2007-11-28 03:58:05 · 15 answers · asked by vy b 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
It's called capital PUNISHMENT not capital deterrent. It does effectively prevent that individual from further crimes. Executed criminals have never committed further crimes.
2007-12-05 06:41:34 · answer #1 · answered by twincrier 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No reputable study has shown the death penalty deters others. To act as a deterrent a punishment must be swift and sure. The death penalty is neither. Rates of violent crime are higher in states and regions with the death penalty than in those without it.
There are many other reasons to question the death penalty system. You don't have to sympathize with criminals or want them to avoid a terrible punishment to ask if the death penalty prevents or even reduces crime and to think about the 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.
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.
2007-11-28 13:09:10 · answer #2 · answered by Susan S 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No. It has not worked yet. In fact, the statistics show that states that have capital punishment have HIGHER murder rates. Does not seem like it is working as a deterrent. See
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/FactSheet.pdf
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=1917
The United States has executed innocent people and many innocent people have been released after years on death row. Shorting the time to execution will only guarantee that we execute MORE innocent people.
From the Innocence Project website: (http://www.innocenceproject.org)
"To date, 207 people in the United States have been exonerated by DNA testing, including 15 who served time on death row. These people served an average of 12 years in prison before exoneration and release."
2007-11-28 12:00:55 · answer #3 · answered by davidmi711 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
No, deterrence requires rational thought and the ability to forsee the consequences of one's actions. Both of these qualities are diminished, if not absent, in most of the people to whom capital punishment would be applied.
2007-11-28 12:01:01 · answer #4 · answered by jurydoc 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
If capital punishment was a deterrent, there would be nobody on death row anywhere.
If a thugs had logical thinking processes, he wouldn't break the law, would he.
Capital punishment is only state-sanctioned murder and doesn't solve anything.
2007-11-28 13:10:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
Under the current US system.... no it does not.
Capital Punishment only works when there is a real fear of the consequences. When sentenced to death statistically most people die of natural causes going through the appeals process. Not such a deterrent. If you think criminals do not know what the punishments are for the crimes they are going to commit you will find that when able they go to states that have lesser punishments for their crime de jure to set up shop.
2007-11-28 12:06:24 · answer #6 · answered by IH8TomBrady 3 · 2⤊ 8⤋
Yes and at least it is good at preventing future crimes from the same person.
2007-11-28 12:03:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 6⤋
I'm not sure it prevents crime, but it does stop repeat offenders.
2007-11-28 12:06:34 · answer #8 · answered by Jan Luv 7 · 4⤊ 5⤋
If it is actually done instead of taking 5 years to do it! It will save us from keeping them on a gravy train while in jail too.
2007-11-28 12:02:13 · answer #9 · answered by fairly smart 7 · 2⤊ 5⤋
No, but it is a good way of getting rid of some pretty bad people.
2007-11-28 12:01:24 · answer #10 · answered by cmdrbnd007 6 · 3⤊ 5⤋