Us

  • Categories: Death Penalty Society

About this sample

close

Words: 1412 |

Published: Mar 18, 2021

Words: 1412 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

  • Bright, Stephen B. “Why the United States Will Join the Rest of the World in Abandoning Capital Punishment.” Debating the Death Penalty: Should America Have Capital Punishment? The Experts on Both Sides Make Their Best Case. Ed. Hugo Adam Bedau and Paul G. Cassel. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. 152-182. Print.
  • Cole, George F., and Christopher E. Smith. Criminal Justice in America. 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2014. Print. Hall, Charlene. 'Methods of Execution.' Pro-death Penalty. N.p., 2014. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.
  • Henrichson, Christian, and Ruth Delaney. 'The Price of Prisons: What Incarceration Costs Taxpayers.' Center on Sentencing and Corrections 20 July 2012: 9. Vera Institute of Justice, 2012. Pdf. 1 Dec. 2014.
  • Koch, Edward I. “Death and Justice.” Redwoods.edu. N.p.: 1-3. N.d. Pdf. 9 Dec. 2014. Matthew. Holy Bible, New International Version. Colorado Springs: Biblica, 2011. BibleGateway.com. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.
  • United States of America. Congress. The Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia: n.p., 1776. Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, 4 July 1995. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.
  • Westmoreland-White, Michael L., and Glen H. Stassen. “Biblical Perspectives on the Death Penalty.” Religion and the Death Penalty: A Call for Reckoning. Ed. Erik C. Owens, John D. Carlson, and Eric P. Elshtain. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004. 123-138. Print.

Image of Dr. Oliver Johnson

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Let us write you an essay from scratch

  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

author

Verified writer

  • Expert in: Social Issues Sociology

writer

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

5 pages / 2452 words

4 pages / 1775 words

5 pages / 1731 words

2 pages / 743 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Death Penalty

Should the death penalty be abolished? Essay on this question can be quite controversial, no matter what side of the argument is chosen. But it is important to understand the reasons why the death penalty should be abolished. [...]

The death penalty has been a contentious issue in the United States for decades. Advocates argue that it serves as a deterrent for heinous crimes, while opponents highlight the moral and ethical implications of state-sanctioned [...]

Death and justice are two concepts that have been the subject of extensive debate throughout history. In his thought-provoking essay "Death and Justice: How Capital Punishment Affirms Life," Edward I. Koch delves into the [...]

Every society faces the challenge of dealing with criminals who have committed heinous crimes. One of the most debated topics in the criminal justice system is the death penalty. While some argue that it serves as a deterrent [...]

The "death penalty" should never exist in the first place. The "death penalty" is wrong.. It should not be given to anybody, whether they are under the age of 18 or not. It is morally wrong and will be the doom of America, The [...]

The Death Penalty has frequently been on the rise lately. In Micheal Cohen’s “Death Penalty should be Abolished now”, he gives some very good valid point on why the Death Penalty should be Abolished. Starting off with one being [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

  • Instructions Followed To The Letter
  • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
  • Unique And Plagiarism Free

essay titles for capital punishment

The Death Penalty in the Modern Society Essay

  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment

Capital punishment refers to the legal process that subjects criminals to the death penalty as provided by the state laws. In this case, the jury sentences the criminal to death by the process of killing known as execution. Capital offences trigger the state to subject individuals to the death penalty.

Some of the common capital offences include crimes against the state, homicide and crimes against humanity. When intelligent individuals aggravate the crime incidences such as murder, felony or contract killing, the death penalty is sought (Kerby 36). After one is sentenced to the death penalty, there are multiple methods of execution based on the jurisdiction. Although the form of execution has continuously changed with time, the common form is lethal injection.

Over time, capital punishment has been a contentious issue with respect to social issues in the United States. Although the main reason for reaffirmation of the practice has been to act as a deterrent to capital offenders, people have different perceptions about the same issue.

Some of the reasons that drive people to oppose the death sentence include value for human life, lack of deterrence, unfairness, chances of errors, and Christian beliefs. These reasons are valid and acceptable to some degree, but they cannot be the main reasons for the need to abolish the death penalty (Wolf 69). This subject is attributed to the benefits that exist when capital punishment is upheld.

The death penalty has been opposed because it is considered barbaric, useless and a practice of the past. Most critics argue that such practices should not be propagated to the civilized society at the time. One main reason for such argument is that the death penalty is a cruel and strange punishment contradicting the respect for human rights. Through the Christian teachings, most people have been influenced to consider the death penalty as illogical and unethical practice.

base their argument on the insensibility of vengeance acquired through execution of murderers. In this case, they feel that executing an individual would not bring back the lost life. Consequently, the practice of the death penalty is useless and should be abolished. Nevertheless, the variation in religion necessitates the consideration of the death penalty. This issue is critical in the society since most people may exploit the death consideration of other individuals to murder people for personal interests.

The frequency of murder and cruelty of humans has demanded rules and policies that govern the deeds of people. In this regard, the death penalty has been considered to ensure that the society is in order. At the same time, the death penalty is used to ensure that people do not use their power or capacities to defend themselves, but they should adopt legal procedures. This implies that the death penalty is the ideal and moral punishment that should be used to deter individuals who murder other people (Kerby 12).

Furthermore, it is morally wrong to let a murderer live when already an innocent person has been killed. Under such a scenario, the death penalty serves as the ultimate penalty for murderers as long as justice and morality is to be upheld. Consequently, it implies that the death penalty is essential to prevent the chaotic state of nature expected from humanity. In addition, it offers sufficient vengeance against individuals who have condemned the law.

Another main reason for the reaffirmation of the capital punishment is to provide justice to the victims. The killing of convicted murderers gratifies the necessity for vengeance for most people. Since some crimes are regarded as heinous, execution of perpetrators offers a sensible response.

Although Christians stipulate the need for forgiveness or mercy, their view is usually disregarded to offer vengeance in such circumstances. Nonetheless, the bible portrays a sense of need for the capital punishment through the practices of the Hebrews. Therefore, it is critical to uphold capital punishment to offer justice for all people.

The subjection of capital offenders to the death penalty acts as a form of deterrence to other potential individuals. Although there is no confirmed correlation between the two concepts, most people appreciate its intuitive validity in maintaining the respect for human life and nurturing human value in the mindset of people. It is indicated by statistics that most countries upholding the death penalty have reduced cases of murder.

The information given to people is that they should not commit crimes since the ultimate punishment is death. Meanwhile, the state kills the murderers to depict that human life has the greatest value. Moreover, it indicates that there is no adequate value to pay for taking someone else life other than death. For this reason, death penalty is the ultimate penalty for the convicted individuals (FCNL 28).

The cost of maintenance of the convicted individuals is also one of the reasons that necessitate the death penalty. Expenses incurred after individuals are convicted of crimes such as murder in prison are unnecessary for the state. Some of the costs involve maintenance of individuals and protection of other counterparts in the prison. In this case, such criminals offer threats to the correctional officers as well as other prisoners.

Therefore, once an individual is found guilty of a capital offense, one should be executed and buried, which in turn reduce the expenses of extra maintenance. In addition, the state reduces the costs of meeting multiple appeals by eradicating individuals convicted of murder from the society (Kerby 48).

The need for public safety gives a valid reason as to the need for the death penalty. After a convicted murderer is executed and buried, there is no possibility of future reoccurrence of the same incident perpetrated by the same individual (Young 82). For this reason, execution, which results in the elimination of chances that the individual might break out of jail and harm other people, clearly portrays the need for capital punishment.

At the same time, people with attachment of the victims of murder may never assimilate with the released individuals in their lifetimes. In such circumstances, the affected individuals may be triggered to avenge for their lost ones since no punitive penalty is offered by the state. On the other hand, most murderers have limited chances of being rehabilitated with the conditions exposed to them in prisons.

The reaffirmation of the death penalty is also attributed to the teachings portrayed by most religions. Initially, the bible portrays that the death penalty is essential for horrendous crimes such as sorcery, homosexuality, murder and lack of women virginity during marriage. In this case, such crimes demanded the individuals to be burnt or stoned to death.

Such teachings depict that the death penalty is necessary to maintain order in a society. Although the evolution of Christianity with time has changed the whole concept of the initial teachings, it is essential for the state to uphold practices that are considered just and moral.

On the other hand, the Muslim teachings also deem the necessity of the death penalty for serious offenders. The common crime that demands the death penalty with Islam is the practice of homosexuality (Kerby 56). Since the construction of legal practices borrows some ideas from the religious teachings, it implies that it is essential to adopt the death penalty to counter heinous crimes. Consequently, the society will be orderly maintained with the presence of the death penalty.

In conclusion, the death penalty is necessary in the modern society that is associated with a significant amount of evils. The practices and cultures of people have changed tremendously, which necessitate punitive measures to restore the society to its norm. In this case, crimes that affect the welfare of humans will be curbed effectively. At the same time, it is essential to consider that adoption of rules that prevent people from engaging in certain activities divert their attention to other productive activities (Young 45).

Through this practice, individuals who do not suit the needs of the community are also eradicated leading to the creation of a sober generation. As a result, people will change with time and learn the appropriate ways to adopt in the event of adversity rather than using their power. This will boost the psychological and emotional stability of citizens with the state. Consequently, the issues addressed by the presence of the death penalty depict its importance to the society.

Works Cited

FCNL. “FCNL: Federal death penalty.” FCNL . N.p., n.d. Web.

Kerby, J. “Facts about deterrence and the death penalty.” Capital Punishment . N.p., n.d. Web.

Wolf, Alice. “Letter to constituents concerning her vote as a state representative for Mass. opposing the death penalty.” Death Penalty . N.p., n.d. Web.

Young, R. “Religious Orientation, Race and Support for the Death Penalty.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 31.2 (1992): 76-87. Web.

  • Death Penalty Issues in Tennessee State
  • Capital Punishment: Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Capital Punishment in United States
  • Victims’ Rights and Vengeance
  • Concept Victims’ Rights and Vengeance
  • Death Penalty for Young People
  • Capital Punishment as an Option in Maryland
  • Debates on Death Penalty in the United States
  • Capital Punishment Role in the World
  • Capital Punishment in Political View
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2018, November 20). The Death Penalty in the Modern Society. https://ivypanda.com/essays/capital-punishment-7/

"The Death Penalty in the Modern Society." IvyPanda , 20 Nov. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/capital-punishment-7/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'The Death Penalty in the Modern Society'. 20 November.

IvyPanda . 2018. "The Death Penalty in the Modern Society." November 20, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/capital-punishment-7/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Death Penalty in the Modern Society." November 20, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/capital-punishment-7/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Death Penalty in the Modern Society." November 20, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/capital-punishment-7/.

IMAGES

  1. capital punishment essay final version

    essay titles for capital punishment

  2. Capital Punishment Essay

    essay titles for capital punishment

  3. Capital Punishment Abolishment Essay

    essay titles for capital punishment

  4. Capital punishment essay outline

    essay titles for capital punishment

  5. Capital punishment

    essay titles for capital punishment

  6. Essay on Essay on Capital Punishment

    essay titles for capital punishment

VIDEO

  1. Essay writing for both crimes?? injustice!!! #essay #crime #punishment #injustice #school #student

  2. Your Punishment For Dying

  3. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: 5 TOP ENFORCERS OF THE INNER CITIES 🧟🫨🫨NUMBER ONE : WAYNE “SILK” PERRY

  4. What is Capital Punishment?

  5. The Purpose of Punishment: Deterrence and Incapacitation

  6. PROBLEM SOLUTION FORMAL ESSAY: CRIME & PUNISHMENT

COMMENTS

  1. 84 Capital Punishment Essay Topics & Examples

    84 Capital Punishment Essay Topics & Examples

  2. 95 Death Penalty Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    The US Supreme court ruled the death penalty as unconstitutional in 1972. The Death Penalty, a Just Punishment. The principles of the criminals should be used against them, consequently, the death penalty is the best way to give humanity to realize the horror of death and the fear of being killed.

  3. 142 Death Penalty Research Questions & Essay Titles for Students

    This paper discusses the death penalty abolition in Illinois, Innocence Project, sentencing of the mentally retarded individuals, and the case of Stanley Williams. Death Penalty and Its Issues. Serious criminals have usually imposed a death sentence. This type of punishment continues to exist, even nowadays.

  4. Essays on Capital Punishment

    6 pages / 2538 words. In this essay I will be talking about capital punishment and its justification. Capital punishment is the most disputable legitimate discipline forced by the Criminal Justice System of our nation. This type of discipline stands apart from the rest because of its brutality and seriousness....

  5. 155 Capital Punishment Research Topics & Essay Examples

    The death penalty is a wrong form of punishment for any human being, for any crime, and the punisher goes unpunished. Death Penalty: A Controversial Issue. The death penalty is a phenomenon whose legitimacy, efficiency, and morality still divide society. This essay discusses the pros and cons of the death penalty.

  6. Capital Punishment and the Death Penalty Essay

    Get a custom essay on Capital Punishment and the Death Penalty. 184 writers online. Learn More. The United States Constitution permits every defendant in a non-petty matter the right to be prosecuted before a jury; the defendant may forgo this privilege and have the decision decided by a professional court judge.

  7. Reasons for Capital Punishment: [Essay Example], 734 words

    Conclusion. In conclusion, the debate over capital punishment encompasses a range of complex and often conflicting arguments. The deterrence effect, retributive justice, and incapacitation are among the primary reasons cited by proponents to justify the death penalty. While empirical evidence on deterrence is inconclusive, the argument ...

  8. 5 Death Penalty Essays Everyone Should Know

    5 Death Penalty Essays Everyone Should Know. Capital punishment is an ancient practice. It's one that human rights defenders strongly oppose and consider as inhumane and cruel. In 2019, Amnesty International reported the lowest number of executions in about a decade. Most executions occurred in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt.

  9. Capital Punishment Essay: Benefits of The Death Penalty

    This essay aims to explore the benefits of the death penalty and why it should continue to be allowed. By examining its potential to deter crime, provide justice to the victims, and maintain social order, it becomes evident that capital punishment is a necessary and justifiable punishment for the most serious offenses.

  10. Capital punishment

    Capital punishment - Arguments, Pros/Cons

  11. Death Penalty Essays (Examples)

    View our collection of death penalty essays. Find inspiration for topics, titles, outlines, & craft impactful death penalty papers. Read our death penalty papers today! Homework Help; Essay Examples ... example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more. Get Started Now. At paperdue.com, we provide students the tools they need to streamline their ...

  12. Capital Punishment Essay for Students and Children

    Stoning - In this the criminal is beaten till death. Also, it is the most painful method of execution. Shooting - The criminal is either shoot in the head or in his/her chest in this method. Hanging - This method simply involves the hanging of culprit till death. Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas.

  13. Facing the Death Penalty: Essays on a Cruel and Unusual Punishment on JSTOR

    From that time until 1 November 1987,265 death sentences or resentences have been meted out, all for the crime of murder. One of the condemned, Chol Soo Lee, had his death sentence reversed and was later acquitted of the crime for which he was sent to prison. Four others committed suicide on death row.

  14. The Morality of Capital Punishment: is It Ethical

    Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, has been a topic of intense debate for centuries. It raises profound ethical questions about the value of human life, the role of the state in administering justice, and the potential for irreversible mistakes.In this argumentative essay, I will present and defend the claim that capital punishment is not ethical, citing concerns about its ...

  15. Capital Punishment Essay for Students in English: 250 and 350 Words

    Capital Punishment Essay in 250 Words. Capital punishment or the death penalty is the state-sanctioned execution of a person as punishment for a crime. It is usually the most severe punishment a judicial system can impose on offenders. It is usually reserved for the most serious crimes like rape and murder.

  16. Capital Punishment: A Critical Evaluation of its ...

    Arguments for and Against Capital Punishment. (n.d.). Web. Baron, J.C. The "Monstrous Heresy" of Punitive Damages: A Comparison to the Death Penalty and Suggestions for Reform. University of Pennsylvania Law Review 159.3(2007): 853-891. Web. Cox, E.V. Why Capital Punishment Doesn't Deter Crime. 2006. Web.

  17. Capital punishment

    Capital punishment | Definition, Debate, Examples, & Facts

  18. Capital Punishment: Supporting The Death Penalty in The Us

    The capital punishment requirements outlined by The Supreme Court allow victims and their families to know that justice was served for the despicable crimes committed against them, and relieves families of any guilt, knowing that the criminal was punished humanely and fairly. According to a 2012 survey from the Vera Institute of Justice ...

  19. Capital Punishment

    Introduction. Colloquially known as the death penalty, capital punishment has been a highly controversial issue, which has rocked sociologists, criminal investigators, justice, law and order to such an extent that its implications have raised questions. The principle of the sanctity of human life dissuades a person from having an uncontrollable ...

  20. What's a good thesis statement for an essay on capital punishment?

    A good thesis statement for an essay on capital punishment could be that the death penalty poses a complex and unresolved question, requiring an exploration of both arguments for and against it.

  21. Capital Punishment Essays (Examples)

    Words: 412. Capital punishment remains one of the most controversial topics in criminal law. The ethics of the death penalty are complicated. Many people believe that the death penalty is simply unethical under any circumstances, while others argue that the death penalty is not only ethical, but that it is unethical not to execute certain killers.

  22. Capital Punishment: Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

    Capital punishment is hence cost-effectual. Indeed, infinite appeals would spend much time and more resources in resolving death disputes. Death penalty is therefore cost-valuable. Thirdly, Teeters views that death penalty is a retribution action in which a victim is punished because of offenses committed.

  23. The Death Penalty in the Modern Society Essay

    Capital punishment refers to the legal process that subjects criminals to the death penalty as provided by the state laws. In this case, the jury sentences the criminal to death by the process of killing known as execution. Capital offences trigger the state to subject individuals to the death penalty. Get a custom essay on The Death Penalty in ...