Should the death penalty be illegal?

Since 1973 144 individuals on death row were executed. In total of of all executions that’s only 1.6 percent, however, the innocent rate is 4.1 percent which is an untold number. It’s no way to speak on how much more individuals were innocent since 1,450 people have been exonerated since 1976. A factor in this percentage is individuals with mental illness. A false conviction rate of 1 percent translates to 20,000 individuals suffering for crimes they did not commit, many of whom have a mental illness diagnosis.

Individuals suffering from a mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism, may not be on medication or taking it consistently. This can lead to offenses committed which are uncontrollable by the convict. One in 25 Americans live with a critical mental illness.

Arguments of opponents of death penalty is the inevitability of sending innocent individuals who are wrongly accused to death row, eventually execution. Claimed by those who are opposed is that innocence is proven after execution is carried out. A student at forsyth satellite academy, Jencarlos says “People with mental illness does not deserve death row, they should be treated to see if that would change their behavior because there actions are uncontrollable without medication or any treatment.”

The death penalty is effective negatively pertaining to the Government and taxpayers money. Execution is added cost to Government and taxpayers budget. There are trials the state spends for which is for the verdict and another for sentencing.