In the United States, we take great pride in being a free and open country that welcomes everyone from around the world seeking a better life. It is therefore surprising that we surpass other countries in terms of the number of people incarcerated in our prisons. What is even more surprising is the fact that of all the nations in the world, the United States is consistently among the top five nations that execute the most prisoners. The primary reason most prisoners in the United States are on death row is due to capital crimes, such as homicide. Homicide as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “the act of killing another person” (Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2014). The death penalty is an archaic form of punishment that has been plagued by an alarming number of controversies and incidents that have led world leaders to call for an end to this cruel and unusual form of punishment. Leaders of the civilized world are calling for an end to horribly botched death penalty cases and the number of innocent people on death row. Another controversial topic is the staggering amount of money that is required for a single death penalty case compared to life in prison without the possibility of parole. People all over the world are starting to wake up and realize that taking another person's life as a form of punishment is a form of punishment. not only archaic, but also constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. The United Nations has made some of the most significant progress toward a world without the death penalty and with greater human rights. In 1948, the United Nations adopted the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights", which declares that everyone has the right to live and not be subjected to "cruel and degrading punishment"... middle paper.. ....a society for all. The United States is certainly among the top five countries contributing to government-sanctioned murder. In conclusion, studies show that states without the death penalty actually have fewer murders than states where the death penalty is a form of punishment. (May 31, 2013). Retrieved May 2, 2014Erb, KP (September 22, 2011). Death and taxes: the real cost of the death penalty. Retrieved May 2, 2014, from www.forbes.comMerriam-Webster, Incorporated. (April 25, 2014). Radelet, ML (May 2, 2014). Examples of botched post-Furman executions. Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved May 3, 2014. The death penalty and international human rights standards. (2012). Washington, DC, United States. Retrieved April 25, 2014 from www.amenstyusa.org/oblish