IndexAbstractDefinition of the Death PenaltyHistory of the Death PenaltyPsychological FactorsSociological FactorsNature vs. educationDifferent points of viewReferencesAbstractThe focus of this research paper is on the death penalty (or capital punishment). In the following paragraphs, the definition, history, psychological and sociological factors will be researched. The nature vs. nurture debate in relation to the death penalty will also be discussed, as will different views on the death penalty as a punishment option. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayDefinition of the Death PenaltyCapital punishment, or the death penalty, is a government-sanctioned punishment under which those convicted of capital crimes or capital offenses are sentenced to execution. Convicts can receive the death penalty for treason, espionage, large-scale drug trafficking and, in most cases, murder. In some cases, executions occur because the offender was under 18 at the time the crime was committed. Other times it is used on people with mental or intellectual disabilities, it can even be used after an unfair trial, depending on the country. History of the Death Penalty The history of the death penalty has been examined at length. It dates back to the 18th century BC, when the first death penalty laws were written, so this is a brief description of how it all began. According to the Death Penalty Information Center (2019), “the laws date back to the 18th century BC with the Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon, which codified the death penalty for 25 different crimes. The death penalty was also part of the Hittite code of the 14th century BC; in the draconian Code of Athens of the 7th century BC, which made death the sole punishment for all crimes; and in the Roman Law of the Twelve Tables of the 5th century BC”. Previously, death sentences were carried out through crucifixion, burning, drowning, and sometimes impalement. It was not until the 10th century AD that hanging became a popular form of death sentence in Britain. In the 16th century, common methods of execution included “boiling, burning, hanging, beheading, drawing, and quartering.” Some of the motivations for executions at the time could also have involved capital crimes such as marrying a Jew, not confessing to a crime, and/or treason. “The number of capital crimes in Britain continued to increase over the next two centuries. In 1700, there were 222 crimes punishable by death in Britain, including theft, felling a tree and stealing a rabbit's nest.” It was between 1823 and 1837 when more than 100 of the 222 crimes punishable by death were eliminated. Psychological Factors The victim's family is in a position that no one else can relate to when they are in the courtroom. The victim's family and loved ones are usually present on the court day and sometimes have a say in the verdict and sentencing. Some families say that having the perpetrator executed is the best option for them because it helps them find closure and feel safer. Others say that killing another person would bring nothing but more pain. When we examine the psychological factors of victims' families, this can influence the decision whether or not to execute the perpetrator. The final decision whether the offender will be sentenced to death or not is obviously made by the judge and the office, but the feelings and opinions of the family are taken into consideration. Sociological Factors Many factors are taken into consideration when deciding whether or not it is amurderer. they will be put on death row, but some are talked about more often than others. The race, sex, and social class of the victim and offender are taken into consideration and are sometimes the deciding factor in whether the offender will face the death penalty or life in prison. The justice system is known to treat female offenders more leniently than male offenders. This is because women are often seen as helpless or in a victim position, even though this is not the case. “In previous research, judges themselves have confirmed the court's preferential treatment of female offenders (e.g., Johnson, 2003; Nagel & Johnson, 1994; Simon & Ahn-Redding, 2005). There are multiple factors that can influence a judge to treat a female offender differently than a man, such as pregnancy, being a single mother, or having been a victim in the past. “In terms of race, the social justice system is known to favor Caucasian offenders over people of color. A study conducted by University of Washington professor Katherine Beckett states that Washington jurors “were four and a half times more likely to impose a death sentence when the defendant was black than in cases involving similarly situated white defendants.” . Beckett also writes, “The average American has a 1 in 20 chance of being imprisoned at some point in his life, but this rate is much higher for Latino men (1 in 6) and African American men (more than 1 in 3) compared to the American ones. for white men (1 in 23). Shockingly, 1 in 9 Black men under age 25 live under some form of restricted release: in jail, prison, probation, or parole. Not only are charges usually more severe when the defendant is a person of color, but more often than not the defendant is sentenced to the death penalty if the victim is white. Of all cases in which the death penalty has been used since 1976, 338 had a black victim, 1,660 had a white victim, and 199 were of other ethnicities. There is clear bias in the justice system, as a black man is often accused of killing a white man, but when the roles are reversed there seems to be much more forgiveness. Nature vs. Nurture Nature vs. Nurture can be applied to capital punishment when we are talking about whether or not people are inherently evil, or whether their situations and circumstances are the reason they committed a crime. This is one of the main factors in deciding whether or not to abolish the death penalty. James Garbarino, author of “Listening to Killers” reveals in a 2016 questionnaire conducted by the American Psychological Association that “most killers are untreated traumatized children who control the actions of the fearful adults they have become.” This being the case, we must ask ourselves whether killing these mentally unstable and traumatized people is the best action to take, or whether there is hope and they can see a specialist and recover from the trauma. Many argue that most defendants have been raised in this cruel side of themselves and can change. This is an argument that is often made against the death penalty. But others believe that it is not possible to recover from a mentality like this. They believe that if someone is evil enough to kill, it is in their nature, and they will always have that evil within them. Different Views There are two clear views on whether or not we should still have the death penalty as a punishment option. For years there has been debate about whether or not it is inhumane to kill as a punitive act, and one big question has been brought to the forefront: Does killing people teach people not to kill? Supporters argue