Death Penalty?

Question

In ur opinion, what do you think about the death penalty?

out of curiousity, do u think the criminal staying in prison could get therapy to help them? Because usually theres a motive to doing the crime the criminals do.

Answer 1

I think the urge to see the perpetrator of a horrendous crime killed is a normal and understandable human reaction (especially if you're a friend or relative of the victim). Indeed, I was pro-death penalty for a long time, but I have changed my stance over the years, for several reasons:

1. By far the most compelling is this: Sometimes our legal system gets it wrong. Look at all the criminals who are being released after years of imprisonment because they were exonerated by DNA evidence. No matter how rare it is, our government should not risk executing one single innocent person.

Really, that should be reason enough for most reasonable people. If you need more, read on:

2. Because of the extra expense of prosecuting a DP case and the appeals process (which is necessary - see reason #1), it costs taxpayers MUCH more to execute prisoners than to imprison them for life.

3. The deterrent effect is questionable at best. Violent crime rates are actually higher in death penalty states. This may seem counterintuitive, but think about the mixed message it sends: we’re trying to take a stand against murder…by killing people. The government becomes the bad parent who says, ‘do as I say, not as I do.’

4. There’s also an argument to be made that death is too good for the worst of our criminals. Let them wake up and go to bed every day of their lives in a prison cell, and think about the freedom they DON’T have, until they rot of old age.

5. The U.S. government is supposed to be secular, but for those who invoke Christian law in this debate, you can find arguments both for AND against the death penalty in the Bible. For example, Matthew 5:38-39 insists that violence shall not beget violence. 1 Peter 3:9 argues AGAINST “eye for an eye”-type justice. Leviticus 19:18 warns against vengeance (which, really, is what the death penalty amounts to). In John 8:7, Jesus himself says, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Answer 2

I oppose the death penalty because it is not an effective way to prevent or reduce crime and because it risks executing innnocent people. Here are answers to questions about the practical aspects of the death penalty system and an alternative. Sources are listed below.

What about the risk of executing innocent people?
124 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence.

Doesn't DNA keep new cases like these from happening?
DNA is available in less than 10% of all homicides. It is not a guarantee against the execution of innocent people.

Doesn't the death penalty prevent others from committing murder?
No reputable study shows the death penalty to be a deterrent. To be a deterrent a punishment must be sure and swift. The death penalty is neither. Homicide rates are higher in states and regions that have it than in states that do not.

So, what are the alternatives?
Life without parole is now on the books in 48 states. It means what it says. It is sure and swift and rarely appealed. Life without parole is less expensive than the death penalty.

But isn't the death penalty cheaper than keeping criminals in prison?
The death penalty costs much more than life in prison, largely because of the legal process. Extra costs include those 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 and subsequent appeals. There are more cost effective ways to prevent and control crime.

What about the very worst crimes?
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??

Doesn't the death penalty help families of murder victims?
Not necessarily. Murder victim family members across the country argue that the drawn-out death penalty process is painful for them and that life without parole is an appropriate alternative.

So, why don't we speed up the process?
Over 50 of the innocent people released from death row had already served over a decade. If the process is speeded up we are sure to execute an innocent person.

But don’t Americans prefer the death penalty as the most serious punishment?
Not any more. People are rethinking their views, given the facts and the records on innocent people sentenced to death. According to a Gallup Poll, in 2006, 47% of all Americans prefer capital punishment while 48% prefer life without parole.

Answer 3

DNA has been setting many innocent people free. Not sure which type of crime though.

Most people in the system suffer multiple problems that in many cases start with substance abuse. From there it is a fast growing tree with many branches (problem types). All that said:

If we can permit abortion we most defiantly can put murders to death.

The interesting part being my guess that those who support abortion are more likely to oppose the death penalty and vice versa.

Answer 4

This question gets asked a lot in this forum; I think I see someone post the same thing at least two to three times a week.

For me, the death penalty: I am for and against it.

I am for it if you are absolutely 100% sure the person convicted of the crime actually did it and am the same percentage against it if you are not positive he/she did it.

I am just extremely concerned about those who are on death row waiting for their day of execution only to find out DNA clears them or a witness changes their story or something happens that ultimately frees the person convicted. I also wonder how many people we have killed who did not do the crime they were executed for.

Answer 5

I am for it as long as it is for murders in the first degree. I don't think its cruel, if someone kills one of my family members I would want them to die. I would like to ask the people who so strongly oppose it to ask themselves whether they would be against it if someone killed your son or daughter in a horrible and cruel way, would you still be opposed to it? Some might be but I think a lot would change their stance. I think the process right now is incredibly too slow but that is a side issue. The real issue is justice and what is proper justice for such a violent act. The only thing in my mind is the death penalty.

Answer 6

The death penalty is a joke, i happen to believe the whole prison system is a joke. They sit around for years and years and nothing will happen. However I support the death penalty i think things need to progress more faster. Prison doesnt bring fear to the majority. Prisoners have to mauch rights and the revolving door needs to stop. Get rid of child molesters, killers and gangbangers.

Answer 7

I've thought about this a lot, and here's my current position:

I generally disapprove of the death penalty, because witnesses can make mistakes or lie outright.

The only way I could see using it is if the entire prosecution (attorneys and witnesses), the jury, and the judge all agreed to be executed themselves if it was ever demonstrated that their efforts had caused an innocent person to be put to death.

People are too quick to call for each others deaths. That's not the solution to our problems.

Answer 8

I think enforcing the death penalty puts the state in the same group as the murderers. There is talk of it's deterrent effect, but there more murders than ever. Killing those who kill to show others that killing is wrong just doesn't work.
With the appeals processes, it often costs more to kill a convict than it does to keep him alive for his whole life....then there's the matter of people being found innocent. We know for sure innocent people have been put to death...yeah, you could say I'm against it. I have yet to hear a good argument for it.

Answer 9

In my personal opinion if you kill somebody purposely then you should die as well. The American people pay millions of dollars a year to keep murderers and rapists alive in jail.

Answer 10

I agree with the death penalty. We need it for those that have committed horrible crimes and can't take the risk of ever letting them walk the streets again.