The Death Penalty Essay Research Paper — страница 4

be murdered by those who are supposed to be protecting them. We are placing too much power in the hands of the state. False physical evidence, perjured testimony, and coercive threats of imposing the death penalty are just a few of the causes that lead to the conviction of the innocent. Beyond these factors, police have, in many instances, found individuals to ‘fit the crime’. In other words, police rush to close a case regardless of whether justice is done. This occurs most frequently to the poor and defenseless. Police misinterpret evidence, and presume guilt based on prior records. They make quick decisions. These snap decisions do not involve simple choices like, whether to use paper or plastic. They involve the ultimate and irrevocable choice between life and death. Not

only do I believe that the death penalty should be abolished particularly due to its effect on the innocent. But we do not live in a country where justice is based on the primitive precept of ‘eye for an eye’. Those who rape, are not raped as punishment. Those who steal, are not stolen from. Yet, those who kill, are murdered. If this country is so ‘fair’ and ‘just’ in its policy, then shouldn’t the family of those innocently executed receive ‘fair’ compensation? But no remedy is available for the wrongful taking of a human life. If our system works in this fashion, then those who execute unjustly, should be executed themselves. Sounds a little far-fetched? Well so is executing the innocent! Bibliography References 1. Gray, Mike. Drug Crazy, New York: Routledge.

1998. 2. Kappeler, V.E., Blumberg, M., Potter, G.W. The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice. 3rd ed. Waveland Press, 2000. 3. Parenti, Christian. Lockdown America. Verso, 2000. 4. Rydell, C.P. and Everingham, S.S. Controlling Cocaine, Prepared for the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the United States Army (Santa Monica, CA: Drug Policy Research Center, RAND Corporation, 1994), p.xvi. 5. Simpson, Sally. Of Crime and Criminality. Pine Forge Press, 2000. 6. Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation. 7. Winslow, George. Capital Crimes. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1999. “No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the sources of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for

stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.” –P. J. O’Rourke (in “Studying For Our Drug Test” from Give War A Chance)