If criminals on Death row were given the option of being "mind wiped" to live or put to death?

Question

Please read my other question along with the additional details before answering this question. here is the link.
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070810123511AARZaWb

Answer 1

As I said before, if they could prevent abuse of the system, it could be a good thing. As for Hitler and constitutional rights, look up our present laws. Many convicted felons are right now denied some of our constitutional rights, voting, ownership of a handgun, entering our military, living in certain areas, so if they have undoubtedly committed some of the heinious crimes I mentioned before, don't come crying to me about 'cruel' punishment. Explain it to the victims of sodomy, child rape, the grieving families, etc. Then after you've done that let the unchanged convict live under your roof. Mindwipe and re-education still is not as severe a punishment as many other countries submit their accused to. Watch 'Midnight Express' and any of several other movies about US Citizens jailed in other countries for crimes that draw a slap on the wrist in our homeland. Yes, we have a good system, as good as any now extent, but it still has its flaws. Even if this was a viable option, many felons would not choose it. It still means death of personality, not body. A re-educated felon could contribute back to the society they have harmed. This also could help defer some of the horrendous costs of keeping up a modern prison system. Your choice, how many violent criminals get released early or unrehabilitated? As for Abortion, that should still be the woman's choice, not some damned politicians. There are cases that they have denied that choice to the detriment of the mother and that is plain wrong! These are my opinions and like you, I am 'entitled' to have them. I hope you never suffer from the more heinious crimes and have a quiet and safe life.

Answer 2

The judicial system is not infallible. There are instances of innocent people being convicted. How many people have been proved innocent while on death row and subsequently released? It might be a very small number (double it to allow for genuinely innocent death row inmates who are never fortunate enough to get the injustice they have suffered corrected). The death penalty is immoral and your "mind wipe" idea is equally so. Even if one man in the whole country is subjected to this treatment and is then found to be innocent, it is one too many and that one man is somebody's father/brother/uncle.
It is very disturbing how some people reject the idea that an accused person might possibly be innocent even when their innocence has been proved to the point of satisfying appeal court judges.

Answer 3

I see where you're coming from but I have one isue with it. Consider thoise on death row who abandon their appeals or who commit suicide just so they can regain control after so many years of not being in control. Consider the sad case of Kenny Richey (see the link below). He is, by all expert accounts, innocent. yet he has sat on death row in Ohio for over twenty years. Would he, or others like him, take the option to wipe their memory clean just so they could regain control of their lives? If so, who does that person become? We are all much more than skin, blood, bones and organs.

This is an interesting idea. I see that you want to offer salvation to people and that is a worthy aim. I do not think this suggestion achieves that in a satisfactory manner.

Answer 4

While it is a good idea and some criminals may be rehabed, lets not forget that many will see this as a "free-pass" and commit crimes, knowing they will get a 2nd chance if they get caught. Not to mention the families that they hurt... You think if someone murders a loved one and the criminals mind is wiped that the family will just forget? If that criminal is out on the street, the family of the victim will probably attack, because of the lack of justice.

Answer 5

Death Records Search Database : http://DeathRecordInfo.com/Help

Answer 6

nope. no extra chances. In order to extended certain consideration as a fallible human being you have to show me that you are human. Accidents happen, things go wrong that will never occur again. But the pedos / serial rapists / mass murderers - they aint chaning. And they haven't shown me that they are human - at least not anymore.
my opine of course!

Answer 7

you know i sat on a murder trial for 6+ months...it was hard to see the pics of the victim---especially while the murderer sat right there smiling the whole time!

in answer to your question...NO

they don't deserve another chance.....and i'm in california...so i really wish they would execute like Texas....

no--they do not deserve another chance or anything

thanks for asking :)

Answer 8

No such option exists. This in NOT a legal answer. It is a SCIENTIFIC one. We have nowhere near enough understanding of how the mind works to even guess if this would ever be possible.

Answer 9

Pixie, I added some more to my answer of your original question. I'm not sure if you will go back to it, so I just thought I'd mention it here.

Answer 10

No because that would be giving them another chance.

I'd prefer to use this method on sex offenders as we all know they're incapable of being cured!