are committed in the heat of the moment during times of great emotional trauma or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, when logical thinking is in no doubt absent (NCADP). In such cases, persons will commit a crime of violence regardless of the consequences. The majority of the evidence shows that the death penalty is in no way effectively deterring criminals. Evidence of past use of the death penalty establishes reasonable doubt that the death penalty does not deter murder, and there is no evidence to prove otherwise. In a thorough report on the effects of criminal sanctions on crime rates, the National Academy of Sciences concluded that it is misleading to justify the use of capital punishment on such "fragile" and "uncertain" results (NCADP). Also, there are clinically documented cases that reveal the death penalty actually provoked the capital crimes it was intended to prevent (NCADP). These cases involved the so-called "suicide by execution syndrome" in which a person who wants to die but fears taking their own life will commit murder so the state will execute them. The use of the death penalty obviously guarantees that the criminal will never commit another crime, but there is no evidence that capital punishment deters another individual from committing murder (Glover 139).An alternative, one that is far less inhumane, is a policy of life imprisonment without the possibility or parole. It is commonly reported that Americans approve of the death penalty. But, more careful analysis of the attitudes of the public shows that Americans prefer alternatives (Smart). In fact, they would oppose the death penalty if convicted murderers were sentenced to life without parole and required to make some form of financial restitution. In a 1993 nationwide survey 77 percent of the public approved of the death penalty, but the poll dropped to 41 percent when the alternative no parole plus restitution was offered (Smart). Only a minor...
