B2 – Upper intermediate
Every day, people are executed by the state as punishment for a variety of crimes. Read the article below and express your thoughts about the death penalty.
Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.
The United States still executes criminals for very serious crimes. People who support the death penalty believe that the fear and threat of death reduce serious crimes. However, opponents don’t believe this argument. And, maybe more importantly, innocent people could be put to death. More than 200 prisoners previously on death row have been freed because DNA showed that they didn’t commit the crime.
States may get rid of the death penalty not because of ethical reasons, though. Because many states face budget crises, financial reasons may push along the change. Prisoners on death can row can appeal the decision, and it may take ten or twenty years before the person is finally put to death. That means it costs roughly $4 million per prisoner, which is a ridiculously high cost.
Life on prison without any chance to get out costs ten times less than an execution. That’s a lot of money, even in more economically stable times. But politicians are looking closely at budgets in order to cut costs and make ends meet. Fewer death sentences may be the result.
Source: headsupenglish.com
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think about the death penalty? Why?
2. Can you think of three reasons why supporters think the death penalty works?
3. Can you think of three reasons why opponents think the death penalty doesn’t work?
4. Does your country have the death penalty? Why/not?
5. How can serious crimes be reduced? Think of three reasons with a partner.
One reply on “Death Penalty Too Costly”
What do you think about the death penalty? Why?
My opinion on this topic basically it is that maybe we should give second chances after a while for reflection. Because a bad place on bad conditions implies time to think and normally it’s all we need to change our personality or the direction of our own lifes.
Can you think of three reasons why supporters think the death penalty works?
Fear, easy way and belief in effectiveness of violence.
Can you think of three reasons why opponents think the death penalty doesn’t work?
People can be changed and get better, we have no right to remove a human life, we’re not being a role model when kill other people like the accused
Does your country have the death penalty? Why/not?
No, my country doesn’t applied the death penalty. I think that reason is our politicians thinks in the people rehabilitation.
How can serious crimes be reduced? Think of three reasons with a partner
With more rehabilitation programs, more empathy feeling of all and good stable economy on the country.