Deterrence of the Death Penalty Independent Study The death penalty has been used for centuries as a form of retributive justice for felonies committed by criminals. The code of Hammurabi, written approximately 3,700 years ago, stated that “if a man destroys another man’s eye, the offender’s eye should be taken out; if a son strikes his father, the son shall have his hand cut off.”(246) Early legal codes tried to provide justice by matching …showed first 75 words of 2235 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2235 total…controversial issue that is not to be taken lightly. When a person is sentenced to die their right to life and rehabilitation is taken away. Should we not at least give them a chance? “I was 17 years old when I committed the offense for which I was sentenced to die, and I didn’t even start thinking and caring about my life until I was at least 20.” Charles F. Rumbaugh prior to his execution September 11, 1985