The Death Penalty between Its Supporters and Opponents

This article examines the controversy surrounding the death penalty by presenting the main arguments advanced by both its supporters and opponents. It situates capital punishment within the history of penal sanctions and discusses its legal, moral, religious, and social justifications. The article analyzes the four traditional objectives invoked in favor of the death penalty—expiation, deterrence, retribution, and social protection—while also considering abolitionist arguments based on human dignity, judicial error, the evolution of penal policy, and the limits of state power. It offers a balanced legal reflection on whether the death penalty can still be justified in modern criminal justice systems.