Scribd
Upload
27 views1 page

Death Row Script

Zainab Shafqat argues for the retention of the death penalty, asserting it deters serious crimes and provides closure for victims' families. Despite the significant financial costs associated with capital punishment, proponents believe the benefits of public safety and justice outweigh these expenses. The presentation concludes that, when applied with strict legal safeguards, the death penalty is a necessary tool for addressing the most severe offenses.

Uploaded by

zainabshafqat9603
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
27 views1 page

Death Row Script

Zainab Shafqat argues for the retention of the death penalty, asserting it deters serious crimes and provides closure for victims' families. Despite the significant financial costs associated with capital punishment, proponents believe the benefits of public safety and justice outweigh these expenses. The presentation concludes that, when applied with strict legal safeguards, the death penalty is a necessary tool for addressing the most severe offenses.

Uploaded by

zainabshafqat9603
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

English Presentation:

Imagine someone who has carefully planned and carried out a mass murder. Dozens of lives are gone
forever — yet the person responsible may live out the rest of their life under state protection. Is that
justice?

My name is Zainab Shafqat, and today I will be discussing whether death penalty should be retained?

The death penalty, or capital punishment, is the legal practice of executing a person as punishment for
the most serious crimes. The death penalty is the legal execution of a person for the most serious
crimes. It is reserved for the most exceptional cases, such as acts of terrorism, mass murder, or severe
sexual offenses—particularly those involving the murder or brutal assault of women and children.

For the most severe crimes, the death penalty should be maintained because it deters serious offenses
and safeguards society, even though it carries significant financial costs.

One common argument in favor of the death penalty is that it may deter serious crimes. The reasoning
is that if potential offenders know the ultimate punishment—execution—awaits those convicted of
heinous acts, they may think twice before committing them. Supporting this, a 2003 study found that in
the United States from 1977 to 1997, each execution was associated with approximately 18 fewer
murders per year, suggesting a potential deterrent effect. These findings strengthen the argument that
capital punishment can serve as an effective tool in preventing the most serious crimes.

The death penalty provides closure for victims’ families and ensures public safety by permanently
removing the most dangerous offenders. Research indicates that approximately 30–40 % of families
perceive executions as a meaningful step toward emotional healing. By combining emotional closure
with the elimination of potential threats, capital punishment delivers both personal and societal justice
in the most extreme cases.

However, the death penalty is expensive, requiring lengthy trials, extensive investigations, expert
witnesses, and years of appeals. Housing inmates on death row also adds significantly to costs. For
instance, in Oregon, death penalty cases cost taxpayers about $2.3 million, nearly double the
$1.4 million for similar crimes resulting in life imprisonment. Despite these high costs, proponents argue
that the financial burden is outweighed by the benefits of delivering justice and permanently protecting
society from the most dangerous offenders.

In conclusion, while the death penalty involves significant financial costs, its retention for the
most severe crimes is justified. It may deter serious offenses, provides closure for victims’
families, and permanently safeguards society by removing the most dangerous offenders.
When applied carefully and with strict legal safeguards, capital punishment remains a necessary
tool for delivering justice and protecting the public in extreme cases.

You might also like