Balancing the System

Jessica Spencer

PHI-105        

01/24/2016

Mr. Benjamin Perlin

Balancing the System

According to the FBI (09/2015), in 2014 there was a projected 1,165,383 violent crimes reported in the United States and there is a magnitude of crimes that go unreported every year. In addition, the FBI (2015) report that initial data shows that the nation displayed a 1.7% increase to the number of violent crimes in just the first six months of 2015 when compared to the first 6 months of 2014. These staggering statistics show that the country is in desperate need of a solution to manage the crime the country faces. The death penalty should be enforced, in addition to existing laws, on those who commit crimes considered Violent Crimes, as this will benefit the country in many ways including preventing existing offenders from harming others and committing additional crimes, preventing potential criminals and saving the countries critical resources.  

Preventing and deterring existing offenders from harming others and committing additional crimes is the first significant contribution of enforcing the death penalty. A process such as the death penalty is not be taken lightly and certain steps should be taken to ensure integrity and objectivity are upheld. Criminals should be physically and psychologically examined to determine whether or not they are able to or are willing to reform and can be rehabilitated. Keep in mind, however, that according Comey (2015), an Analyst in Crime Policy, 71.3% of violent offenders are rearrested, this is known as recidivism. Comey (2015) also noted that most offenders were expected to be rearrested within just one year of being released. Although these statistics stand to show that rehabilitation is not a likely option it is certainly something to be considered when dealing with another’s life. Overall, this process will contribute to the reduction of repeat offenders and over time greatly impact crime rates for the better.

Preventing and deterring others from becoming criminals in the first place is another way to lower crime rates and protect innocent lives. By clearly defining, declaring and enforcing the death penalty it will let those who are considering a life of violent crime know and understand what they are condemning themselves to and will over time prevent criminal activity. Fagan, Zimring and Geller (2006) state that in the past thirty years over a dozen studies have been published that have shown that anywhere from three all the way up to thirty two homicides can be prevented with one execution. It goes to show in many studies that from executing existing offenders they are preventing those offenders from causing further harm and additionally deterring future crime with those who would have been potential criminals. Fagan et al., (2006, pg. 1805, para 1) also mention that “Some claim that pardons, commutations, and exonerations cause murders to increase.” These studies seem to show that the potential to prevent crime could be limitless and that many crimes can be deterred if the death penalty was enforced.

Saving the countries resources is another one of many benefits that our country would experience if the death penalty was enforced. The death penalty would have a lot of positive impact on the country when it comes to crime, but it would also greatly influence the economy and financial aspects of the country as well. According to Steiker and Steiker (2010) it was indicated that death row incarceration costs the state, in this example California, $90,000 per inmate, per year which is an estimated $60 million per year in total. Due to the lack of executions and by simply incarcerating and housing the inmates, it costs the state and overall the county hundreds of billions of dollars each year that could be used for schooling, medical and other more deserving areas. With further study and review, many reports show that the costs of incarcerating a death row inmate costs vastly more than a standard inmate. Regulating the system nationwide so that once it is determined the criminal qualifies for capital punishment that they can be methodically and swiftly be executed would eliminate billions of dollars of housing costs. Not to mention the costs for food, water, electricity, soap and so on that the country spends in the prisons to care for and sustain said criminals. Furthermore, for well over a decade prison overcrowding has been a well-known issue and threatens the safety, health and security of the facility and all of those within. If there is too much crowding there is more fighting, gangs, and in a different spectrum, more illness. It is also unsafe for those who operate and work the prison as there are more criminals than guards and supervisors which could lead to horrible situations.