I've heard capital punishment doesn't work, but I'm all for it. Why doesn't it work?

Question

Basically, if I slaughtered your entire family, would you want me to spend the rest of my life in a nice cell? I hope not. Wouldn't giving back what I gave be real retribution? Why wouldn't capital punishment work? You have to fight ruthlessness with ruthlessness!

Thanks for the answers all, I'm going to show this to my parents to see if I can convince them.

Answer 1

In theory, it's a deterrent.

In reality, it's expensive and ineffective. The reasons for this are many. First, our justice system is set up on the presumption of innocence. This is the foundation of our rights as an American. So, when we have a case involving the death penalty, we allow that person extra hearings and trials, to ensure that we don't execute an innocent man or undeserving man (or woman). If the death penalty were carried out within minutes of the conviction, we would probably see a huge decrease in crime, but I really wouldn't want to live in a country that conducted death sentences without being absolutely sure of a man's guilt. The end result is that many sentences are life imprisonment instead of death.

Second, there is an expense factor involved. It is estimated to cost $300,000 to house a prisoner for life. It costs over $3 million to execute them. It's just not financially viable. Yes, I want revenge for my family member. But...2.5 million dollars buys a lot of other things. That money could be better spent.

Third, if you've never been in prison, try it sometime. It's no fun. Life in a super-max , solitary prison cell would be worse than death.

Fourth, when crimminals commit crimes, they aren't thinking,'Gee, I might get put to death for this.' These folks aren't raised to think about consequenses. The Dahmers and Gacys are few and far between. Most murders and rapes are committed by young men with little education and a 'hard knock' life. This doesn't excuse the behavior. However, when you are raised with a gun in your hand and taught that killing people isn't wrong, the death penalty won't make any difference at all. It's just part of life on the streets. "If the gang member up the block doesn't kill me, the government will. Oh, well...I guess I can't win. Might as well do whatever I want. I'll kill that guy, and if the cops get me, so be it."

Ghandi said that you fight violence and hate with love. Jesus said this also. I never met either man, but they seem a little wiser than most of our politicians today. Ghandi defeated the English empire by through organized worker strikes, speeches, non-violent protest and fasting. Jesus...well, I think we know what he accomplished. Who am I to say that I know a better way than these two great men, and many others that I didn't name?

Answer 2

To get the right answer you have to ask the right question. The right question would be: 'Is capital punishment a deterrent or is it the punishment for the crime. The short answer is it's probably both. I'm sure some people have not fired the fatal bullet because they didn't want to face a jury where the death penalty was on the table. Others, once convicted, accept the punishment as payment due for the crime. The problem as we've found out is that far too many people have been convicted and executed that didn't fire the fatal shot. That has to give even the most ardent death sentence fan a cold chill. My feeling is that while I'm certain that some people richly deserve execution, the system as to how we convict is flawed. Most countries have done away with the death sentence and the rate of murder has neither gone up or down, so as a deterrent it may be way past it's expiration date. As for a 'nice' cell...I dunno. I once spent a little time in a navy brig...it wasn't so nice. I can only imagine what a drag it must be spend a lifetime in one.

Answer 3

Sounds like you are why it doesn't. People misunderstand the proper use. They will say well it isn't a deterrent. Odd, I thought being dead would stop you from killing again. It should be used on people who are a THREAT. People who would go out and kill again. Don't tell me life without Parole is just as good either. They can still BREAK OUT. They have yet to build a prison that someone can't break out of. The other big problem for it, and the main thing that stops it from working is that it isn't carried out. This isn't what the anti-Capital Punishment people MEAN but it is one of the biggest reasons it doesn't work. It is a hollow threat. Actually that was one of the main reasons it was originally found uncostitutional in 1972. They said if was Cruel and Unusual Punishment because people were spending too much time on Death Row.

I love how people say oh look at Texas. It has the highest MURDER rate even though it has the highest execution rate. Well has it ever occured that they have the highest Execution rate BECAUSE it has the highest murder rate. Maybe it is going the OTHER way? Ever occur to people that people usually serve 20 years before being executed? Sure they are NOW getting it done faster there, but they do have that backlog of people to get rid of. Also no one wants to consider that SOCIETY aspect. If Texas had the highest in both and OK had the LOWEST, THEN there would be an argument. When the LOWEST is in New England though you are talking about two TOTALLY different regions.

Answer 4

There are several reasons. why it is not an effective way to prevent crime. To act as a deterrent (keep others from committing the same crime) a punishment must be swift and sure. The death penalty is neither.

Speeding up the process is not a good idea. Over 50 of the 124 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. (DNA isn't a guarantee we won't execute innocent people- its available in less than10% of all homicides.)

We have a good alternative. 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. Being locked in a tiny cell for 23 hours a day is not a picnic.

The death penalty costs much more than life in prison, because of the legal process, which is supposed to keep us from executing innocent people.

The death penalty doesn't necessarily help families of murder victims. 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.

Answer 5

well... as far as working, those who are punished usually die with a 100% success rate.

But seriously, sitting in a cell for the rest of your life isnt all fun and games, i would imagine. the only problem i have with capital punishment is the possibility that someone innocent gets the chair on accident. however, i agree with you, with fighting ruthlessness with ruthlessness. but still, again, there are others out there who dont think a wrong should be dealt with by another wrong.

i dunno, but if i were given the choice between death and life in prison w/o parole, id choose death.

Answer 6

If what you assert is genuine, it incredibly is fairly no longer likely to be a Roman punishment. Capital Punishment interior the Roman Empire in the Roman Empire, 2 sorts of capital punishment have been used - crucifixion for people who weren't Roman voters and decapitation for Roman voters. The machaira replaced into the sword used to accomplish capital punishment for Roman voters. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ replaced into an occasion of capital punishment finished below Roman regulation the place a conviction had under no circumstances been reached. For individuals of nobility, following the trial, they might learn that they were stumbled on in charge and have been sentenced to demise. They have been then allowed to take a seat down in a bathtub of warm water and devote suicide by using decrease their own wrists.

Answer 7

mountain laurel has it right. All the statistics indicate that it really doesn't deter any crime.

And the real problem is our legal system is so corrupt and lazy that in far too many cases, innocent people are railroaded.

I'm sure the idea appeals to many just because of the feeling that an eye for an eye makes sense.

But the inequity of the law is notorious. OK: you give the death penalty to someone who killed a person or two. Shouldn't it then be applied to a equally corporate entity that pollutes a water table and causes thousands of cases of cancer? If not, why not?

Answer 8

For capital punishment to work to its full potential, how about carrying out the sentences insteas of having the one to be executed die of old age 40-50 years after the fact anf still going through mandatory appeals. Also, political correctness aside, bring back some of the cruelity of executions; such as public hangings, electric chairs, gas chambers, etc...
Granted, this may sound harsh, but bring back the horror of death. People need to be reminded thar death is not a video game. The results are real, permanent, and often painful.
Yes, capital punishment does work, but it must be used properly.

Answer 9

Well to start with, a cell is hardly "nice". If it is being used as a deterent, it definitely won't work. Nobody is going to go, ah sure I won't be executed, I'll only have to spend life in prison - so I'll commit this crime.
And it is blatantly obvious it doesn't work because the US has much higher crime rates that EU countries, where there is no capital punishment.

Answer 10

At the end of 2005 Texas had the 13th highest occurrence for violent crime among the states.

Capital punishment might be more effective if it didn't take 10 to 20 years for the sentence to be carried out.

But even capitol punishment won't stop violent crimes. Might slow them down some, but it will never stop them.