The document discusses the debate around the death penalty and whether it acts as an effective deterrent for crime. It summarizes several studies that have been inconclusive on whether the death penalty reduces murder rates. It also outlines common misconceptions around the death penalty and presents alternatives like life imprisonment that could rehabilitate criminals while also protecting society.

1. The Death Penalty and
Deterrence
The death penalty has been one of the most controversial
and divisive issues facing the public for many years. It is an
increasingly hotly contested issue in today’s society.

2. Aim of the Criminal Justice System
• The principal aim of the criminal justice system is to rehabilitate criminals
and to protect society from those who are not rehabilitated. Use of death
penalty is one means to reach the ends of “doing justice” and “deterring
others”.
• The opponents of the capital punishment must show convincingly that it
does not fulfil either of these aspirations, while proponents can rely on
either argument for justification. Hence, various studies on deterrent
effect of death penalty have been done to date.

3. Common View
• The most common view about death penalty
is that it brings down crime rate. People tend
believe that hanging the accused would instill
a feeling of fear in the minds of criminals and
hence, further crime would be prevented. But
various studies conducted on deterrent effect
of death penalty tell a different story.

4. Study by National Research Council
• In a study conducted by United States
National Research Council in April 2012, it
concluded that studies claiming death penalty
affects murder rate were flawed because they
did not take into account the effect of noncapital punishments.

5. A Survey by Criminologists in 2009

6. Death Penalty vs. Other Penalties
The murder rate in nonDeath Penalty states has
remained consistently
lower than the rate in
States with the Death
Penalty.

7. Common Misconceptions about
Death Penalty
1. It’s less expensive than permanent
imprisonment
2. It deters murder
3. It shows society’s disgust towards the crime
4. Some crimes require “ultimate penalty”
5. It’s justice (eye for an eye concept)

8. Facts about Death Penalty
1.
2.
3.
4.
A lot of money is wasted in investigations, trials and appeals for mercy
after conviction.
70 % of all death penalties are reversed due to serious errors such as
incompetence by defence lawyers or misconduct by the police or
prosecution.
It takes away the opportunity of improving from the accused.
It’s an easy escape for the accused after committing a serious crime.

9. Is there a better way?
• As it is evident from the researches done on death penalty
that it does not deter crime, a search starts for finding an
alternative.
1. One of the alternatives would be to provide an opportunity
to the accused to rehabilitate.
2. Those who fail to improve can be sentenced to life
imprisonment.
3. There are many other ways in which society can show its
disgust towards a heinous crime.
• This approach would not only guarantee human rights to the
accused by also provide them with a lifetime opportunity to
improve themselves.

10. Thank You
Compiled by: Pardeep Singh
Roll Number: 101303112
Institution: Thapar University