Expository vs. Persuasive on Death Penalty

Posted: September 3rd, 2013

Expository vs. Persuasive on Death Penalty

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Expository vs. Persuasive on Death Penalty

Expository

Death penalty has been practiced for many centuries wit the aim of deterring crime in many communities. In the recent past, it has been an issue in the lime light of researchers and many humanitarian organizations. There are many issue raised concerning the topic, many focusing on its execution of innocent people, expense, and lack of its ability in deterring crime. In this expository crime, the facts on the issues of innocence are put across with the aim of giving the reader an insight on issues revolving around the topic.

When it comes to death penalty, some people are proven guilty, while others my b proven guilty while they are not. It has been found in many cases that there is a likelihood of executing innocent people. Statistics on death penalty show that there have been around 140 people since 1973 released from death penalty due to prove of their innocence in 26 states in America (Death Penalty Information Center, 2012). This serves to illustrate that there is a likelihood of executing innocent people. On the other hand, it can be argued that there are enough investigations during trials, where innocence can be proven. The proceedings are quite complex and take a lot of time before execution takes place in order to assert the guilt of the accused. Proceedings take several steps that include the trial at the state law court, and then followed by states court appeal or Supreme Court, the United States supreme, and finally the final appeal (American Civil Liberties Union, 2011). Therefore, one has a chance to prove their innocence in all the proceedings. The question is whether all these trials would fail to prove the innocence of an innocent man to lead to execution of an innocent person.

Persuasive

            Death penalty has been a major issue in the recent past. However, death penalty dates back many years ago, where people were convicted even for crimes that did not deserve death. In addition, the methods of execution have also come a long way some being quite inhumane such as hanging. One main issue that has been discussed a lot is the likelihood of executing innocent people who might not deserve to die. Despite there being a long process to ensure that innocent people are not executed, it cannot be 100 percent proof. Therefore, death penalty should not be practiced, since killing an innocent person cannot be equated with crime committed.

There has been proof that innocent people have been killed in the past, and their innocence proven later after they are long executed. One example is the execution of Carlos Deluna, a man who was charged of stabbing a Texas convenient store clerk in 1983. In 1989, he was executed (Death Penalty Information Center, 2012). Evidence later produced showed that he was not guilty, and the evidence pointed to another man who confessed to the crime. Despite having a long court process that takes quite long before execution is carried out, this man was still executed. Therefore, execution should be replaced with life imprisonment, where if such evidence were realized later, there would still be a chance to save the innocent.

References

American Civil Liberties Union. (2011). Death Penalty 101. Retrieved from: http://www.aclu.org/capital-punishment/death-penalty-101

Death Penalty Information Center. (2012). Innocence and the Death Penalty. Retrieved from: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/innocence-and-death-penalty