Extreme Situations Can Morally Justify the Use of Capital Punishment The use of capital punishment has become progressively problematic since the first day it was put into practice. There are many excellent arguments both for and against capital punishment, but in my opinion the benefits of capital punishment outweigh any possible negatives. Even though capital punishment seems extreme, it is sometimes necessary when people commit extreme crimes. I would argue that in certain situations the use of capital punishment is morally acceptable. To defend my position on this topic, I will reason that the use of capital punishment has many advantages that outweigh any possible objections. Particular attention will be given to issues of deterrence, the families of victims and the population growth occurring in our prisons. Any objections will also be considered, including criticism of the monetary value of the use of the death penalty and opposition to this practice due to its characteristics, which some identify as hypocritical and inhumane. My goal in arguing for the moral justifiability of capital punishment is not to use this practice extensively, but rather to reduce its use to a minimum and use it only when necessary. Above all, capital punishment should be morally justified in extreme situations to have a deterrent effect. Many criminals appear to be threatened more by the thought of death than by a long-term prison sentence. If a criminal is sentenced to twenty-five years in prison, then he knows that all the necessities necessary to survive for those twenty-five years, including food, water, shelter, and even the possibility of release, will be guaranteed. .... half of the paper ...... proportional, rather than equal, to the punishment (Nathanson 398). If the crime is proportional to the punishment then the use of the death penalty does not seem as hypocritical and inhumane. In conclusion, although there are objections to this way of thinking, I believe that capital punishment can be morally justified. The use of capital punishment will not only help provide victims' families with a sense of security and reduce the ever-increasing population in our prisons, but will also serve as a deterrent. Once again, my goal in arguing for the moral justifiability of capital punishment is to minimize the use of this practice. This means that capital punishment will not become an everyday practice, but rather will be used in extreme situations where benefits such as deterrence, closure and population reduction can arise..