Death Penalty?

Question

Yes or no?

Why?

Answer 1

You don't have to condone brutal crimes or want the criminals who commit them to avoid a harsh punishment to ask whether the death penalty prevents or even reduces crime and whether it risks killing innocent people.

Risks of executing innocent people-
124 people on death rows have been released with proof that they were wrongfully convicted. DNA is available in less than 10% of all homicides and isn’t a guarantee we won’t execute innocent people.

The death penalty doesn't 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 don’t.

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.

The death penalty costs much more than life in prison, mostly because of the legal process which is supposed to prevent executions of innocent people.

The death penalty isn't reserved for the worst crimes, but for defendants with the worst lawyers. It doesn't apply to people with money. When is the last time a wealthy person was on death row, let alone executed?

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.

Problems with speeding 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.

Answer 2

Emotionally, I would support it because I would like closure/revenge if one of my loved ones was taken from me... but...

There is no evidence to support that it has any affect on reducing violent crime.
It is actually more expensive than life imprisnment as the Supreme Court mandated the appeals procedure.
Multiple death-row convictions have been overturned on DNA evidence.
There are sufficient numbers to support the sentiment that it is racially biased.

Answer 3

Yes, delete the bad genes.

Answer 4

No - an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind

Answer 5

yes, for the worst person.

Answer 6

YES BUT I WOULD LIKE IT TO MOVE ALONG QUICKER WITH LESS APPEALS. LIKE THEY DID WITH SADDAM GUILTY AND 2 WEEKS LATER THEY ARE DEAD.

Answer 7

Yes.
Set by an example. "If you do that, you Die!"