Are you pro or anti?

[Levi]

Hello everyone, I'd thought I'd stir up some discussion of whether you are pro DP or anti DP. Choose one & tell why. If there is a personal reason you don't mind sharing, please post.

[grandma]

I am a DP activist and a strong pro. I believe that the DP is appropriate punishment for aggravated murder.

[BabakinsNo1]

I am definately for the death penalty, I live in Scotland, UK, and think that we should have it here. Far too many criminals are getting a cushy life in prison in this country. By the Way i'm new here, hi everyone

[prisonNurse]

I am against the DP.
To many convicted people have been exonerated using DNA testing that wasn't available when the crime was commited. The innocence project has had several people freed from jail. IMO spending LWOP is the better alternative. You will be judged when you meet your maker. JMO

[Levi]

Originally Posted by BeautifulOne

Hello there!

In a way I feel like killers should spend the rest of their life in prison (it's more suffering then a needle in their arm). But then again, John Couey, BEGGED for the death sentence when he buried Jessica Lunsford alive. If I had one wish, it would be to bury Couey alive, just as he did Jessica. Same thing with the killers of Christopher Barrios. Words cannot express how I feel about them. I want them to die in the most brutal way imaginable. So to make a long story short: I think killers should die, but in a more violent way then a needle in their arm. Understand?

Hi BeautifulOne, I completely understand where you are coming from! Some of these murders in the news are so hateful, brutal & disgusting you just want to stick em all in the electric chair, bury them alive, or slit their throat. Unfortunately we have a little something that gets in the way: The constitution. So we have to make it where the death penalty isn't "cruel & unusual." A needle in the arm isn't cruel or unusual.

I think it is better than the alternative of life in prison, because often times life just doesn't mean life. I've researched the topic of the death penalty & learned there are so many loop holes. For instance in Oklahoma there is a little known provision that allows someone serving a LWOP sentence apply for early release after serving 15 yrs.

There are also many cases where killers have escaped. Where they get out & kill more.

Long story short if you are dead, you cannot murder or harm anyone else.

[Levi]

Originally Posted by BabakinsNo1

I am definately for the death penalty, I live in Scotland, UK, and think that we should have it here. Far too many criminals are getting a cushy life in prison in this country. By the Way i'm new here, hi everyone

Welcome to the boards!

[Athena]

Originally Posted by prisonNurse

I am against the DP.
To many convicted people have been exonerated using DNA testing that wasn't available when the crime was commited. The innocence project has had several people freed from jail. IMO spending LWOP is the better alternative. You will be judged when you meet your maker. JMO

I have to agree with this. It is too risky when later it is found out that the person put to death was innocent but then it is too late. I realize new strides are being made in DNA technology but there are careless mistakes made behind the scenes. Until there is a definitive fool-proof way to ensure that the person put to death is guilty, I will have to opt for LWOP.

I strongly believe that laws especially affecting child molesters, be tightened up so that these creep are kept in jail rather than released only to reoffend again. JMO

[Luke Davis]

I favor a death penalty that is fair and timely.

[Jadedblueeyes]

I believe in the death penalty in certain cases. I think it should be used sparingly and the evidence should be overwhelming.

I have never thought the death penalty was a deterrent or even meant to be one. It is the ultimate form of punishment for certain individuals in our justice system. While some may complain that their appeals take way too long I look at it differently than some others may. I dont care how long the appeals take. They certainly aren't going anywhere but what they will know is they are going to pay one day even though they dont know when exactly. Even that is more than they gave their victims. Everyday they get up they will know they are closer to that time.

There are such cases that are so egregious they cry out for more than LWOP where the inmate is being cared for the rest of their sorry pathetic life. Of course I think any case where a child is raped/tortured and murdered by a pedophile deserves nothing less than death but then we also have adult crimes that are just as appalling, like Laci Peterson or Channon and Christopher from TN and so many more like them.

I do believe that with the advancement of DNA there will be less and less innocent people in our prisons. Most all of these cases are older cases where DNA was not tested at the time. So if the evidence in a case is overwhelming then I think the death penalty should be given if the crime is so heinous and way beyond what society is unwilling to accept with a lessor punishment.

imoo

[Athena]

Originally Posted by Jadedblueeyes

I believe in the death penalty in certain cases. I think it should be used sparingly and the evidence should be overwhelming.

I have never thought the death penalty was a deterrent or even meant to be one. It is the ultimate form of punishment for certain individuals in our justice system. While some may complain that their appeals take way too long I look at it differently than some others may. I dont care how long the appeals take. They certainly aren't going anywhere but what they will know is they are going to pay one day even though they dont know when exactly. Even that is more than they gave their victims. Everyday they get up they will know they are closer to that time.

There are such cases that are so egregious they cry out for more than LWOP where the inmate is being cared for the rest of their sorry pathetic life. Of course I think any case where a child is raped/tortured and murdered by a pedophile deserves nothing less than death but then we also have adult crimes that are just as appalling, like Laci Peterson or Channon and Christopher from TN and so many more like them.

I do believe that with the advancement of DNA there will be less and less innocent people in our prisons. Most all of these cases are older cases where DNA was not tested at the time. So if the evidence in a case is overwhelming then I think the death penalty should be given if the crime is so heinous and way beyond what society is unwilling to accept with a lessor punishment.

imoo

Excellent post Ocean!!

[Sharon]

There is so much to say because most legal systems are far from perfect. eg LWP should be no escape ever....but its not, whats up with that? All murderers should have LWP, what is this stupid figure of 10 or 15 years??? I cant get over how some murderers are out by 40yo and have even married and had a child while in prison!!!! (Todays story in Australia, the guy involved killed a mentally disabled woman and also tortured her by biting off her nose, gorging out her eyes and punching her in the throat after raping her. He says out loud that he is glad he did it as she was a nothing. While in prison he got remarried and was allowed a visit where he got his new wife pregnant! What is this, a dating service???? )

So a huge part of me wants the dp just to take away the lives of the evil amongst us...the ultimate punishment. I would even want torture involved for some, really bad torture!

To keep the argument simple I am going to assume no false guilty verdicts, as that complicates everything to a whole other degree.

Alternatively, I want to compare punishments of true lwp compared to dp. Would I rather a perp who killed someone in my family or a friend to be killed or have life in prison. I personally think the dp is a harsher penalty all things being equal. I think as long as there is life the inmate is eatting, having some entertainment, computer, tv etc.....where as death is the end of everything.

But, to my astonishment, I lately read that many inmates try to commit suicide and are on 24/7 guard to keep them alive!!! Even those who get into their suicide are rushed of to ER and brought back. Whats with that? Shouldnt we let the suckers die and save alot of $ in the deal too?

Well, apparantly in the case of one inmate who succeeded in killing himself, his victims family were upset that he got of so easily. It seems that some victims family`s are adement that the inmate will serve out the term in prison as this sentence is much harder than death.

So which is it......is life in prison too good for these murderers or is death the easy way out? Maybe it depends on the prison.

A very good suggestion is to put the child killers in the same cell as another inmate missing his own kids. That would ensure a true eye for an eye imo.

Originally Posted by Jadedblueeyes

I believe in the death penalty in certain cases. I think it should be used sparingly and the evidence should be overwhelming.

I have never thought the death penalty was a deterrent or even meant to be one. It is the ultimate form of punishment for certain individuals in our justice system. While some may complain that their appeals take way too long I look at it differently than some others may. I dont care how long the appeals take. They certainly aren't going anywhere but what they will know is they are going to pay one day even though they dont know when exactly. Even that is more than they gave their victims. Everyday they get up they will know they are closer to that time.

There are such cases that are so egregious they cry out for more than LWOP where the inmate is being cared for the rest of their sorry pathetic life. Of course I think any case where a child is raped/tortured and murdered by a pedophile deserves nothing less than death but then we also have adult crimes that are just as appalling, like Laci Peterson or Channon and Christopher from TN and so many more like them.

I do believe that with the advancement of DNA there will be less and less innocent people in our prisons. Most all of these cases are older cases where DNA was not tested at the time. So if the evidence in a case is overwhelming then I think the death penalty should be given if the crime is so heinous and way beyond what society is unwilling to accept with a lessor punishment.

imoo

Hi Ocean!

Great post!

You said exactly what I was about to say, including DNA technology having the ability to greatly reduce, if not eliminate, the number of those wrongly convicted in crimes where the perps's DNA is present.

IMO

[Luke Davis]

In California, we just had the fourteenth suicide on Death Row, compared to thirteen executions since the Death Penalty was reinstituted. That is proof to me that it doesn't work effectively.

At a cost of 15 million per execution, taxpayers are not getting a cost effective enforcement.

[Luke Davis]

Originally Posted by prisonNurse

I am against the DP.
To many convicted people have been exonerated using DNA testing that wasn't available when the crime was commited. The innocence project has had several people freed from jail. IMO spending LWOP is the better alternative. You will be judged when you meet your maker. JMO

Doesn't that prove it works?

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by Luke Davis

In California, we just had the fourteenth suicide on Death Row, compared to thirteen executions since the Death Penalty was reinstituted. That is proof to me that it doesn't work effectively.

At a cost of 15 million per execution, taxpayers are not getting a cost effective enforcement.

So in terms of punishment which do you think is a harsher, the ds or life in prison. In Aust. we seem to be getting alot of suicide attempts from prisoners also. Some lifers are fighting for the right to be able to end their life.

Do you think maybe the ds is a prefered sentence for the perp.? I wont to know which one would make them suffer more, or would that depend on the prison? imo

[Lili007]

I've always opposed the DP on principle. I still do. In my view, it's nothing more than killing someone because they killed someone else, so where does it end? An eye for an eye for an eye for an eye for an eye... I think you get the drift.

In cases of serial killers, though, it's different, IMO. It's a question of stopping the killing by stopping the killer, rather than a question of retribution. Though both are equally important, IMO.

I've just never felt that I was entitled to pass a "death" or execution verdict on another human being to punish them for taking another human being's life. I'd only be doing what they did in the first place, though I'd be doing it legally.

I know it's a poor argument, but there it is. I just don't believe in deliberately taking someone's life, for whatever reason. Murderers could serve their consecutive sentences in prison for the rest of their lives without a glimpse of blue sky or the feel of grass under their feet or smell of flowers in the spring. That's probably more cruel a sentence than death. But to deliberately and scientifically put them to death in this day and age? I just can't agree with that.

I know it costs taxpayers heaps of money to keep prisoners where they belong, and I'm not trying to take the high moral ground here - just saying that I'd rather pay my dues to keep murderers in jail for the rest of their ugly, horrible and miserable lives rather than have anything to do with their being executed at the expense of my conscience.

JMO

[Lili007]

Originally Posted by Sharon

So in terms of punishment which do you think is a harsher, the ds or life in prison. In Aust. we seem to be getting alot of suicide attempts from prisoners also. Some lifers are fighting for the right to be able to end their life.

Do you think maybe the ds is a prefered sentence for the perp.? I wont to know which one would make them suffer more, or would that depend on the prison? imo

I realise your question wasn't addressed to me, but I'd like to make a couple of comments, if I may.

I think it depends on the person, rather than the prison.

If the person feels that prison is worse than death, it pretty much equates to 'death is better than prison'. Most prison suicides in Australia are by Aboriginals in custody. Whether it be on minor matters or not, it's a question of culture and the Aboriginal culture and way of living dates back thousands of years before our own.

Their way of life is different, despite the civilsation that changed their world, for better or worse - that's history that neither I nor anyone else can change or re-write. I think being locked up in a cell is probably worse than death to a person who has some thousands of years of conditioning by heritage to be free to roam the outdoors and live with the elements in the brunt of nature.

But that's different from someone who knowingly and maliciously takes the life of another. They belong in jail, for the rest of their lives, though I can't bring myself to say they deserve to be legally killed for it.

JMO

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by Lili007

I realise your question wasn't addressed to me, but I'd like to make a couple of comments, if I may.

I think it depends on the person, rather than the prison.

If the person feels that prison is worse than death, it pretty much equates to 'death is better than prison'. Most prison suicides in Australia are by Aboriginals in custody. Whether it be on minor matters or not, it's a question of culture and the Aboriginal culture and way of living dates back thousands of years before our own.

Their way of life is different, despite the civilsation that changed their world, for better or worse - that's history that neither I nor anyone else can change or re-write. I think being locked up in a cell is probably worse than death to a person who has some thousands of years of conditioning by heritage to be free to roam the outdoors and live with the elements in the brunt of nature.

But that's different from someone who knowingly and maliciously takes the life of another. They belong in jail, for the rest of their lives, though I can't bring myself to say they deserve to be legally killed for it.

JMO

Thanks for replying. I welcome all opinions as being interesting and educational.

Just to add to what you have written, I agree 100% about the Aboriginals. And to be honest they get such a bad rap in prison that it is even dubious why they are so imprisioned as a people compared to the general population. There are problems with the A. community that are so rife it is like a haulocaust for many of them...drugs, alchohol, child rapings, no education due to parential neglect, poverty etc.

My post re. ds was more about lifers who have commited crimes to be in prison for their whole life. These are not usually A. but ordinary white people who have commited horrific acts of violence.

I was interested in how some of these prisinors are trying to commit suicide and much resourses are being spent to watch over them 24/7. It appears that the families of the victims want them alive to suffer. I would have thoughthe dp is the worst punishment, but to some life in prison is the worst.

I was interested in others opinions.

[Mojave]

I am actually opposed to the death penalty. Yes, I do believe that there are some people who are truly evil and deserve to die. Big time. However, I think it is a question of 'Should we be the ones doing the killing?' Here are my reasonings.

1) As much as we try, I do not think our justice system is fair yet. Maybe fair is an impossibility. The fact is, if you have more money, you can hire better representation and, therefore, have a better chance of avoiding death. Despite all of our efforts, status, race, age and gender still weigh heavily in or against a suspects favor.

2) I think of Ira Einhorn, the man who killed his girlfriend and then lived all of the good years of his life in luxury in France. The reason they wouldn't give him back to us? The death penalty. Other countries have done away with it as barbaric and, because we put people to death, those countries can refuse to extradite our criminals back to us. If you are a suspect who could face the death penalty, just go to France or Canada.

3) The morbid side of me thinks that tdeath just doesn't cut it for some crimes. I understant we have rules against cruel and inhumane punishments, but it seems the punishment doesn't fit the crime. Tell me if I'm wrong on this, but I understand that a death row inmate is taken out of the general populace, protected from violence by other prisoners, given a last meal, last rites and then euthanised. How does this stack against what they did to their victims? I think a life in the general prison population is much worse.

[Charon]

I am SO PRO-DP.

The current constitution of South Africa does not allow for the DP anymore since it was a feature of the old Apartheid system. Murder and general savagery does not observe concepts like Apartheid or Democracy and only florishes where the value of life deminishes.

Sounds strange comming from a guy who's pro-DP, doesn't it and yes some people view DP to be nothing more than state sanctioned murder. State sanctioned murder is in effect the exact oposite. Churchill, I think, once said that "for evil to truimph, you only need good people to stand by and do nothing" or something to that effect. My government is standing by and watching it's citizens being slaughtered by the thousands, something which rarely happened when our gallows were still in use.

Killers does not deserve the right to life. Neither does those who kill the souls of others i.e. rapists & child molestors. Frankly, do I also view abortionists in the same light. I do not mince words. Never learned to, I'm afraid, so look for your prozak.

When you start killing killers, the killing stops. Very simple and PROVEN.

[sarge204]

Hello out there.
I agree with the death penalty. I'm a cop in TX. and have seen some ugly things. i've been on the job for almost 30 years. Every time I think that I can't be suprised by the stuff people do to each other, I get shocked again. I think some of our criminals are just a waste of skin out here. Any way, thanks for the chance to reply.

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by sarge204

Hello out there.
I agree with the death penalty. I'm a cop in TX. and have seen some ugly things. i've been on the job for almost 30 years. Every time I think that I can't be suprised by the stuff people do to each other, I get shocked again. I think some of our criminals are just a waste of skin out here. Any way, thanks for the chance to reply.

Sarge that was well said. imo

[Lili007]

Originally Posted by Sharon

Thanks for replying. I welcome all opinions as being interesting and educational.

Just to add to what you have written, I agree 100% about the Aboriginals. And to be honest they get such a bad rap in prison that it is even dubious why they are so imprisioned as a people compared to the general population. There are problems with the A. community that are so rife it is like a haulocaust for many of them...drugs, alchohol, child rapings, no education due to parential neglect, poverty etc.

My post re. ds was more about lifers who have commited crimes to be in prison for their whole life. These are not usually A. but ordinary white people who have commited horrific acts of violence.

I was interested in how some of these prisinors are trying to commit suicide and much resourses are being spent to watch over them 24/7. It appears that the families of the victims want them alive to suffer. I would have thoughthe dp is the worst punishment, but to some life in prison is the worst.

I was interested in others opinions.

Well, you're getting at least one - probablyThis is where I can't draw the line. To me, a good, kind person is just that, whatever religion they follow or whatever their skin colour is. followed by another


Peace

[Lili007]

Originally Posted by Sharon

Thanks for replying. I welcome all opinions as being interesting and educational.

Just to add to what you have written, I agree 100% about the Aboriginals. And to be honest they get such a bad rap in prison that it is even dubious why they are so imprisioned as a people compared to the general population. There are problems with the A. community that are so rife it is like a haulocaust for many of them...drugs, alchohol, child rapings, no education due to parential neglect, poverty etc.

My post re. ds was more about lifers who have commited crimes to be in prison for their whole life. These are not usually A. but ordinary white people who have commited horrific acts of violence.

I was interested in how some of these prisinors are trying to commit suicide and much resourses are being spent to watch over them 24/7. It appears that the families of the victims want them alive to suffer. I would have thoughthe dp is the worst punishment, but to some life in prison is the worst.

I was interested in others opinions.

This is where I can't draw the line. To me, a good, kind person is just that, whatever religion they follow, or more importantly, believe in.


Peace

[diamond d]

At this point in time I am Against the death penalty, my reason being that it has been proven that it is not a deterrent to crime, so until a study can show that it is a deterrent my vote will be no to the death penalty.

[luciferos]

One must be careful when hunting monsters lest we become monsters ourselves.

I am against the death penalty. It is a barbaric practice of vengeance and nothing more. It is not a deterrent and too many have died while innocent (see: the West Memphis Three where Damien sits on death row without any sufficient evidence outside of metallica shirts and stephen king novels to this day). While hundreds have been freed from death row, showing the errors of the whole system, you have to wonder how many more have died who didn't get a chance to be freed. Surely if hundreds have been exonerated...the numbers who were not so fortunate must be much higher.

It's all much like the Salem witch trials. There is a reason most of the civilized world has abolished the death penalty. I think these days people want their vengeance, their witches. They're becoming the monsters they are destroying. That's all I see when I see families dancing and laughing after the execution of another human being who killed their own human being. Or, as it seems, probably had nothing to do with it at all as witnessed in many cases...

[sarge204]

Luci,
Youre right, you have to be careful when hunting monsters, But in some cases, I've become a believer that maybe it's worth becoming what you seek to a certain degree. I have worked cases of sexual assaults of kids and child murders and guess I've become jaded to the point that I sometimes think it's wortj the risk.
I'm at the point in my life that i can't remember all the dead people I've seen, I hope thats the risk of being a police officer for several years.
Sarge 204

[Levi]

Originally Posted by Jadedblueeyes

I have never thought the death penalty was a deterrent or even meant to be one.

That is not true. The death penalty is a deterrent. Here is an interesting link which shows how the death penalty is a deterrent: http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/deterrence.htm

Also according to JFA (Justice For All) A Texas victims rights group. Since the resumption of executions in 1982, the annual number of murders has plummeted from 701 to 241, a 72 percent decrease. In Harris County.

Originally Posted by Jadedblueeyes

While some may complain that their appeals take way too long I look at it differently than some others may. I dont care how long the appeals take. They certainly aren't going anywhere but what they will know is they are going to pay one day even though they dont know when exactly. Even that is more than they gave their victims. Everyday they get up they will know they are closer to that time.

What do you mean they aren't going anywhere? There is always a chance that they will escape. There is always a chance they will kill a prison guard or another inmate. We need to speed up the appeals. Ever heard of "swift justice"?

[Levi]

Originally Posted by sarge204

Hello out there.
I agree with the death penalty. I'm a cop in TX. and have seen some ugly things. i've been on the job for almost 30 years. Every time I think that I can't be suprised by the stuff people do to each other, I get shocked again. I think some of our criminals are just a waste of skin out here. Any way, thanks for the chance to reply.

Hi, welcome to the boards. And thank you for your service as a Cop. I've seen the show COPS and I honestly don't know how you guys do it, working with some of the low life trashy bum's that you do. I can understand why having a job in law enforcement when you are dealing with dirt bags would make you be pro death penalty.

[diamond d]

Originally Posted by Levi

That is not true. The death penalty is a deterrent. Here is an interesting link which shows how the death penalty is a deterrent: http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/deterrence.htm

Also according to JFA (Justice For All) A Texas victims rights group. Since the resumption of executions in 1982, the annual number of murders has plummeted from 701 to 241, a 72 percent decrease. In Harris County.


What do you mean they aren't going anywhere? There is always a chance that they will escape. There is always a chance they will kill a prison guard or another inmate. We need to speed up the appeals. Ever heard of "swift justice"?

Levi I checked out your link and went over the stats, at first glance I can see how one could draw the conclusion that indeed the DP is a definite deterrent to homicide / murder, however we all know that it is a well known fact that all statistics can be manipulated and skewed to show any result the scientist wants to show. My vote at this point is still, no to the death penalty.

[mrs gates]

Before anyone can quote statistics, how many of you have actually worked in a prison with closed custody inmates? I have and as sarge204 knows by being a cop, the death penalty being enforced would actually deter people from committing a haenous crime. We have 19 people under the sentence of death-1 being a woman for killing her children and husband when she set a fire to her house with them inside. She has also been suspected of the deaths of two prior children and several attempts on family members and friends, but because she never stayed in 1 place too long, she made sure there was mostly circumstantial evidence and not enough trail to follow. (Deadly Confidante by Nancy Poore-great reading)

The longest running inmate has been serving his death sentence time being since 1981. We have only executed 1 person in January 1994 after he dropped all his appeals. Now, I understand that inmates are allowed a large amount of appeals when sentenced to death (this is what makes the bill so high, not the actual housing costs)(the price of the 3 drugs that are used costs right around 100.00 total), however, I believe that there will not be any DNA evidence to overturn these earlier crimes if it hasn't been found by now. And, lethal injection is very humane and it doesn't hurt. They are put to sleep before their heart is stopped and they don't feel it. And when people say that it hurts, has anyone ever lived through this process to tell us it hurts?

I have talked to several people on our Idaho death row and several of them have told me that if there was an actual fear of being executed, they would have thought twice about committing the crimes. But, at the time, they had no place to go-many homeless or destitute and they knew they wouldn't be executed, they would get 3 squares a day, a bed to sleep in and cable on tv.

So, before saying that you are so humane that they should not pay for committing their crimes, or at least only pay to a lesser extent, go work in the prison system for a short time and you will discover that you may change your mind based upon what you see and hear.

[maryhaze]

i'm totally in the pro camp. i think it was John Douglas (profiler) who said & i'm paraphrasing this that he'd rather give an innocent victim-to-be a first chance than a convicted killer a 2nd chance. i agree & wonder if anyone else here has read his books?

[grandma]

Great quote Mary! I have to remember that

[Levi]

Originally Posted by maryhaze

i'm totally in the pro camp. i think it was John Douglas (profiler) who said & i'm paraphrasing this that he'd rather give an innocent victim-to-be a first chance than a convicted killer a 2nd chance. i agree & wonder if anyone else here has read his books?

Yes, I like him. I just got done with Anatomy of Motive. And I picked up the book "The Cases that Haunt Us."

[Charon]

I'm once again voicing my 100% support for the DP.

Like SARGE204 have I, as police photographer, seen more than my share of people who died violently. It is incredibly difficult not to wish these perpetrators ill when you witness the monstrous deads most of them are capable of. I always prayed for the victims and their loved ones and I cried for mankind in general.

I have never been victim of violent crime personally. Been shot and shot at, yes, but never in a personal way. I got paid to endure that. What I have witness, however, made this subject very personal. I will die with all those images in my head. That is my sentence, while the perpetrators go on living their wicket lives. May they rot in hell and their way there hastened by the death penalty.

Have a nice day.

[Luke Davis]

Originally Posted by Sharon

So in terms of punishment which do you think is a harsher, the ds or life in prison. In Aust. we seem to be getting alot of suicide attempts from prisoners also. Some lifers are fighting for the right to be able to end their life.

Do you think maybe the ds is a prefered sentence for the perp.? I wont to know which one would make them suffer more, or would that depend on the prison? imo

I think in large part it depends on the person. Someone who is very social could have a difficult time in isolation, while a loner might prefer solitary to being in the genral population.

Speaking for myself, I would want the DS.

[diamond d]

The problem I have with the death penalty is this, the DP is all about revenge against a person who did something horrific to another person. This in itself is the problem, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize that revenge is an act that can only be carried out AFTER an act has been committed, people, would it not be smarter to actually DETER the act from taking place in the first place and we all know by now the DP is not an effective deterrent, so once again my vote is NO to the DP...

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by mrs gates

Before anyone can quote statistics, how many of you have actually worked in a prison with closed custody inmates? I have and as sarge204 knows by being a cop, the death penalty being enforced would actually deter people from committing a haenous crime. We have 19 people under the sentence of death-1 being a woman for killing her children and husband when she set a fire to her house with them inside. She has also been suspected of the deaths of two prior children and several attempts on family members and friends, but because she never stayed in 1 place too long, she made sure there was mostly circumstantial evidence and not enough trail to follow. (Deadly Confidante by Nancy Poore-great reading)

The longest running inmate has been serving his death sentence time being since 1981. We have only executed 1 person in January 1994 after he dropped all his appeals. Now, I understand that inmates are allowed a large amount of appeals when sentenced to death (this is what makes the bill so high, not the actual housing costs)(the price of the 3 drugs that are used costs right around 100.00 total), however, I believe that there will not be any DNA evidence to overturn these earlier crimes if it hasn't been found by now. And, lethal injection is very humane and it doesn't hurt. They are put to sleep before their heart is stopped and they don't feel it. And when people say that it hurts, has anyone ever lived through this process to tell us it hurts?

I have talked to several people on our Idaho death row and several of them have told me that if there was an actual fear of being executed, they would have thought twice about committing the crimes. But, at the time, they had no place to go-many homeless or destitute and they knew they wouldn't be executed, they would get 3 squares a day, a bed to sleep in and cable on tv.

So, before saying that you are so humane that they should not pay for committing their crimes, or at least only pay to a lesser extent, go work in the prison system for a short time and you will discover that you may change your mind based upon what you see and hear.

Im with you here all the way!!!!!!

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by diamond d

The problem I have with the death penalty is this, the DP is all about revenge against a person who did something horrific to another person. This in itself is the problem, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize that revenge is an act that can only be carried out AFTER an act has been committed, people, would it not be smarter to actually DETER the act from taking place in the first place and we all know by now the DP is not an effective deterrent, so once again my vote is NO to the DP...

Of course a society must do its best to ensure that conditions are optimal for not creating monsters. We need to help with unwanted children, poverty, no education, hopelessness, drug abuse etc

But, there is an element in society that is born evil, they are just wired that way, there is nothing anyone can do to deter them. At the very least they should be given the death penalty because it will be the only deterence that will work for them. And this will deter them from hurting their next victim, which is inevitable as long as they are free to mingle in society. imo

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by diamond d

Levi I checked out your link and went over the stats, at first glance I can see how one could draw the conclusion that indeed the DP is a definite deterrent to homicide / murder, however we all know that it is a well known fact that all statistics can be manipulated and skewed to show any result the scientist wants to show. My vote at this point is still, no to the death penalty.

Well, the dp is definately a deterent to their next murder. I think society deserves to be protected from people who feel very entitled to kill for their own pleasure.

In Aust. this year I read of a monstrous crime where 2 brothers raped and killed a retarded woman. They tortured her by gauging out her eyes and biting off her nose. Well guess what, they are proud of what they did and openly say that the b1tch deserved what she got. Life in prison for them meant less than 20 years. One of them remarried and has a child waiting for him. He is getting out this year!!! He should be 6 foot under imo!