Do Executions Lower Homicide Rates?

The death penalty has been associated by criminologist for the longest time as the perfect deterrent of homicide. In 2002, Mocan-Gittings article expeditiously indicated that with each execution there were five fewer capital murders stopped (Radelete & Locock, 2009). Similarly, in Radelete and Akers survey from another leading lot of criminologists portrayed equivalent results. There is wide range view that capital punishment affects murder the rates in a significant way no wonder the rise backing for the deterrence philosophy. Even though, other studies published by economist Ehrich clinch show that there is no substantial evidence.

Adding more weight on this concept are dedicated field professor’s Adler and Summers, in 1979 to 2004 the two found astonishing results when their observation brought the number of prevented murders in the subsequent year up to twenty four (Radelete & Locock, 2009). Despite the critics notions still, the survey is in much favor in preventing more deaths. Emory group study dwelling on executions in the US from 1967 found astonishing results in which 91 percent of the States showed a rise in homicide consequently after the suspension of the death penalty (Radelete & Locock, 2009). Undeniably, this explicitly depicts the vitality of capital punishment in quest of lowering the homicide rates in our societies. Therefore, we should be keen not to have death punishment and accept a potential rise in homicide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Radelete, L. & Locock, T. (2009). Do executions lower homicide rates?: The views of leading criminologists. The journal of law & criminology. Vol. 99 No.2, pp.489-508