The Most Unethical Punishment
Mario Cuomo, the former governor of New York, has studied the death penalty for over half his life, and he has concluded that use of the death penalty is unethical. He argues that the death penalty is immoral for three main reasons. The capital punishment system is biased against minorities, and it executes people that were wrongly convicted.
Cuomo states that the death penalty is sought for white criminals much less frequently than it is sought for African American or Hispanic criminals. In order to show this bias, he mentions information about the most recent executions in New York. According to Cuomo, "Of the last 18 people in New York State to be executed (ending in 1963), 13 were black and one was Hispanic." The racial makeup of this group is grossly disproportionate considering the fact that there are significantly less African Americans than Caucasians that are convicted of murder.
According to Cuomo, "It is believed that at least 23 people were wrongfully executed in the United States during the twentieth century." Supporters of the death penalty have too much faith in the criminal justice system, and it is not uncommon for a mistake to be made. Wrongful executions are also caused by the willingness of juries to convict defendants without being absolutely certain that they are guilty.
Based on his extensive knowledge of the death penalty, Cuomo believes that it is wrong to practice the death penalty. For the twelve years he was governor, Cuomo prevented the death penalty from being used in New York.
Cuomo states that the death penalty is sought for white criminals much less frequently than it is sought for African American or Hispanic criminals. In order to show this bias, he mentions information about the most recent executions in New York. According to Cuomo, "Of the last 18 people in New York State to be executed (ending in 1963), 13 were black and one was Hispanic." The racial makeup of this group is grossly disproportionate considering the fact that there are significantly less African Americans than Caucasians that are convicted of murder.
According to Cuomo, "It is believed that at least 23 people were wrongfully executed in the United States during the twentieth century." Supporters of the death penalty have too much faith in the criminal justice system, and it is not uncommon for a mistake to be made. Wrongful executions are also caused by the willingness of juries to convict defendants without being absolutely certain that they are guilty.
Based on his extensive knowledge of the death penalty, Cuomo believes that it is wrong to practice the death penalty. For the twelve years he was governor, Cuomo prevented the death penalty from being used in New York.