What do you think is worse?

Question

The death penalty or life in prison. With the death sentence you get a huge amount of resources to defend yourself. You're provided with all kinds of free legal advisor's and you have many more chances in court compared to a life sentence.

When sentenced to life without parole you can be stuck in prison for years and years without a second trial even if there is evidence that could prove you innocent.

So my question is do you think it is worse to throw a person in prison for life without giving them a substantial representation? Or do you think that it is worse to execute some after they have had the best legal console available?

Just to clarify. I was wondering what do you think is more immoral. To lock some one up for life after giving them poor legal defense? Or to execute them after giving them the best legal defense?

If it were up to me I would chose defend myself against a death penalty rather than a life sentence.

Just to clarify. I was wondering what do you think is more immoral. To lock some one up for life after giving them poor legal defense? Or to execute them after giving them the best legal defense?

Answer 1

It is always worse to execute someone. Even with the best defense team, and a shaky prosecution case, a person could still be wrongly convicted.

The death penalty should only be used in cases where there is NO doubt as to the guilt of the person.

Our system carries a burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and therefore does not meet that requirement.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of death penalty cases are against those with no means to pay for their defense. The legal system is biased based on economic standing, against the poor, and therefore the death penalty should not be used.

We have all seen the widely publicized cases of DNA or other evidence clearing a wrongly convicted criminal. At least the person still has part of his life left when the truth comes out.

A death penalty trial and appeals process can cost more to the taxpayers than a lifetime of incarceration.

All moral arguments aside, it makes no economic sense to attempt a death sentence.

Answer 2

This is a great question. Many people who oppose the death penalty are torn by pointing to life without parole as the alternative, that it is equally cruel to the defendant (maybe more.) This is a serious moral issue. Life without parole is now on the books in 48 states.

There are practical reasons to oppose the death penalty. Here are just a few-

Cost:
The death penalty costs far more than life in prison. The huge extra costs start to mount up even before the trial.

Possibility of executing an innocent person:
Over 120 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence. If we speed up the process we are bound to execute an innocent person. Once someone is executed the case is closed and if an innocent person was executed the real killer is still out there.

DNA:
DNA is available in no more than 10% of murder cases. It is not a miracle cure for sentencing innocent people to death. It’s human nature to make mistakes.

Deterrence:
The death penalty isn’t a deterrent. Murder rates are actually higher in states with the death penalty than in states without it. Moreover, people who kill or commit other serious crimes do not think they will be caught (if they think at all.)

Who gets the death penalty:
The death penalty isn’t reserved for the “worst of the worst,” but rather for defendants with the worst lawyers. When is the last time a wealthy person was sentenced to death, let alone executed??

Victims families:
The death penalty is very hard on victims’ families. They must relive their ordeal in the courts and the media. Life without parole is sure, swift and rarely appealed (you mentioned a reason for this.) Some victims families who support the death penalty in principal prefer life without parole because of how the death penalty affects families like theirs.

Answer 3

well I hate to make this easy, but people "in most cases" beg for their life. So, for them the fear of death is all encompassing.

so answer one. Death is worse.

Answer two: I think most of the DA's in today's states will allow the perp to plea to Life. this is regardless of the class of the attorney. And if the perp wants to roll the dice, and he loses, well don't play the game if you can't stand losing.

besides here in California on average the perp has 11 years to find a scrap of evidence to help him of he is truly innocent.

What I don't like about the Death Penalty is we execute perps like we are ashamed, do it in the middle of the night with no cameras, I say Pay per view 50% to the victims, 50% to the state for the cost of upkeep.

Answer 4

personally i think life in prison is wayyyyyyy worse then the death penalty... it's almost as if death seems the easy way out cuz the people who are sentenced the death penalty usually don't care much for life, let alone their own

Answer 5

I do agree with you about the services that they get. I think that it is not fair for us tax payers to have to pay to keep them fed. And at same time why should someone who killed someone else or did something real bad live. I think that they should make them suffer more better then the shot just to put them to sleep. And they say the electric chair is not right. Wow if only I had a chance to make some changes in the criminal society'

Answer 6

The death penalty is immoral, anti-Christian, and nothing but murder by the state.

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Answer 7

A Fine Question, for sure!

Answer 8

THE BOTH OF THEM ARE EQUALLY THE BEST SITUATION FOR THE CRIMANAL. THEY WIN EITHER WAY! THEY DO NOT GO THROUGH THE PAIN AND TORMENT THAT THEY PUT OTHER THROUGH.