If the death penalty is meant to rid us murderers, why do we keep a suicide watch on death row inmates?

Question

Isn't it more economical that their deaths happen sooner rather than later?

Answer 1

It is no different then going to war not win. It makes us feel like we are human and civilized when in fact the one thing that human do well and that is KILL so in that aspect ecomomics doesn't even come into play. Suicide is out of the question we need the right to justify the kill. Think about it.

Food for thought:
Animals kill to survive as a specie. Humans kill to gain and keep power. Being we are not an endanaged specie and breed for the sake of breeding we will being for ever killing each other.

Answer 2

This is just another absurdity about the death penalty. The death penalty system is full of flaws and we have alternatives. Although this is more than you asked, this is such an important issue that I am including a few verifiable and sourced facts about it-

Re: Alternatives
48 states have life without parole on the books. It means what it says, is swift and sure and is rarely appealed. Being locked in a tiny cell for 23 hours a day, forever, is certainly no picnic. Life without parole incapacitates a killer (keeps him from re-offending) and costs considerably less than the death penalty.

Re: Possibility of executing an innocent person
Over 120 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence. Many had already served over 2 decades on death row. If we speed up the process we are bound to execute an innocent person. Once someone is executed the case is closed. If we execute an innocent person we are not likely to find that out and, also, the real criminal is still out there.

Re: 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.

Re: Appeals
Our appeals system is designed to make sure that the trial was in accord with constitutional standards, not to second guess whether the defendant was actually innocent. It is very difficult to get evidence of innocence introduced before an appeals court.

Re: 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.)

Re: cost
The death penalty costs far more than life in prison. The huge extra costs start to mount up even before the trial. There are more cost effective ways to prevent and control crime.

Re: 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??

Re: 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. Some victims families who support the death penalty in principal prefer life without parole because of how the death penalty affects families like theirs.

Opposing the death penalty doesn’t mean you condone brutal crimes or excuse people who commit them. According to a Gallup Poll, in 2006, 47% of all Americans prefer capital punishment while 48% prefer life without parole. Americans are learning the facts and making up their minds using common sense, not revenge or an eye for an eye mentality.

Answer 3

I agree they sit in prison for their life or until they get out and kill again.If I had a say in this it would be like it used to be back in the day trial today death by public hanging within the week. If this policy was in effect I think crime would go down and we would save millions of dollars it takes to give them comforts they don't deserve.

Answer 4

it's probably cheaper in the long run for them to commit suicide,but when they are given the death penalty by law,other people are responsible for them legally until the sentence is carried out.personally i think that suicide is a cop out.and they should suffer by waiting for their turn to die.i kinda don't totally believe in the death penalty,cause i think they should suffer the rest of their lives locked up,instead of giving them a quick death,but i know that costs to keep them alive.
oh well,i guess it's a catch 22!!!!!!

Answer 5

Ed nailed it on the pinnacle, its for criminal duty and additionally ethical subject concerns. a reformatory or reformatory is to blame for the care taking of those persons besides as to be sure that they proceed to be interior the power. Prisons and jails additionally undergo the load of preserving a secure environment for all prisoners, permitting one to devote suicide is risky because of the fact if theyfail they might sue the reformatory for loss of perfect risk-free practices protocol

Answer 6

It is to prevent the family from suing the jail. It is a pretty funny thought though. Well now don't die until we kill you. Yet the problem is the family will sue the jail for not taking proper care. Sure the jail was going to kill them anyway BUT that doesn't matter.

Answer 7

Because logic is not a principal used by the government. In fact I think there is a penalty if they actually use logic.

Answer 8

Probably for the same reason that they use sterilized needles on the guest of honor to accomodate cashing in his/her chips.

Answer 9

Justice must be served, you can't cheat mother nature and you
can't beat the hangman.

Answer 10

Because they can only die when the government says they can die - they can't just make these decisions for themselves!