The death penalty seems to be a controversial issue for most people. Supporters claim that it eliminates repeat offenders, deters potential murderers, and is the ultimate retribution. Opponents denounce it as murder, say that it does not cause deterrence but rather promotes violence, and claim that it introduces the chance of an innocent person being executed. Of all the arguments presented by both sides, one seems to be more compelling and crucial than the rest-deterrence. …showed first 75 words of 529 total…

…showed last 75 words of 529 total…as unconstitutional. In 1976, in Gregg v. Georgia, the Supreme Court decided that the death penalty was not unconstitutional per se but states had to implement it fairly. However, the court made it difficult for states to reimplement the death penalty. In Woodson v. North Carolina, the court ruled that a mandatory death penalty for first degree murder was not a uniform standard. In 1976 and the years that followed states began to reinstitute the death penalty.