Capital punishment is the lawful infliction of the death penalty, and since ancient times has been used as punishment for a wide variety of offenses ( Software Toolworks Encyclopedia: Capital Punishment ). The standard for this judgment is that the punishment must be based on the severity of the offense. 'Murder, for example is widely considered an offense meriting the death penalty- In which case is called a capital offense-or life imprisonment.' ( Software Toolworks Encyclopedia: Crime ). …showed first 75 words of 902 total…

…showed last 75 words of 902 total…Software Toolworks Encyclopedia: Punishment ). The debate over punishment is not whether or not it should be carries out, but if the punishment matches the severity of the offense ( Carro 631 ). The main argument over criminal punishment is the contrast between the death penalty and life imprisonment. 'Capital punishment is the most premeditated of murders,' ( Abolition Now n. pag. ) tp which unlawful act can be compared to a state's sentence to execution ( Abolition Now n. pag. ).