It is almost impossible to determine whether the death penalty actually works as deterrence in society or not. While many believe that homicide rates are reduced as a result from the threat of capital punishment, there are many other arguments that claim that it does not have an effect on crime rates. .
An Australian researcher looked at the effect the death penalty had on Australian crimes, during its existence, between 1964 and 1973. It was found that Western Australia and South Australia had the highest number of executions of convicted murderers throughout the country, and during those same years, these two states also maintained the lowest average homicide rates per 100 000 population. This was a strong argument in favour of the death penalty, showing its considerable deterrent effect on society.
However, there is much evidence that contradicts this. Many argue that if the death penalty did actually have a deterrent effect, then the rates of killing should have increased since the penalty has been abolished from Australia.
Evidence is used that rates of killings have not increased, and have, in fact actually decreased, therefore disproving the idea that capital punishment is effective in deterring crime. An American survey also supports this. 84% of experts in criminal theory did not believe that the death penalty has any effect against crime rates, while two thirds of police chiefs also do not believe that it does either. Evidence is also gathered from adjacent states in America, one that obtains the death penalty against one that doesn't. No long-term differences in the number of murders that occur in each of these states are seen. Generally it is believed that capital punishment does not deter crime, and it is seen that the number of executions in the United States is steadily increasing (Appendicis 2 and 3) since the revised legislation in 1977.
Retribution is the theory that the offender must be punished for their actions.
