Do we really need death penalty?

Capital punishment was officially abolished in Poland in 1997 although the last execution was carried out in 1988 in a prison in Cracow. Recently, after 16 years, one of the right-wing political parties, PiS, have started a campaign to restore the death penalty. Although the majority of Polish people support this restoration, the most important question is: will it really decrease the number of the most violent crimes and make our country safer.

Firstly, capital punishment is not allowed in any of the 25 European Union members. The EU is definetely against the death penalty and if Poland decides to restore it, we may face unpleasant consequences or even exclusion from this organisation. What is more, even countries from outside of the European Union have abolished the death penalty. The only country in Europe where people are still put to death is Belarus.

Secondly, there is always possibility of executing innocent people. Judges and juries are not infallible and when they make a mistake, then an innocent person who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time can be put to death. In the United States, where capital punishment is allowed, twelve innocent people were executed only in one state in the last 27 years.

In contrast, the number of violent crimes and murders with particular cruelty increases every year. People who have their relatives killed by murderers may want the same punishment for them. Maybe it is the only way to alleviate their pain and suffering. These people believe in the old rule: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

What is more, most Polish people support capital punishment. According to the opinion poll, conducted by CBOS, around 77% of the Polish population is for the restoration of the death penalty and only 19% is against it. Almost everyday, there is news on TV about crimes and murders, which are often very brutal and cruel. People think that capital punishment will be a deterrent to potential murderers.

The restoration of the death penalty depends on the results of the next parliamentary and presidential elections even though most people support it. The example of the USA shows that for the last 10 years the growth in the number of executions was accompanied by the decrease in the number of murders. However, it is not certain that the same will happen in Poland. This is why we must thoroughly examine all advantages and disadvantages of this restoration and answer the question if we really need capital punishment.