Capital punishment – also known as the death penalty – is the execution of a prisoner who has been condemned following trial. Capital punishment was abolished in the UK in 1965 but is still used as a form of punishment in 55 countries across the world, including America, China, and Pakistan.
What is the purpose of capital punishment?
Capital punishment is seen to have several aims:
- Protection of society, as the most dangerous criminals are removed and can never hurt anyone again.
- To severely punish criminals for the worst crimes.
- To act as a deterrence; if people know they might receive the death penalty, it might put them off of committing violent crimes.
- To give the victims a sense of justice, that the victims have received the punishment they deserve.
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