Death Penalty or Life In Prison?

Question

Which do you feel is more just? I need survey statistics. You can put you age if you don't mind, and also any debate you have against the other choice.

The person being sentenced to either is 100% guilty of the crime commited.

Answer 1

Life without parole makes more sense. Did you know that according to a Gallup Poll, in 2006, 47% of all Americans prefer capital punishment while 48% prefer life without parole. Americans are learning about the system and we are making up our minds based on facts, not eye for an eye sound bites.

You received some incorrect answers. Here are some of the facts, with the sources listed below.

The death penalty costs much more than life in prison. Much of the extra costs is due to the complicated nature of both the pre trial investigation and of the trials (involving 2 separate stages, mandated by the Supreme Court) in death penalty cases. The cost of the actual execution is not the reason why the death penalty costs so much. There are more cost effective ways to prevent and control crime. (Note to this can t be good, Sparky and Animeyhem)

No reputable study shows that the death penalty is a deterrent. In fact, homicide rates are higher in states with the death penalty than in states without it. (Sparhawk- please look at the stats) For a punishment to be a deterrent, it must be swift and sure. The death penalty is neither.

48 states have life without parole on the books. It means what it says, is swift and sure and costs much less than the death penalty.

To those who want to speed up the process. 123 people have been released from death row when proved to be innocent. Many had already served a decade or more. Speeding up the process will guarantee the execution of an innocent person. (By the way, DNA is available in less than 10% of all homicides and cannot guarantee we will not execute an innocent person.)

Many murder victims family members have said that the prolonged legal processes in the death penalty system are so painful that they believe life without parole is an appropriate sentence, even though they may support the death penalty in principal.

Answer 2

Life in Prison is my choice. Why? It's not right to put a person to death, no matter what he/she did.

Is it just to save monies for maintainence of a person in prison? That's not justisfiable as he/she can still work in prison to pay for his expenses.

Thinking of a person killing another person and he/she should die. That was a court judgement, not god judgement. Humans always think they can play god. That's wrong. How can it be sure that the court judgement is not wrongful accusation or due to some circumstances that certain acts were performed.

We look back into the past and u will say how silly and uncivilised for a person to burn a person to death for accusation of practising witch crafts.

How can we say that just because of our current culture norm be a determinant for justification of death penalty for certain act.

So what is the right punishment? The right thing to do is to correct something which is wrong through education and influence and not death penalty.

If today u r putting up a question of is death penalty better than life in prison, than u search your soul and u will know that its wrong to kill. If u know that its wrong to kill and the person who killed someone or did something horribly wrong than why kill that person? Won't you become a killer and put no end to all these killings. Its also not right just because u r authorised to.

Anyway, my country give death penalty to lots of crimes. I believe that in the future civilisation, we will see death penalty as an uncilivised act because its just a hatred answer and not a solution. A deterant message need not be death penalty for crime, there can be many other punishments like they have to donate a kidney, a lung, a cornea. Well its just an example, need not be this bad too.

Hope my answers give you some points to ponder. Early 30s

Answer 3

Life in prison costs the taxpayers for housing and caring for an aging person. Death penalty is an automatic appeal process which is also costly, plus the housing and health care. For the taxpayer, I'd say life is cheaper. For the guilty person, I'd say life is probably the worst punishment. But for the most heinous crimes, especially those against children, I believe the death penalty is warranted. There must be, however, no chance of mistake of innocence or guilt. 45 Female and victim of violent crime.

Answer 4

Life in Prison. Sure, it doesn't really help get a sense of closure for families of murder victims, but I feel that a lot of innocent people have been put to death or awarded such a sentence unjustly, while the real criminals remained at large (hardcore advocates and conservative groups have denied this, I'm sure!) Convicted people need to spend time in jail with wardens keeping watch so they don't escape - and if something comes up that can prove their innocence, (DNA, for example) only then can they be set free.

Besides, I also have reason to believe that families of murder victims and death penalty advocates have also played "the race card" to convict a minority person for murder of a Caucasian person, and call for the execution of said person. This was especially true in the South back in the 50's and 60's. Makes me sick, frankly.

Answer 5

Life in Prison is a Death Sentence..Case Closed

Answer 6

Death Penalty!

Answer 7

Death penalty is more just for taxpayers but it really depends on the severity of the crime whether or not the death penalty is a fair sentence....

i am 31 yrs old

Answer 8

20- The death penalty. After the trial is done, just take them out back and shoot them. that would save a lot of money (instead of going through so many appeals and spending time in prison)

Answer 9

Life in prison, but in with the general population (who take care of their own, it could be just like a death sentence!) but I don't feel comfortable decreeing a human being's life null and void, I am 38 years old.

Answer 10

Life in prison on an island with no escape possible. Diet of bread and H2o, no TV, computer, classes, etc. Let them think about what they've done. I do not believe in killing people, even if they have taken a life. Putting them out of their misery is too lenient! Age 58.