The existence of the death sentence may deter individuals from committing a serious crime, thus making society safer. Everyone enjoys the feeling of security, but the alarming number of innocent people on death row today makes the implementation of the death sentence questionable. Someone with deep pockets such as O.J. Simpson is able to afford a good lawyer and therefore has a greater chance of walking free even if guilty. The financial status of an individual having an effect on whether or not he/she receives the death sentence and the fact that there are many innocent inmates on death row shows that our justice system is not sophisticated enough to use the death sentence. On April 8, 2002 Ray Krone was released from prison in Arizona after DNA evidence proved he did not kill a phoenix bartender. Unfortunately Krone had already served a ten-year sentence before he was found innocent.
According to Columbia University professor James Liebman ” One in every twenty death row inmates is later found not guilty”. The American Civil Liberties Unions notes that the innocence of most individuals exonerated is a result of someone else confessing to the crime.
DNA evidence is sometimes key in proving the innocence of an individual. However, due to the lack of physical evidence, DNA testing is not always available to every innocent inmate sitting on death row. In fact, DNA evidence only helps to prove the innocence of a small percentage of individuals facing the death sentence.
We can’t rely on good fortune or money to determine an individual’s final verdict. The possibility of executing an innocent person is horrific and even those truly adamant about enforcing the death penalty agree. Our system of justice is painfully flawed and we must stop jeopardizing the lives of innocent people. We should postpone the use of the death sentence until our system of justice is reformed.