Can anyone tell me why the Death Penalty shouldn't be used?

Question

http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/0402child0402.html

Obviously there are many in our society that have made themselves unfit to live among us. To isolate them in a prison for the rest of their lives seems like a good option but then again they are leeching off our societies money that can be put to better use.

Answer 1

In theory, I have no problem with the death penalty. If I lost a loved one, I would love nothing better then to see the person responsible put to death.

But...

The problem with the death penalty is the justice department itself. Do you have TOTAL faith that the guilty are convicted and the innocent released in this country? Because if just ONE person is wrongly convicted and put to death by the state, then the government is guilty of murder. That is why I am against the death penalty. Do some research. There are cases, especially in cases against minorities and the poor, where the defense attorney FELL ASLEEP in the middle of the trial. The defendant was pronounced guilty and then sentenced to death. How can the defense attorney defend a possibly innocent person if he is asleep? Some court appointed lawyers simply do not care, and don't kid yourself, innocent people are found guilty in our courts everyday.

Are you 100% positive that everyone sentenced to death is guilty?

Answer 2

Here are some facts about the death penalty system, all verifiable and sourced. Because you have mentioned cost, I will begin with that and give you some details about it.

Re: cost
The death penalty costs far more than life in prison. Pre trial costs are much greater because, once a suspect is caught, the prosecutor must do a separate investigation into the crime, into the suspect himself, that is, does the suspect have mental retardation (if so, he cannot face the death penalty) or mental illness (he can face the death penalty). If the prosecutor decides to seek the death penalty, the trial will have two separate phases, one to decide guilt, one to decide the penalty. The process of choosing jurors is much more complicated in death penalty cases. Many more pre-trial motions are filed by both sides and have to be answered. Prosecution teams use more lawyers, and where the money is available, by the defense as well. Death penalty cases take much longer to try. If the sentence is death, the prisoner will be locked up in a separate prison facility, which is generally much expensive to run and to maintain. It is only at this point that appeals begin.

Re: Possibility of executing an innocent person
Over 120 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence, many having 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 the real criminal is still out there and will have successfully avoided being charged.

Re: DNA
DNA is available in less than 10% of murder cases. It’s not a guarantee that we won't execute an innocent person. It’s human nature to make mistakes.

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 about the consequences or even that they will be caught (if they think at all.)

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: 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 eye for an eye slogans or partisanship.

Answer 3

I couldn't agree with you more! Life isn't about money, but what about the millions of children, men & women that have their lives taken away because of criminals? how do you suppose that is right? Yeah lets try and fix them, so that way then when we let them back in the public they can go and hunt on some more other children, rape & kill them, good idea. The best saying I have for this is an eye for an eye. You should get what you give. If you are killing, you deserve to get what you gave to that innocent person that no longer gets to enjoy living, so no they should not enjoy living, even if it is in a hell hole like jail

Answer 4

Well since money these days is just created out of thin air and only hold a value that peoples imagination places on it, I'd say its not wasting a damn thing by keeping them in prison for life.
For millions of years humans have punished other humans for crimes by taking their life.

I think its really really obvious that it deters NOTHING. So it sounds pretty primative that we as an advanced race of humanity is still playin a really old song of death.

have you seen any advantage to the death penalty that billions of others havent quit put their finger on yet?

Answer 5

Personally except in really extreme circumstances I think its hypocritical. A system should not be allowed to tell the people that killing is illegal then turn around and kill people. Although it does cost us money to keep them alive, locking someone in a 4X4 cement cell with no light, no bed, and a bucket for the rest of their lives is more of a living hell than death would ever be.

Answer 6

It is way too expensive to apply the death penalty, more expensive then keeping someone in prison the rest of their lives. Plus I am not a barbaric person and don't believe in killing human beings, even if they have done horrible acts of violence. I feel it would make my act of killing them just as disgusting as the acts they committed.

Answer 7

It is not used nearly enough as far as I am concerned - we should have a minimum number criminals by state put to death per month - perhaps equaling the electoral votes - those that exceed it would get additional federal funding - but hey, that is just my opinion

Answer 8

So a life is about money! Isn't that the way people like you see everything?

When you can bring an innocent executed one back to life, you let me know!

We already give to much to the rich!

Answer 9

because nobody deserves to be killed. no matter what they did. instead of letting them rot in jail and make them angry, we should probably try to change them or something.

but i disagree with the death penalty.