Death penalty is a politically divisive issue in the U.S. Death penalty has been abolished in many developed countries, many of whom are in Europe, but it remains legal in numerous states in the U.S. It is important to listen to both sides of the debate because it helps us better understand the pros and cons of death penalty.

One of the arguments in favor of death penalty is that it is a just punishment for the most heinous crimes. If the punishment should reflect the nature of the crime, death penalty is the appropriate punishment for the worst crimes imaginable. The supporters also argue that death penalty serves as a deterrant against the most heinous of crimes. The supporters believe death penalty ensures the survivors of the victims of worst crimes get justice and the closure they deserve .

The opponents of the death penalty argue that death penalty may result in the death of an innocent person, and it is not possible to reverse the mistake if facts emerge that exonerate the victim. The opponents claim death penalty is more expensive than alternative options such as life sentence. The opponents also allege that the system of death penalty disproportionately affects the minority groups, especially, African Americans in America. The outcome of the trial is affected by the quality of attorneys assigned to the defendants. The opponents of death penalty allege that most defendents in capital case cannot afford legal representations and are usually assigned attorneys of low quality. This, in turn, increases the chances of the defendants getting the death penalty .

Death penalty is a divisive issue in America. The supporters of death penalty argue it is a just punishment for the most heinous crimes, it is an effective deterrant against the worst crimes, and it gives closure and sense of justice to the survivors. The opponents of death penalty claim it disproportionately targets the minority groups, it is more expensive than the alternative options, the victim cannot be brought back to life if he is exonerated later, and the probability of getting death penalty is usually high due to the simple fact that most defendants are assigned attorneys of low quality.