The death penalty is one of the most controversial topics in the criminal justice system. Does it really discourage crime? Is it convenient? Are the accused fairly represented? These are some questions that come to mind when considering the effectiveness of this punitive punishment. When considering whether capital punishment deters death penalty crimes, there are many factors to examine. Many opinions in support of punishment are simply because people think it saves more lives and reduces the murder rate. This, however, is not true. The idea that capital punishment deters crime is based on belief, not evidence. (Donohue, Wolfers, 2006) A group of studies conducted by a group at Emory University, called Emory Studies, provided four different works and showed the deterrence rates for the country. The first study used 3,054 counties over a 19-year span (1977-1996) to conclude that both convictions and executions reduce the homicide rate. (Radelet, Laycock, 2009) The second study used monthly murder and execution data from 1977 to 1999 to show that each sentence led to 4.5 fewer murders and that actual executions led to three fewer murders . (Radelet, Laycock, 2009). that when the death penalty was banned the murder rate increased in 91% of states, and when it was reinstated the murder rate increased in 70% of states in the past down. In the latest report, the Emory group found that deterrence is prevalent only when a state records nine or more executions per year. When there were fewer than nine, the deterrent effect was either nonexistent or the murder rate actually increased in response to the executions. (Radelet, Laycock, 2009) Many other deterrence studies have demonstrated similar things. Paul Zimmerman conducted a study and initially thought that every state is applying capital punishment and that the effectiveness of irreversible punishment is decreasing. There is no evidence of deterrence and it is exponentially expensive. Capital punishment has taken innocent lives and may continue to do so. Considering these three factors we conclude that the death penalty is not effective and will continue to decline in effectiveness in the coming years. Works Cited Richard C. Dieter, 2004. Innocence and the Crisis in American Death Penalty Richard C. Dieter, 2009. Smart on Crime, Reconsidering the Death Penalty in a Time of Economic Crisis. John J. Donohue, Justin Wolfers (2006). The death penalty: no evidence of deterrence. Traci L. Laycock, Michael L. Radlet, (2009). Recent developments. The journal of criminal law and criminology. 99, pp.489-508Deathpenaltyinfo.org/innocence-and-death-penalty