Would the death penalty be a more effective deterrant if it were done in public, or broadcasted on TV?

Answer 1

Before the 20th century, executions were carried out in public. Viewers knew that they had to be very careful about pickpockets and other criminals carrying out crimes at executions.

A couple of the answers you have, from digory and volleyball, are mistaken about this issue. Here are a few facts about the death penalty, verifiable and sourced-

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.) (note to digory)

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 (note to volleyball). 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: 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 2

No, because with our voyeuristic society and all the reality tv programs spoiling the airwaves, "death tv" would only give the American public one more reason to pop the popcorn and gather around the boob tube for the State's latest execution and the ACLU one more stupid thing to sue for.

What should be done to deter crime is to make certain that when a death sentence is imposed, that the action is taken swiftly, with no appeals process for 40 years while the criminal sits on death row, no appeals process ever.

The end of the line, is the end of the line once it has been conclusively proven that a criminal is guilty, the sentence should be carried out.

Stiffer penalties for crimes committed with a gun, no "3 strikes", it's one strike.

And that's all folks.

Answer 3

it doesn't matter whether it's public or not. The death penalty keeps that one person from ever commiting a crime again.
You will say, so does life in prison. NOT SO!
There's always the possibility of a criminal escaping from prison,
the possibility of that person commiting crimes against other prisoners, AND if a major government shakeup happens, there's always the possibility of criminals to be pardoned by other criminals who end up in high places of government.
The death penalty is not murder. Murder is when you kill someone innocent.
The death penalty is not inhumane. Inhumane are the sick things criminals get away with in today's justice system.
The death penalty saves taxpayer money. All of us have to struggle with working to house and feed our families, but prisoners get a place to live and food AND medical attention at taxpayers cost. I say my kid deserves medical attention more than a murderer.
The death penalty enforces the fact that there are consequences to commiting crimes.

Answer 4

No. I think it would be a greater deturant if it were carried out. Criminals know that they get so many appeals, and they take every one of them, even if they know of a few of them at the same time. They separate the filings out to drag out the time and delay the carrying out of the punishment. If they had a certain period of time to file their appeals and get their sentence overturned, then I think knowing that death really meant death (not dying before the punishment is implemented) might make more think first.

But I doubt it.

Answer 5

no, the death penalty doesn't deter anyone. check out texas where they hang people left and right, yet their murder rate is higher than in states that don't kill people regularly. if we hang someone, shouldn't we be charged with murder too?