The death penalty is a highly controversial topic in the United States. The death penalty is the taking of a life by the government for crimes. It has been around for thousands of years, since the ancient Babylonians, and has been used numerous times in history as a deterrent for crimes usually involving murder (Caldwell 597). Capital punishment is beneficial to society not only because it deters crime, but also helps the economy, prevents the public …showed first 75 words of 1792 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1792 total…S.A." 1 Apr. 2002. NAACP. Dec. 3, 2004 <Tab/><http://www.naacpldf.org/content/pdf/pubs/drusa/deathrow-2002sp.pdf> Sharp, Dudley. "Death Penalty and Sentencing Information." 10 Oct. 1997. 3 Dec. 2004. <Tab/><http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/> Smolowe, Jill. "Race and the Death Penalty." Time Magazine. Apr. 29, 1991. Dec. 3,<Tab/>2004. <http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,972834,00.html>.