What do you think about the death penalty?

whiskeyman510

The death penalty serves a purpose, but it does need some adjusting.

What it doesn't really do is act as a deterrent, as it takes too long to get through the appeals process to actually be carried out.

What it does bring benefit to is the taxpayers. In the US it costs roughly $26,000 a year to keep 1 prisoner alive in prison. Not adjusting for inflation, which would make it worse, if someone stays in prison for life, from age 25-85, that costs us 1.3 million dollars, just for that one person.

If they committed truly heinous crimes, beyond a shadow of a doubt (think Jeffrey Dahmer types) where there is no way we would ever let them out, and rehabilitation is out of the question, do us all a favor and use that 1.3 million to do something good in the world.

MELANIE

I am for capital punishment ~ that fits the crime. I believe in an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth. If someone kills, they should lose their life. That is only fare !
Or for other hainous crimes against other human beings.

Jasmine

I'm on the fence about it. I believe in consequences. If a person does a heinous crime like killing children then I have no problem with the death penalty. I just know that our system is flawed and I'd hate for an innocent person to pay the ultimate price.

There was a recent article in abc news that said,
a series of academic studies over the last half-dozen years that claim to settle a once hotly debated argument whether the death penalty acts as a deterrent to murder. The analysis say yes. They count between three and 18 lives that would be saved by the execution of each convicted killer

If it's true that 3-18 people could be saved by the execution of a convicted killer...then isn't that something to consider in the debate?

Susan S

There are many practical problems with the system. Unfortunately, some people who have answered your question are mistaken on the facts. Here are questions often asked about the death penalty system. Sources are listed below.

What about the risk of executing innocent people?
124 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence.

Doesn't DNA keep new cases like these from happening?
DNA is available in less than 10% of all homicides. It is not a guarantee against the execution of innocent people.

Doesn't the death penalty prevent others from committing murder?
No reputable study shows the death penalty to be a deterrent. To be a deterrent a punishment must be sure and swift. The death penalty is neither. Homicide rates are higher in states that have it than in states that do not.

So, what are the alternatives?
Life without parole is now on the books in 48 states. It means what it says. It is sure and swift and rarely appealed. Life without parole is less expensive than the death penalty.

But isn't the death penalty cheaper than keeping criminals in prison?
The death penalty costs much more than life in prison, largely because of the legal process. Extra costs include those due to the complicated nature of both the pre trial investigation and of the trials (involving 2 separate stages, mandated by the Supreme Court) in death penalty cases and subsequent appeals. There are more cost effective ways to prevent and control crime.

What about the very worst crimes?
The death penalty isnâ€™t reserved for the â€œworst of the worst,â€ but rather for defendants with the worst lawyers. When is the last time a wealthy person was sentenced to death, let alone executed??

Doesn't the death penalty help families of murder victims?
Not necessarily. Murder victim family members across the country argue that the drawn-out death penalty process is painful for them and that life without parole is an appropriate alternative.

So, why don't we speed up the process?
Over 50 of the innocent people released from death row had already served over a decade. If the process is speeded up we are sure to execute an innocent person.

But donâ€™t Americans prefer the death penalty as the most serious punishment?
Not any more. People are rethinking their views, given the facts and the records on innocent people sentenced to death. According to a Gallup Poll, in 2006, 47% of all Americans prefer capital punishment while 48% prefer life without parole. Americans are learning about the system and we are making up our minds based on facts, not eye for an eye sound bites.

Edit: Note to britt1017 You should take a look at the fact that DNA is available at less than 10% of all homidide scenes. One of the sources for this is Dr. Michael Baden, former Chief Medical Examiner of New York City and the chief forensic pathologist for the New York State Police.

Edit: Note to kittykat You should take a look at www.deathpenaltyfocus.org to see why the death penalty costs so much more than life in prison. Also, the point about statistics on race is that a defendant is much more likely to face the death penalty if the Victim was white.

whiskeycharlie

Unfortunately its wrong due to the fact that it,s been proved that some who have been executed were the wrong guy, but some of the people in this world sure deserve to be on the business end of a noose thats for sure. An innocent person is not worth some scumbag getting his/her just desserts.

nickle

I think every State should have it-------I would even volunteer to pull the plug or give injections to those that deserve it.

ntm

I think it's pretty barbaric, but then some crimes are too, so I'm not against it completely.
I think in cases like Tim McVeigh, (OKC bomber) that it's absolute justice, and too good for him.
I think when the crime is heinous, violent and there is no chance for rehab and the proof is absolute, then and only then is it something I can live with.
If there is any doubt, no DNA evidence, or a he said she said kind of thing going on, then they shouldn't be sentenced to death, IMO

James P

well i dont know, but it is better than torture!

mikey

I think it is not used nearly enough.

K M

a life for a life seems completely right and just to me. other than murder, there is no reason for the death penalty.

klh7768

I'm all for it. Many fellow posters did write valid reasons for and against it. Of course there were some other nitwits, if you will, who have no business answering a serious question with silly answers. I do have a problem with the appeals process. It does seem to drag on forever.

duckydoo

saves me taxes.

KittyKat

I have no problem with it in some cases.

And how can people say it doesn't deter crime? Sure it does. You may not always know it but if someone knows they may have to face the death penalty, you can bet most will think twice before killing/raping/torturing someone.

It isn't degrading and it isn't for revenge, it is called justice and if people would take responsibility for their actions, there wouldn't be so many out there willing to hurt others and they wouldn't have to pay the price for THEIR actions.

There isn't any possible way it would cost more to kill someone than to keep them in prison for life, especially if the person is in their 20s or 30s and live until they are 80 or 90. Where did you learn your math?

So because poor people and minorities, who DID commit the crime BTW, might be put to death we shouldn't have a death penalty at all? That is very slanted thinking which justifies nothing.

You need to research and get your facts straight .... Current death row population by race:

BLACK.... 1,397.... 41.7%

HISPANIC.... 359.... 10.7%

WHITE....1,517.... 45.3%

OTHER... 77.... 2.3%

Check this link to see each states statistics:

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=5&did=184#executionrace

Cleo

I feel that with DNA and forensic science advances the odds of the wrong person being put to death are going down.

Where I live, recently a convicted child molester was released from prison on a 40 year term in 18 years. In less than a year he had charges against him for molesting an 8 year old. The judge allowed him to bond out of jail in Jan. 07. In May he abducted and strangled a 16 year old who happened to be one of my daughters best freind. Am I pissed? Hell yes.

There is much blame to pass around in this tragedy beginning with the judge that set him free on bond when he had been out of prison less than 6 months at the time he was accused of molesting the 8 year old.

This man had convictions is two counties before he molested the 8 year old and then killed the 16 year old.

If this man gets the death penalty he will probably be in his 70's before the execution is carried out because of the appeal process. In this case I would be happy if no appeals process was afforded to this scumbag.

George

I dont have to - I havent killed anyone.

an eye for an eye makes a level playing field

hydroclickrecords

OMG... I Can't Answer That Question I need More Details

Josh C

I believe in it, and feel it should be done, but I'm a strong believer in the Firing Squad. The reason is, while people think that lethal injection is safe and humane, it's ONLY humane for those watching. The three chemicals in the injection are made to paralyze the condemned. Basically what happens to them is that they "drown" or suffocate and SOMETIMES, the drug used to knock them out isn't enough (Depends on body size). We have a criminal justice professor who's seen them done and written two books on the subject. He's seen tears come from the condemned as they died. (Imagine if YOU were drowning and couldn't say or do anything about it). The Firing Squad, however, kills withing 10-35 sec. a minute TOPS, while lethal injections and other forms can take up to 3 minutes. Plus, with all the adrenaline that's going through a person's system prior to being shot, they feel very little pain.

steelerdude69

I think there are a number of reasons why someone could be for or against it.

In my best opinion taking the life of one that has taken lifes is not justified.

doogie

I wish I could say I was totally against it.

But in the cases where guilt is certainty, killing goes to the harming society, rather than just the individual harmed, then the death penalty is acceptable, for people like a Tim McVeigh, the Unabomber, Rader, John Gacy. That the Unabomber & Rader weren't tried to receive the death penalty goes to show the unfairness of the system. Seems like the threat of the death penalty can expedite justice, where the goal is a long prison term.
BTW, the study claiming the death penalty deters murders is ridiculous, and there are Democrats who are ok with the death penalty, there are plenty of Republicans who oppose the death penalty.
Guess the death penalty meted out as done on the Federal level seems right.

Vampire 13R

It prevents Recidivism.

dwmatty19

If a person is convicted of premeditated murder, then they should be executed. Additionally, that person should be sentenced to die in the same manner in which they killed their victim. For example, if you are convicted of shooting your victim, then you are shot. If you stabbed your victim to death, then you get stabbed to death. Choked.....choked, bludgeoned...bludgeoned....and so on. Get my point?

brit1017

I am for the death penalty, however, I think that there should be a certain level of heinousness to the crime that causes the death penalty to be warrented. I live in NYC and work in forensics- let's face it, there are a lot of murders, and if "an eye for an eye" was applied, we'd be firing up the electric chair an awful lot. However, there are times when a life sentence doesn't seem like justice- you just know that the defendent will be living it up in prison for the next 50 years, while the victim's family will never stop mourning the one they lost.

And as forensics get better and more widely known and used, there is very slim chance of people being wrongly convicted. Most of those that have been discovered were convicted before the advent of DNA testing, a lot of them on eyewitness testimony, which is notoriously unreliable.

bigguy3214

It's not used often enough!

wolf

Democrat Politicians are against the Death Penalty.
Democrats believe that murderers, rapist torturers, and child molester-killers can be "Cured" by:
1. Taking "Sensitivity Classes".
2. Being given "Big Democrat Group Hugs".

That way, our prisons can be all shut down.

Dana1981, Master of Science

I think it's terrible.

It degrades the value of human life by sanctioning killing.
It costs a ton more than life imprisonment.
It hasn't been shown to deter crime.
Innocent people have been executed.
Poor people and minorities are more likely to be sentenced to death for the same crimes than whites and rich people.

There's just no justification for the death penalty other than revenge, which is a poor reason to kill someone.

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