why does it take so long to execute murderers?

Question

ok..... there are so many murderers in jail right now it's ridiculous. some who've killed years ago! WHY ARE THEY STILL ALIVE??????? The people that they killed didn't get any "time" before they died, so why should the murderers?????? For example, serial killer Richard Ramirez is still "awaiting" the death penalty-however he commited his last murder like in 1989! why is he still alive? Scott Peterson? Dennis Rader BTK Killer?????? Look at what they've done to so many innocent people!!!!!!!!!!! THEY DO NOT DESERVE ANY TIME TO LIVE!!!!!!!! Their victims sure didn't get any!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is up with this????????

Answer 1

They are given time to file appeals. This is the reason why Richard Ramirez has not been executed.

Over 100 innocent people have been freed from death row by the use of DNA. I would assume you would want that same opportunity if you were awaiting capital punishment for a crime you did not commit.

Do you really think they are enjoying their boring lives in a tiny windowless jail cell, cold showers two times a week, daily room searches, and the occasional time outside spent in a fenced-in dog pen?

Answer 2

Because some countries do execute people soon as someone is sentenced to death and many innocent people end up dead for crimes they didn't commit.

Ask yourself this, what if you were that one person who was innocent and the law did't give you the right to appeal? So you were put to death and you didn't do it.

I have been a victim of violence and those who have done it got away with it. When you learn to think less of revenge and more about justice, you realize that everyone, yourself included, could be accused of a crime you didn't commit and you'd want justice and if justice failed you, you'd want the right to appeal.

Look how many men and women are now being exonerated through DNA that is proving they didn't commit the murder or other crime they had been sentenced to death or life in prison for.

Do I thk some get way too many appeals, yes, but better to keep one hundred on death row until all their appeals are exhausted, then to sentence to death, then execute even one innocent individual.

You are abviously a victim of a serious crime for which you wish the person if sentenced to death, would just be put to death. I empathize with you, but I have learned that you do all you can legally, then you leave the rest in God's hands, knowing that those who commit horrible crimes here in mortality, will find no escape from justice in the next world come judgement day.

Until I learned to let go and forgive the best I could, which doesn't mean it's okay what the persons have done. It just means you no longer dwell on it all the time. You do what you can for justice here in mortality, then leave the rest up to God. When I did that I was no longer stuck in all the anger associated with the crimes committed against me, nor in the anger of those who hurt me getting away with it.

I hope your pain in time becomes less, so you can live again.

Answer 3

First word of the explanation....Apeals.
Next is a 2 word followup...do process.

Think of it this way. if you killed every person acused of murder the day they are found guilty how many innocent people would you kill in the process. In the state I am in there is no death penalty because the last 2 people that we executed where both found to be innocent of the crime they where accused of. I know that several of these murderers have confessed to their crimes and should be given a short drop with a quick stop like good old saddam but the law must be uniform. everyone gets teh same treatment, that way when we do have the wrong person we don't end up killing them too.

Answer 4

Despite being found guilty in a court of law, they have the opportunity to appeal instead of being executed right away. This is supposed to ensure recognition of faults within the judicial system and also ensure innocent people aren't executed. While I don't like the idea of just storing every capital criminal indefinitely in a prison, I don't think execution should be a rash or hasty process by any means, and it should be used with discretion. I like the idea of an innocent person being executed much less than the idea of a killer being allowed to live for x number of years.

Answer 5

THANK GOD IT TAKES SO LONG TO EXECUTE THEM. We have released so many prisoners from death row, if we sped up executions, you could guarantee innocent people being executed. SInce 1978, weve released over 122 people.
And for this poster that thinks its cheaper to execute an inmate, then to keep them alive for the rest of their natural life, thats ridiculous. It costs more to execute someone in any state then to keep them alive. It doesnt matter wether they need treatment for cancer, it doesnt matter how high the security is on a prison, it will always cost more to execute.
Its amazing to me that people are so jumpy to execute someone. Its almost like it doesnt matter to them wether the person was wrongly convicted.
There are so many cases of someone being executed, then years later evidence is turned up that could prove their innocense, but the judges refused to reopen the cases.
Our death penalty has nothing to do with justice, it has everything to do with closure.
There are states now that are releasing so many people from death row, that they are creating a new appeals court for them.
If we cant get the sentencing right, how can we kill people?
What happens when an innocent person is executed? is that just an accident? Whos going to be held accountable for killing the innocent person.... thats murder...
how exactly do you apologize to someone whos dead?

Answer 6

Because of the appeal process. They are granted so many appeals!! It's a good 28 years before they have exhausted all their appeals. Many innocent people have gone to jail. Nobody wants an innocent person executed!! However with today's technology it is almost impossible to send an innocent person to jail. IN light of the new science the appeal process should be cut back to just 2 or 3 times. Then execute if still found guilt.

Answer 7

Even with all the appeals processes, states are still occasionally executing the not guilty.
Capital punishment costs more than life imprisonment;
It is not a deterrent to homicide;
Many are being released at varying times before execution by further evidence including DNA, change in testimony, etc.;
When you are falsely are accused, you'll understand better.

Answer 8

all of the lawering to try and get the person off.
While the accused is to be given the best defense possible, I think all too often there is WAY TOO MUCH time between conviction/sentencing and implementing of verdict/sentence. If convicted of a crime for which there is a death penalty, an automatic review by a panel of judges to see if there has been any bias or procedural error and then that be the end of the issue.

Answer 9

It is because we DO have the time to make sure we have the right person in jail. I tend to agree with you that it shouldn't be as long as it is, but there have been instances where someone was arrested, tried & convicted - and then, say new DNA evidence shows that they couldn't have done it. That's why we take our time.

Answer 10

It is unlawful to execute a convicted murdering until all legal requirements are satisfied. This shows that the law is not there to punish a criminal, it is there to FULLY impose the National Sovereignty, as in, the country is above all (justice, emotions).