In those 37 states, when criminals that have been accused of a federal crime (including 1st degree murder), and 1-15 statutorily-defined aggravating circumstances (©2009 Death Penalty Information Center,), they are sentenced to the Death Penalty (Capitol Punishment). When those criminals are sentenced to the Death Penalty and it is carried out, usually by lethal injection (©2009 Death Penalty Information Center, ), the crime rate goes down because the criminals can no longer escape (since they are dead). When other criminals find out about the Death Penalty, they are afraid to commit a serious crime because they think that they may be sentenced to the Death Penalty. Since the year of 1990, the murder rate in the states that do not have the Death Penalty has dropped by 42% because criminals in those states are afraid that the Death Penalty may move in to their state. In the states that do have the Death Penalty, the murder rate has dropped by 42% also because of its effectiveness. Although the death penalty is effective, it is criticized as if it is murder.
Many people have argued over if the death penalty should be used. Even when the death penalty lowers crime rate, it still kills people. Some opponents of the death penalty call this murder. Capitol punishment has not been adopted in 13 states due to the above argument. However, the death penalty is still very effective against crime rate and despite the fact that it kills people (criminals), it is the only effective way to reduce crime rate. This assures safety for the law abiding people against high crimes. In addition, the death penalty saves multiple lives by eliminating a life that threatens the lives of multiple people.
The death penalty may kill people (criminals) but imagine all the lives that it can save! One murdered could kill one, two or even more innocent people. The death penalty can sometimes kill a criminal before he/she can kill the next victim. Would you rather have one criminal and one citizen dead or three citizens dead and the criminal that committed their crimes be put in jail from 10-20 years? Of course, this criminal should die to maximize the death penalty's effectiveness against capitol crime. That is the benefit of the death penalty. In addition, the death penalty also assists people's taxes used to support prison expenses.
The death penalty is approved in 37 out of 50 states in the United States. Citizens, in general, pay taxes to support the prisons in their states. The money from taxes is used to feed and support the criminal inside the prisons. The "average" Pennsylvania family of four loses about $9.30 every week to keep people in prison. If half the prisoners were released, taxes would go way down! In addition, the released prisoners would be helping to pay the taxes (http://www.prisoners.com/lettaxpy.html).
Adopting the death penalty lowers the taxes towards prison expenses. When a prisoner is sentenced to death, citizens do not need to pay taxes to support these criminals because they will be dead. There simply will be no reason to feed them. Citizens will save more money in taxes while the death penalty is in use. Actually, in 37 states people save more money in their taxes. That is another main reason why the death penalty should be adopted by all 50 states in the United States.
In conclusion, when the death penalty is adopted it is a very effective measure against crime rate. It also carries the benefit of reduced taxation. For these two main reasons, the remaining 13 states should adopt the death penalty. The death penalty may be killing people (criminals), but it saves the lives of many more law abiding citizens reducing crime. It also sends a very persuasive message to other possible criminals of what the consequences will be if they commit capitol crimes. However, this argument of for/against the death penalty will continue for many more years. Every citizen should consider carefully the pros and cons and then choose the side that makes more sense to their beliefs and conscience
