How are rape and child molestation not capital crimes?

Question

If murder 1 is a capital crime in so many states how is it these two offenses aren't.Both permanantly alter not only the individuals life but their families as well.Even if execution is not an option how about life in prison without the possibility of parole because both types are known to be repeat offenders even after serving prison terms.Your thoughts and opinions other than arguing against capital punishment period.How do you feel???

To the brain surgeon that said both types are not known as repeat offenders.You're quite wrong.These are crimes of passion committed by people with mental illness.Many states have in fact changed sentences based on the fact they are repeat offenders.Take that silly hat off

One of 892 hits for habitual repeat offenders in sex crimes on Google
commdocs.house.gov/committees/judiciary/hju62269.000/hju62269_0.HTM - 161k -

Answer 1

All these silly arguments that rape and child molestation are "lesser" crimes because the victim/survivor (on occasion) lives. Some life?!
Do these people who said this have a CLUE what life lies ahead for survivors of this kind of trauma? Let me tell you, in some cases it is like having your life stolen because you can never recover completely, you can never be the same, some fundamental part of your soul is eradicated forever. In ALL cases you NEVER get back what was stolen so brutally from you. This is the most violent form of crime, and should hold the strictest penalties. Since the death penalty is the strictest allowable by law in some states I would have to say that rapists and child molesters (first offenders) should get the chair, not life w/out parole,and not life - they just as surely took a life as if they had physically killed their victim. After all you can't accidentally rape or molest someone now can you? And no one deserves to be raped or molested do they? That is a lot more than I can say about some people who have been killed.

Answer 2

Because neither result in the death of the vicim. If they did, it would be a murder one charge in addition to the rape or child molestation.

You must have a lot of faith in the criminal justice system to believe that both rape and child molestation should be capital offenses. Have you ever heard of wrongful conviction without proper physical evidence? Hove you ever heard of false accusations, especially with child molestation? As in all crimes, there are degress of culpability.

I also wonder about the altering a person's life and the lives of their family members forever. At age 19 I was raped by a date and became pregnant as a result. The crime did not steal my soul, change my life for the worse, etc. I got better after receiving counseling.

Also where did you get the information that these cases are always repeat offenders? From Oprah or Nancy Grace? On the contrary, the high recidivism comes from criminal offenders such as burgular, theft, drug offenders and the like. These offenders commit a new sex crime at between 5 to 15% within 3 years.

Another argument against the death penalty for these two offenses - do you know how many people have been on death row for murder, only to be let go when it was found they didn't commit the offense. I, for one, would not want innocent people put to death. Rape and child molestation charges are easy to make and in today's political climate, barely able to be defended due to the witch hunt mentality. There are also going to be John Couey type people (the one who is accused of killing Jessica Lunsford.) However, we should not use our emotions and revulsion of his crime as a catalyst to put the death penalty on all rapists and child molesters. The punishment should suit the crime.

If the questioner is referring to me as a brain surgeon, do your research before you start the name calling. I dare you to find statistics showing that most or all child molesters and rapists have high recidivism rates. In order to be fair, you can't just say it's common knowledge or conventional wisdom. Racism and owning slaves used to be conventional wisdom, too

Answer 3

Yes, both rape and child molestation have an adverse effect...but murder completely ends a life. How can you compare being killed and being raped or molested? I agree in that all are hideous crimes and punishment should be harsh. But you have all these tree huggers who believe that rape and child molestation can be cured and those who commit those crimes can be reintegrated into society with the help of the right treatments and medicine...Also, its cheaper that way as well. I am completely FOR capital punishment, hell in my opinion there's too long of a wait from the time of conviction to when the execution is finally executed.

Answer 4

The only way to change this is to petition your state legislature. If we can have the 3 Strikes & You're Out Law, there's no reason why these can't be life sentences w/o the possibility of parole.

Answer 5

The simple answer is because states haven't made those crimes punishable by death. The policy reason is that crimes which do not result in the victim's death should not result in the criminal's death.

If you think different sentences should apply, then lobby your state legislature to change the sentencing laws for those crimes.

Answer 6

Because sex is devalued in our society, so many people do not feel the anger to act against those crimes that they ought to. And state legislators have not made it a priority to elevate that punishment status of those crimes. They should.

Answer 7

murder is not a capital crime. murder 1 is, because there are degrees of heinousness... you even note that in your question.

we do the law a disservice by simplifying the realities out of it. no, both types are not known to be repeat offenders. where did you get such a "fact"?

Answer 8

Ya know (and I could be wrong) but I think I heard that SC is looking into sentencing their convicted pedophiles to death.

Answer 9

sorry but I think those people that do does things should be sentences to death just if the judge has a lot of evidence about it.. so they can think it more than twice before they do something like that....

Answer 10

i thought rape is a capital crime