Do you think death penalty is cruel and unjustly?

Answer 1

So far the Supreme Court has not ruled that it is, although they have narrowed the groups of people to whom it can applied (deciding that the execution of people with mental retardation or those who committed their crimes as juveniles is cruel and inhuman punishment). Here is a slightly different perspective on it, with sources below.

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

It certainly can be cruel, but at least the ones I know about only take a few minutes to kill a person and besides, who knows, maybe this is really nothing compared to what the individual might have done to deserve it. I certainly don't think it's unjustly since as I already mentioned, there must be a very strong reason for someone to be put to death.

Answer 3

If you have ever seen vids of the hardcore places like San Quintin, how can one not be fore the death penalty? I am for randome executions at places like that.

Those people will bever be 'fixed' well enough to go out in to society safely. They are all violent and I don't see the point in keeping them alive because they are all waiting to get out again to commit more violent crimes.

The prisons are very overcrowded. When the worst offenders get sentenced and are 100% surely convicted of their crime, they should just expected to be offd randomly. That would be an excellent deterrant to keep people thinking twice before they go out and get violent.

Answer 4

I have no sympathy for those convicted of horrible crimes; rapists, pedophiles and murderers especially.

But, the argument that it is "too expensive" to keep these criminals alive is, with respect, idiotic.

Three points:
1-It is also expensive to kill these people. There are cumbersome legal procedures, technical procedures, etc. I would agree that keeping prisoners in 5-star hotels is ridiculous, but there are other ways to reduce costs.

2-What if... there was a wrongful conviction? Many law schools now have programs to review possible wrongful convictions. If it was you in prison, you might like to know there was an outside chance that you could still be set free for such a serious mistake.

3-Ethically, I find it quite frightening to read how easily people are willing to kill other people (even criminals). Do you not have the fear of God yourself? If you really are so sure that you are right...maybe you will start seeing the world through the self-righteous madness of a killer too.

Answer 5

Nope , Someone who rapes an kills anyone (an other horrible crimes) , is getting it easy with the death penalty in this country. Personally I think they should be taken out back an shot in the head , instead of sitting in prison wasting millions of hard working American tax dollars , waiting to be killed.

Answer 6

No, the death penalty is great and justified. But the liberals do everything in their power to protect the convicted prisoner.

Answer 7

no, and i'll tell you why. people who committ crimes bad enough to warrant the ultimate penalty are making our society worse by keeping them around. there is no way prison time will "rehabilitate" them. we don't need serial killers around. something is wrong that can't be fixed. what about the victims and their families?? they will suffer for the rest of thier lives b/c of some loser. that is what i think is cruel and unusual.

Answer 8

i think the death penalty is far underused....and for those that are doomed to meet it i wish they would step it up and quite making us pay for them to live in a warm place with food and education and health services that they get for commiting a crime that they should die for..especially when everything is help up for a clerical error or technicality..while true poor people live on the street who never commited a crime and we treat them worse then the real criminals

Answer 9

No. It is not used enough in my opinion. For people that commit rapes and murders their punishments should be harsh. It also shouldn't take as long to happen. Too many appeals and such.

Answer 10

It is meant to be.

That is why, when the death penalty was around, it was a less of a crime ridden society.