The allowance of the death penalty has been a topic of question for over a decade. Although it is constantly put in a negative light, the death penalty is actually a beneficial aspect of the court systems.
Convicts who receive the death penalty have a lengthy trial and appeals process in attempt to prove the fact that they are not guilty and thus, should not be sentenced to death. In some cases, this process is crucial for those who are innocent. For example, in the year of 1996, Damon Thibodeaux confessed to a rape and murder, unknowingly, and was sentenced to death. He spent many years in prison; however, after looking further into his case, he was proven innocent and freed. In comparison, if Thibodeaux was sentenced to life in prison, his case would not have been looked into as intensively; thus, decreasing the chance of him being proven innocent and released from prison. Furthermore, death sentences account for less than one percent of prison sentences, yet, the exoneration rate for them is 12%, thus demonstrating the success and exstensivity of the appeals and trial processes.
The death penalty can also be used as a bargaining chip. Case in point, a prisoner is likely to prefer life in prison over death; this choice can cause defendants to give a confession, thus speeding up the court process. This factor clears the courts from extensive and inessential trials.
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On August 3, 2017, my classmate Lauren posted a blog over the death penalty. Lauren explains how the death penalty can be beneficial to our court systems and how it is actually a good thing to have, and I agree with her. The death penalty does not always sound like a good idea, but Lauren gives good arguments on how it is.
Lauren first gives an example about the "1996 case when Damon Thibodeaux confesses to rape and murder and was sentenced to death." She then explains how later on the court looked over his case while in prison and was actually innocent and sent free. Dramatic cases like this one is more likely to be heard and further investigated. Not a lot of cases end with the death penalty, but when some do, the media and court are more likely to keep an interest with it. I believe Lauren is correct when saying "if Thibodeaux was sentenced to life in prison, his case would not have been looked into as intensively." The death penalty is a rare punishment, this is why right before the date is to come, the court tries to find anything possible to make death penalty not an option.
Lauren also says "the death penalty can also be used as a bargaining chip" which I also agree with. Mostly all prisoners do not want the death penalty, but when they hear that option given to them, they are quick to confess about what they did. This makes the trail go by more easier and as Lauren said, "it can cause the defendant to give a confession, thus speeding up the court process." This makes the court have time to hear other trials instead of wasting time on a defendant who will not tell the truth about what they have done.
Overall, Lauren has made me believe that the death penalty is actually a benefit to our court system, and I couldn't agree more. The death penalty is a good way to make sure that innocent people are actually proven innocent, and like Lauren said, "this factor clears the courts from extensive and inessential trials."
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