In 1995, 56 men were executed. This is the largest number of inmates on death row who have been executed in 38 years, according to a report released by the United States Justice Department.

As of Dec. 31, 1995, 3,054 men are awaiting executions in 34 states.

Among the 56 who had criminal histories available, two-thirds had felony convictions and eight percent had a homicide conviction.

They are all on death row because they all committed violent crimes. But is it necessary for all of them to await death by execution? Has the judicial system lost faith in prison programs to help inmates come to terms with their crimes?

The youngest inmate executed last year was 18, in Nevada, and the oldest was 80, in Arizona. They both committed hideous crimes. But why are they awaiting death while so many murderers, rapists and abusers live a life of going to prison and getting out a dozen times over?

Or are death row inmates being killed off simply to make more room in the prisons? Is death a reason to execute an inmate so another inmate can live there for several decades to await his turn at death by the government? A way to save money instead of building a new prison?

If prison space is a reason for killing off so many death row inmates, it seems a death sentence has become as common a sentence to give as any other. Or is death still a deterrent to crime? Is that why so many were executed last year?

The number of executions in this country are nothing to be proud of.

We as a nation need to examine why we are executing human beings, and what beneficial purpose it serves to end more lives. Punishment, rehabilitation, prison space, or…?