Pardoning Death Row Prisoners Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pardoning Death Row Prisoners - Essay ExampleShe corroborated her claim by non only leading an exemplary life during her time in the prison house, and also managed to garner much social and institutional support in favor of her pardon. The second example is of a gangster Stanley Williams who murdered 4 bulk in cold blood and received a death sentence. In the following years, Stanley not only became a peace activist and a rich writer, but also claimed that the prison life had made him a good person. Again, Stanley managed to attract the sympathy and support of many prominent citizens and organizations. Yet, both Karla and Stanley were executed, irrespective of their proclaimed rehabilitation on death row.Law serves many purposes in the modern societies. In case of a heinous crime like homicide, the purpose of the constabulary is not only to give justice to the murdered individuals and their family members and associates, but also to set an example before the society, so that peo ple may desist from committing such crimes in the future (Bedau 52). If the state starts pardoning or commuting the death sentences of the criminals who claim to have changed or have become peaceful individuals owing to religious or other benign reasons, this will provide a loophole to most of the death row prisoners to claim pardon by citing similar excuses. ... Such instances will not only set a dangerous precedent, but will amount to reducing the law to a joke. The transformation or improvement of a receiver does not relieve one of the debt one owes to the victims in particular and the society in general.Second Possible Position It is a known fact that in most of the modern societies, their always exists a gap of a couple of years, before the passing of a death sentence to a person inculpative of murder and the actual execution. The primary purpose of the law is to make society a safe place to live. Hence, it is perfectly justified to protect society from a dangerous murderer o r a habitual criminal by sentencing one to death. Considering the prolonged gaps between the passing of the sentence and the execution, it is quiet possible that a murderer may become a better person owing to introspection and the salubrious influences that one may come across in the prison (Tabak 181). If this fact is further corroborated by a prisoners good behavior on death row over a prolonged period and is recognized and support by prominent citizens and organizations, the state can certainly pardon or commute the death sentence of such a prisoner. Once a prisoner has credibly become a peaceful citizen and has managed to attract the support of the society, executing one simply serves no purpose, but amounts to unnecessary and legal violence (Baird 46). much Agreeable Position In the context of the case presentation under consideration, the first position stands to be more valid and agreeable. The first position takes a more broad based and pragmatic view of the institution of law. The perspective adopted by the first position