Capital Punishment

by Jari Niemi, Ph.D.

Overview

SETTING THE STATE: Questions to Think About

Is capital punishment morally justifiable?

Since many other forms of punishment such as life-imprisonment are available, why should capital punishment be used at all?

What can capital punishment accomplish that cannot be accomplished with life-imprisonment?

INTRODUCTION:

This module is designed to provide a critical understanding of the arguments for and against capital punishment. Those who argue for capital punishment think that it is good or just for the state to put people, guilty of horrendous crimes, to death. Those who argue against capital punishment think that the state should not put people to death, no matter how horrible their crime.

Those who advocate capital punishment must show why life-imprisonment is not an adequate form of punishment in some instances. On the other hand, those opposing capital punishment must demonstrate why capital punishment is morally reprehensible in all instances. In other words, they must show why capital