Hello everybody!
The death penalty is often considered a controversial punishment in many parts of the world. Do you think the death penalty is necessary for punishing certain crimes or helping criminals out by providing them with psychotherapy is a better way to go about it?
A main reason to have a punishment is deterrence, or to discourage other people from committing the crime due to fear of the punishment. Research shows that the death penalty is not an effective way to deter people from committing violent crimes. Add this to the fact that many people are falsely convicted based on race and/or socioeconomic status and the fact that the cost of keeping someone on death row is incredibly high, and it becomes clear that the death penalty does not accomplish what it is meant to.
In my honest opinion, the death penalty is too harsh. Even if we punish someone with death penalty for a commited crime, that does not mean we will stop others from commiting the same crime. I think that sentencing someone with prison for life will have a better effect
I think a country's attitude about the death penalty depends on what the people think the justice system should achieve - rehabilitation or punishment. I do think there are some crimes that are unforgivable, but I can't 100% say that those perpetrators aren't capable of rehabilitation (although they might not ever gain redemption or access back to society).
Also, although it is rare, there is always the risk that the executed person was innocent.