Death Penalty essay Essays

Death Penalty essay Essays Death Penalty essay Essay Death Penalty essay Essay Essay Topic: Death Penalty Studies show that the death penalty is an in-effective deterrent of crime and is an economic burden to tax-payers, counties, and states. The main issues of this essay are whether or not the death penalty is in fact, a deterrent of crime, and if the burden of the cost associated with the death penalty is worth the retribution. As Mahatma Ghandi said, An eye for an eye leaves us all blind. Capital punishment is the sentencing of convicted criminals to death. It is a highly controversial and debatable topic. This is an issue that keeps many people, mainly politicians, tossing and turning at night. Is it moral? Is it a deterrent of crime? Is it worth the money we spend on death penalty cases? There are an abundance of studies, articles, arguments, and opinions both for and against the death penalty. This essay will look at the arguments, and show that the death penalty is not a highly effective deterrent of crime, and it will also show that it is not economically Justified. The death penalty dates back thousands of years, but it in the United States it has become a topic that is very controversial. There have been many legal challenges in the past fifty years, challenging the morality of the executions. In 1967 a moratorium was placed on the death penalty after the Supreme Courts finding that it was arbitrary and capricious and that it violated the 8th Amendment. (Capital Punishment, 2013). It wasnt a ruling that the death penalty itself was unconstitutional, but that the laws as written were cruel and unusual punishment. States wrote new laws, and in 1977 executions resumed. The first execution after the moratorium was in Utah, death by firing squad. Deterrence, in the mindset of death penalty supporters, is the belief that criminals or would be criminals fear death more than anything else. Judge Robert E. Crowe stated It is the finality of the death penalty which instills fear into the heart of every murderer, and it is the fear of punishment which protects society. (Crowe, 1925, para3). A survey of leading criminologists by Radelet Lacock (2009), showed that an astounding 88% did not agree that the death penalty is a deterrent of crime. They believe that an abolishment on the death penalty would not result in any significant rise in crime rates. The majority of law enforcement surveyed believes capital punishment does not deter violent crime. (Ralelet Lacock, 2009). Another survey of police chiefs states that they rank the death penalty lowest on ways to deter crime. They believe that an increase in law enforcement and lowering drug abuse are the best ways to reduce violence. Although there are many studies stating that the death penalty is a deterrent of crime, The National Research Council (2012) concluded that the studies on the effect of murder rates and the death penalty were seriously flawed. They showed that the studies didnt consider the effects of non capital punishments, and used incomplete or implausible models. They found three fundamental flaws: 1) The studies did not factor in the effects of non-capital punishments that may be imposed. 2) The studies used imcomplete or implausible models of potential murderers perceptions of and responses to the use of capital punishment. 3) Estimates of the effect of capital punishment are based on statistical models that make assumptions that are not credible. (The National Research Council, 2012). of criminals. He believes that murderers dont think of the death penalty as a reason not to kill. People who are contemplating murder do not sit down and weigh the consequences. He believes it is an erratic and flawed process which should be discontinued. The decision on whether a defendant gets the death penalty is dependent on too many variables: The discretion of the prosecutor, the competence of the defense attorneys, the makeup of the Jury, and the attitude of the Judge and appeals court. Further research shows that most murders are committed in the heat of passion, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or because ofa mental illness. During the act of committing murder, criminals do not expect to be caught and there is little thought being given to the consequences of the action. Even when a murder is premeditated, the criminal focuses more on escaping arrest, detection, or conviction. (saroktn, 2011). The ACLUs position on the death penalty (2012) is that it violates a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment and the guarantees of due process. They believe that states should not give themselves the right to kill, especially with premeditation and celebration. They believe it is unfair because it is dependant of the competency of the attorneys, how much money the defendant has, the race of the victim, and where the crime takes place. (ACLU 2012) Capital punishment in the United States is unusual because it is the only western industrialized nation that engages in the practice. It is also unusual because only a small percentage of convicted killers are sentenced to death. The homicide rate in the United States is five times higher than any western European county. This is shocking due to the fact that the United States is the only county with the death penalty. Currently there are eighteen states without the death penalty. In President Jimmy Carters article Show Death Penalty the Door (2012), he provides statistics on tates with the death penalty vs. tates without the death penalty. The rates of homicides are higher in states with the death penalty. Take North and South Dakota for example: Both of these states are very similar in population, culture, and region. North Dakota does not have the death penalty and South Dakota does. There are more capital crimes in South Dakota. According to the Department of Justice (FBI Uniform Crime Report, 2012), the national murder rate was about the same in 2011 as in 2012. The Northeast region of the United States, the region with the fewest executions, had the lowest murder ate of any other region. The murder rate in the northeast also decreases 3. 4%. The southern region, the region with the highest execution rate, again had the highest murder rates. Six of the nine states with the lowest murder rate are states without the death penalty. Justice Bryon White, (Furman v. Georgia), noted that when only a tiny portion of individuals who commit murder are executed, the death penalty is unconstitutionally irrational. The lessons of Furman haunt present day realities in most states because it is used so rarely as to defy the logic of deterrence. 972) When weighing the all the deterring facts, the death penalty does not make sense for our country. While looking at the economic factors and costs of the death penalty, the ends do not Justify The cost of the death penalty is far more expensive than the cost of life in prison. Former District Attorney, Sterling Goodspeed, stated miou can house criminals in the Waldorf Hotel for sixty to seventy years and feed them three meals a day cheape r than we can litigate a single death penalty case. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research show that the burden put n tax payers due to capital murder charges is a huge burden to counties. These trials cost so much that cuts in the budget have to be made elsewhere. States and counties could save millions by eliminating these trials. (Baicker, 2012). Statistics show that the cost is so much higher for a variety of reasons. These expensive trials need special defense teams specializing in death penalty cases. The cost of security, specialty witnesses and DNA testing are Just some of the huge expenses these trials incur. Many of the countrys leading law enforcement personnel, criminologists, Judges nd others believe that the resources that are put into these extremely expensive trials should be redirected elsewhere. The money could be spent on improving the community and prevention programs. (Kondavic, 2012). Research shows that people who attend Early Childhood programs are less likely to commit crimes. High school programs that help at-risk youth reach graduation also helps to reduce crime. These programs could benefit from the additional resources that capital murder cases soak up. (Equal Justice USA,2013). Gang prevention programs and mental health services will also help reduce riminal activity. Providing these services to Juveniles reduces their probability of being arrested. It has been said that if the perpetrators in the many recent school shootings would have been offered these services, a lot of trauma and bloodshed could have been avoided. Treatment has successfully reduced crime, incarceration, and recidivism. Most law enforcement officials agree that funds to help the victims and their families are needed. These funds could pay for grief counseling, scholarships, medical expenses, and emergency funds. Since the use of DNA testing more than ne-hundred thirty people have been exonerated from death row. Now the courts are being flooded with expensive appeals and DNA testing. Not only would doing away with the death penalty relieve the court systems and save money, but it will assure that no innocent man or woman ever be wrongly executed. (Associated Press, 2009) Research and evidence show that putting a moratorium on the death penalty for good would be better for tax-payers and all of this countrys communities. It would also assure that no innocent person will ever be condemned to death. The deterrent actor and the economic factor are proof enough, but there is always the moral factor. In 1972 Supreme Court Justice, Marshall Thurgood gave his opinion in the case Fruman v. Georgia. He stated that Capital punishment violates the Eighth Amendment because it is morally unacceptable. In Judging if it is morally acceptable, most courts say its valid unless it shocks the conscience and sense of Justice of the people assuming knowledge of all the facts presently available regarding capital conscience and sense of Justice. For this reason alone, capital punishment cannot stand. (1972).

Adidas Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Adidas Company - Assignment Example They possess strong control over their channel of distribution. Their customers have strong competence to promote the company’s development. The brand reputation and recognition are an added advantage that causes competitive nature of the other companies (Borowski, 2013). The strategy of pricing of the Adidas products makes the company more competitive. The Adidas Company is the second largest maker of athletic footwear and sports equipment worldwide. The company has revenues of E10, 381 million, which enable it not to ever run under debts. Its strong brand such as Adidas, Reebok, and Taylor Made are the portfolios (Borowski, 2013). They build the company’s leading market position. Leveraging is done on the brands to establish strong retail availability and get an increase in profits limits through the increment of retail sales as a percentage of sales in total. The company has successfully grown due to its own retail. It is currently operating over 2,200 stores for its brands worldwide. It is also operating its business using the e-commerce, which other companies have not discovered yet. It is successfully expanding the retail stores across the contents, which makes it more successful compared to other

How does social reproduction relate to our understanding of the global Essay

How does social reproduction relate to our understanding of the global political economy How is it defined in the context of IPE - Essay Example From an overarching perspective there is the recognition that social reproduction has been situated within the global political economy in hierarchical ways. For instance, Bakker noted, â€Å"social reproduction is not confined to the household, but forms the foundation of Braudel’s hierarchical model of the economy† (Bakker, p. 542). This hierarchical structure is then view in terms of systematic interaction between the different levels. Notably, this view of social reproduction views it as necessarily in a conflicting relationship with the demands or processes of capitalism. One example of such systematic interaction is given in terms of witch hunts. In this way hundreds of women were executed on the grounds that they were witches. Within the context of the political economy this is viewed as a means of the capitalist apparatus reclaiming power. The fundamental recognition in this sense is that as ‘witches’ demonstrated alternative forms of morality, it w as necessary to execute them to reclaim the power of reproduction. Ultimately the extent this systematic interaction is dependent on conscious or unconscious perspectives is contingent on a variety of notions of social reproduction in the political economy. In the context of international political economy social reproduction takes on another mode of interpretation. Social reproduction not only involves the processes of human reproduction, but also the moral and cultural implications tied into these processes. An extensive array of research has examined this in the context of the international economy. Steans & Tepe consider the ways that international political organizations have worked to change the policy regarding specific groups or demographics. Considering one study they note it examines, â€Å"social reproduction, especially through the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) development

A Black City Within the White” Essay Example for Free

A Black City Within the White† Essay Loic Wacquant’s â€Å"A Black City Within the White† provides an absorbing and honest perspective on the continuation of racial disparity and discrimination in urban America. He contends the black world within the white world exists due to the continued exclusion of blacks to the extent the black world is virtually â€Å"unknown and unnoticed† by white America. He makes the case through an examination of urban semantics, specifical-ly the use of the words â€Å"ghetto† and â€Å"slum†. He believes the original terms referred to either a concentration of a specific ethnic group (ghetto) or concentration of poverty (slum). Wacquant states the term â€Å"ghetto† began to include â€Å"slum† as reflecting housing discrimination as well as black urban poverty. He believes the term â€Å"ghetto† is now much closer to â€Å"slum† in meaning, as whites prefer thinking in terms of income disparity instead of ingrained racial prejudice. Thus â€Å"the concept of ‘ghetto’ has been stripped of its eth-noracial referent and denuded of any mention of group, power, and oppression†¦(thus it) obfuscates the history and enduring reality of racial division in the United States† (143). See more: Social process essay In essence the terminology has been changed by whites more comfortable with consider-ing a mythical â€Å"colorblind† poverty level instead of the reality of racial prejudice and in-equity. Wacquant makes the point that a â€Å"ghetto† is not simply a term but â€Å"an institution-al form† (143). It is indeed a â€Å"world if itself† caused by power and economic discrimina-tion that is either not acknowledged or misunderstood by whites. The reading provides and insight that I did not have before reading and contemplating the issues. It is im-portant to me to try to understand the background and culture of others. Without that understanding communication and relationships are very superficial. This reading has also been very helpful in understanding how often terms and meanings will often change, and â€Å"code words† come into use. This gives me the incentive to look past certain words to be certain of the real meaning the user is trying to convey. This is an unfortunate but com-mon problem we face in communication and perhaps readers of this work will come away better prepared to address an issue without the need for dishonest language.

Egyptian And Mexican Pyramids Essay -- essays research papers fc

Mysteries of the Ancient World   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For many centuries people have been fascinated by ancient cultures and treasures. During the last two centuries the science of archeology and modern inventions allowed people to get inside of the Egyptian and Mayan pyramids and discover the treasures of Egyptian pharaohs and Mayan rulers. Most of what we know about Egypt we owe to the pyramids. Thanks to Egyptian belief in the afterlife we can now find out about the civilization that existed nearly five thousand years ago. Egyptian culture is not the only culture that left us its heritage in pyramids. In America we find pyramids build by civilizations of Olmec and Maya about 7th century CE. These pyramids had different purposes and usage then the ones in Egypt but they stand as memorials to ancient civilizations as well.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Egyptian people believed in life after death. One of the way pharaohs prepared themselves for the afterlife journey was by building a pyramid and putting there all their belongings and riches. Egyptian people believed that pharaoh is the closest person to the God and treated him accordingly. That is the reason for Egyptian tombs being full with the golden jewelry, precious stones and art objects. Most of the time art objects were not considered a treasury but they played their particular role in religious rituals. Jars were holding food and drinks for pharaoh’s journey, so he would not get hungry and would have food and drinks to offer to the Gods. The figurative sculptures were suppose to accompany Ka ( spiritual entity) in its lonely stay or serve as a twin for the mummy. If something happens to the mummy the ka could use the sculpture of the pharaoh for the revelation. As well as for Egyptians religion was an everyday concern for many of the Maya, whether the dynastic ruler, the zealous priest, or the humble believer. Maya has an extensive religion structure which we can not know in details. Chac and Itzamna are the most famous gods of Mayan culture. Hunahpu and Xbalanque are among the most interesting mythical characters. One of the most crucial gods was Tlaloc, who was worshiped in various guises by the culture of Teotihuacan, the Toltec of Tula, and later Aztecs. The Maya received the cult of Tlaloc during the 4th century more or less. The Cauac Monster, also known as the Witz monster, is a... ...ties of the ancient Maya†. Mystery of Maya. CMCC. May 1999. http://www.civilization.ca/membrs/civiliz/maya/mmc01eng.html â€Å"Herodotus Reports on Mummification.† May 1999. http://pluto.clinch.edu/history/wciv1/civ1ref/mummy.html â€Å"Life in Ancient Egypt. Shabtis.† Ed. Craig Patch. Exc. from Reflections of Greatness: Ancient Egypt at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 1990. http://www.yahoo.com/egypt/ â€Å"Maya Civilization.† Mystery of Maya. CMCC. May 1999. http://www.civilization.ca/membrs/civiliz/maya/mmc01eng.html Newby, P.H. The Egypt story, its art, its monuments, its people, its history. Italy: Abbreville Press: 1979. Payne, Elizabeth. The pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. New York: Random House, Inc. 1984. â€Å"Photographs of Maya ruins of Tikal showing how Hasselblad cameras and Zeiss lenses result in better pictures†. Maya Art & books. International Photographic Archive of Maya Art. June 1998. http://www.maya-art-books.org/html/New_photos.html â€Å"The First Egyptian Mummies†. Corkankhamun explains mummification. May 1999. http://members.aol.com/mumifyddog/first.html â€Å"Why Egyptians Made Mummies†. Corkankhamun explains mummification. May 1999. http://members.aol.com/mumifyddog/first.html

Love and Courtship in Federalist America Essay

The courtships and marriages of Theodore Sedgwick and of his seven children span the American Revolution and the early republic, with Theodore first marrying in 1767/68, his children being born between 1775 and 1791, and all except Catharine marrying by their thirties. In some ways, Kenslea’s findings are unsurprising, as arranged marriages gave way to individual choice: Sedgwick arranged his eldest daughters’ marriages in 1797 and 1801, while his sons enjoyed love matches within a decade. But Kenslea’s focus on the family adds a new dimension: male influence in arranging young women’s marriages apparently extended beyond fathers to brothers. Professing â€Å"so much pride and pleasure in contemplating her worth, that I want the world to know what a sister I possess† (45), Theodore II insisted Frances marry Ebenezer Watson, whom she did not love. When Watson turned out to be physically abusive, Frances’s brothers again played a significant ro le by using their influence on her husband’s business as a way to control him and offering their homes as a refuge. Just as brothers influenced their sisters’ marriages, peers played a significant role in love matches: in both cases, courtship took place in a group context. Even when love superseded paternal choice, siblings made clear that marriage to someone was necessary: as Catharine Sedgwick asked her equivocating brother, â€Å"What are you doing? Sucking your thumbs, and building castles while all the birds of the air are building their nests† (110). Friends were equally important in shaping courtship. The wonderfully named â€Å"Friendlies†Ã¢â‚¬â€a group of single and married Boston women in their twenties—not only provided the younger Sedgwicks with potential wives, but advised them on how to choose well. Kenslea demonstrates that marrying for love by no means simplified choice; instead, both men and women employed badinage as a way of ascertaining intent without committing themselves, and alliances shifted so quickly that the Sedgwick men seem to have courted all the Friendlies at once. Such â€Å"dizzingly complex† male/female relations (119)—replete with wit, romantic potential, and power plays—suggest parallels to the mixed groups Catharine Allgor discovered in the early republic’s political salons (103). At least during courtship, male/female spheres had remarkably porous boundaries, and Kenslea finds the beginnings of the â€Å"domestication of virtue† (169) in the early republic, as personal  happiness succeeded public good. As couples became engaged, they retreated from friends and family and developed relationships Kenslea finds similar to those Karen Lystra discovered among Victorians two decades later. In Harry Sedgwick and Jane Minot’s engagement of 1816-17, they quit badinage for candor, tested their relationship with a year long separation as Sedgwick established himself financially, and created new selves by employing letters as a form of physical contact and â€Å"ritual celebration of their love† (131). Like Lystra, Kenslea finds â€Å"fluidity of gender roles† (155), with Jane complimenting Harry, â€Å"you are the nearest to a woman in your feelings of any man I know† (144). The Sedgwick manuscripts, however, allow Kenslea to examine such courtships through siblings’ and parents’ eyes, rather than only from the couple’s perspective. If the Sedgwicks provide much evidence of family and friends’ roles in court- ship and the erosion of distinct gender roles, they also suggest the limits of change. The Sedgwicks occupied a narrow cut of society—Federalist, Unitarian, and upper class—but male privilege framed their lives.

Erickson s Theory Of Development - 1382 Words

Erickson has developed a psychosocial theory, which was modeled on Freud s model of psychosexual theory. Erickson s theory extends the number of life stages in order to encompass the entire life. Erickson expanded the principles of psychosocial development beyond childhood and theorized that the ego itself is shaped and transformed not only by biological and psychological forces, but also social factors. This was a new perspective because Freud s theory didn t use any other factors for development. Erickson s â€Å"linked biological urogenital zones with particular mode of ego functioning and demonstrated how self and identity are biological, physical, logical, and socially determined.†(Berzoff, 2011) Erickson saw development occurring†¦show more content†¦Each stage affects later stages, with a dilemma that can be resolved positively or negatively. The resolution will impact the development of the individual. These are Erickson s eight stages of development. Stages Ages Virtue trust versus basic mistrust 0-18months trust autonomy versus shame and doubt 18 months-3 yrs. will initiative versus guilt 3years-6yrs. Sense of purpose industry versus inferiority 6yrs.- 11yrs. competence identity versus role confusion 11yrs-18yrs. fidelity intimacy versus isolation 19yrs-25yrs. love generativity versus stagnation 25yrs-60yrs Care Egointegrity versus despair 60yrs-til death Wisdom (Berzoff, 2011) There are some differences in both theories. Erickson did not dwell on the unconscious, id, and drive. His focus was on consciousness, the Ego interplay of