They also feel that it is better to lose the life of a convicted criminal than another innocent life, because if they were convicted and the sentence was execution than they probably deserve it since they have caused a great deal of grief and pain (Capital 2001). Also, fear of death tends to scare people from committing crimes that may get them convicted and sentenced to the death penalty. People in support of the death penalty also feel that it puts a positive moral influence by placing a stigma on crimes like manslaughter making people react with disgust and horror to such acts. Most people in favor of the death penalty believe that a better society happens through fear and intimidation. When people think that they will get off on early parole then it will not effectively stop crime from happening (Death 2001). .
Although the victim and the victim's family cannot be restored to the status which preceded the murder, at least an execution brings closure to the murderer's crime (and closure to the ordeal for the victim's family) and ensures that the murderer will create no more victims.
People against the death penalty feel that it is cruel and an inhuman taking of life, but the people in support of the death penalty feel it is more humane than rotting in jail for his/her life because, it is quick and instantaneous (Alcorn 2001). .
A life sentence is costly to tax payers because of housing, feeding, and numerous appeals. The cost to execute a person is very expensive. But after youi add up all the costs and expenses for a person to serve a life sentence it does not compare (Gelornter 98). State and federal prisons are over-crowded. A record high in 1992 of 883,593 prisoners in state and federal prisons was reached (Capital 2001).
An average prisoner costs about twenty two thousand a year and fifty four thousand in construction per bed. Together the 883,593 prisoners are costing taxpayers 19.
