Still think we should have the death penalty?

Question

In comparison to life imprisonment w/o the possibility of parole, the country spends 2 to 5 times as much on people sentenced to death as opposed to people sentenced to life imprisonment ($2 to $5 million for death sentence; $1 million for life).

There are no credible statistics to proove that death penalty deters crime.

The brutalizing effect, says that when the government serves as a model for appropriate behavior, justifying death penalty as a solution to a problem teaches its citizens that killing someone is a solution to a problem.

Fact shows that predatory murderers have lesser brainwave activity than people who kill out of passion. People who kill in crimes of passion aren't fully aware of the severity of their actions. If you have lesser brainwave activity, you couldn't comprehend the severity of your crimes either.

Still believe in the death penalty?

In stage one of appeals (direct review) 41% of the cases were reversed because of serious review
state postconviction appeals overturn 10% because of serious error
Federal postconviction appeals overturn 40% of the cases because of serious error
(Corrections in the 21st Century by Frank Schmalleger and John Ortiz Smykla)

That's why so much money is spent, so half the people on death row who are innocent aren't killed.

Just take em out and shoot em? Good, let's kill a whole bunch of innocent people.

And I've bit my tongue about how racially bias the death penalty is. And I'm gonna keep biting my tongue, cos that'll be a rant to end all rants.

To Mmatthews. I got the info out of my book I quoted in the additional details above. Really I'm curious more than anything though. I'm against Death Penalty because there's too many flaws. And I don't justify killing someone as retaliation for the sick things they've done. I don't believe in revenge. It serves no purpose, has nothing to gain from it. It is, if anything, detrimental. But I don't dislike the death penalty because of morals, I dislike it because it is flawed and bias.

And most of these people DIDN'T admit to their crimes. Some of them were just black people in the wrong place at the wrong time when a white person got killed. Look at statistics, it'll prove racial bias. Look at the guy in Georgia where 7 of the 9 witnesses recanted their statements and claimed to be coerced by the police.

We spend an obscene amount of money on death penalty that could be put to better use elsewhere ... like schools or better funded cops and firefighters.

Terry, you can back up lower brain activity. It is called anti-social personality disorder, which is what many of those people have.

Answer 1

there are numerous stats but the whiners will not accept them.i am a retired deputy sheriff and i took people to prison for 25 years.i also carried some people there well known.the number of people put to death that were innocent is such a small number it would not even register on a graph.if one were honest they would see that the numbers od gruespme deaths that warrant a death penalty have greatly diminished.when a death penalty was to be carried out even the prisons were extremely quiet.for all thos that were saved from death row there are more that got away with it. if there was some way to not have to worry about those who show no value for life then the death penalty would not be necessary.the truth is there is no other way for those people to be handled. id they were allowed back into the public they would kill again.when criminals know they will pay with their life they are less likely to committ a capital crime.true that some will still happen. people now are killing their families and well as thei own kids.they do it for no more than a live tv.last week in dallas there was a prostitute that had been to a strip joint and got drunk. when she got home she microwaved her 2 month old baby.would you allow this lady with a criminal history back on the streets to microwave another child.people who say they are against the death penalty are the same ones who are for the death penalty if the crime is against their family

Answer 2

Where did you get that information? Why does it cost more for a person on death row than a person who is imprisoned for life? Where does the money go?

I believe in the death penalty. Not merely as a deterrent, but as a punishment. I think we should only use it when there is absolute proof and I think we should execute people found guilty quicker. Maybe then it will cost the government (and us, the taxpayers) less.
Most people don't see when a person is getting executed, how can that really be effective as a crime deterrent? Just because someone isn't "fully aware" of their actions doesn't mean they shouldn't be punished for what they did. Their punishment can be in the form of an insane asylum.
When killing is so severe that the person warrants the death penalty, their freedom and live should be taken away as well. I have not yet heard a valid argument against the death penalty. Maybe this is why we still have it.

Answer 3

Yes. Those are excuses for people who will readily and openly admit to doing what they did and would continue it if they were free(and continue it in prison because they are alive). If they were seriously too messed up to know what they were doing, they would be committed for the rest of their lives. I don't think for one moment if I saw or knew someone was killed for a crime would I think, "Hey that's a good idea, I think I'll solve an arguement with it." That's ridiculous. I remember learning about the death penalty when I was little and I can remember coming to the conclusion that this is what must be required. Look into Ted Bundy and just about any case where a child was tortured and killed by a parent and you'll know why we NEED the death penalty.

Answer 4

I would ordinarily say the death penalty is cruel and inhumane and we would be stooping to the criminals level, but I live in Cape Town, South Africa and there is no death penalty. Therefore nothing for the child murderers to be afraid of. Crime is out of control in this country and it is because of not having the death penalty. The criminals laugh at the police service because it does not matter what they have done they will serve minimum sentences due to lack of space. They will receive immunity and be let free within 5 years to rape and murder children again. SO I THINK EVERY COUNTRY NEEDS THE DEATH PENALTY. Some people are just to broken to be fixed.

Answer 5

People on death row tend to be violent psychopaths that require far more attention and a much more secure facility. Of course they are going to cost more. If they weren't on death row they would still be violent psychopaths and need the extra attention so I believe your example is flawed.

If I had my way, they would get no more than 1 year from sentencing to lethal injection. It isn't about money but it is a consideration. He doesn't cost a whole lot once he is gone.

Answer 6

To say that someone who has lesser brainwave activity can't comprehend the severity of their crimes is a statement that you can't back up so you shouldn't have used it.

Yes it does cost more to execute someone because of all of the lengthy delays and appeals and attorney fees. We need to decrease the amount of time and number of times for an appeal and just carry out their sentence.

Answer 7

well 1) if we just shot them then we'd only have to pay the cost of a bullet and 2) it's not the much considering the amount of prisoners we have serving life terms is like 10-20 times greater. 3) I think we should be killing a hell of a lot more prisoners.

Answer 8

I would like to know where you got your figures from that it cost 2 to 5 million dollars for the death sentence.


The best idea would be far cheaper. Hangem or death by firing squad. Once they are proven guilty beyound a resonable doubt.

Answer 9

Both hands up for Death penalty on murdering.... otherwise life imprisonment

Answer 10

I absolutely think the death penalty should be brought back. Its what the scum deserve for murdering people, raping people,assault etc. Yes the death penalty should be brought back