The Death Sentence - Yea or nay

Nope. It serves little purpose other than "revenge", which isn't what most justice systems are based on. Death sentences don't cost less money, they don't deter crime, and beyond those two oft-mentioned points, what else is there?

I wouldn't be totally against the death penalty in extreme cases like serial rapists or murderers, terrorists that would kill a lot of people. We don't get extreme crimes here that often though.

The problem is guards have shown that they're not trustworthy enough to be sure the person on death row really deserves to be there. Our legal system is a corrupt mess, our politicians abuse the system for their own gain.

We're not responsible enough to have such a severe punishment and we could negate many of the above problems by behaving differently as a society.

Multiple murders and child molesters, yes.

I used to agree with the death penalty, and still do in theory. You take an innocent life deliberately, you forefeit your own.

However, not in practice due to the possibility of miscarriage of justice.

Winterlong wrote: »

And finally - I would prefer that a life sentence is a life sentence. You take a life - you get life. Death is too easy for some of the animals.

What is the purpose of keeping someone locked up for life, if their crime is such that they no longer deserve the right to be part of society then why continue to house, clothe and feed them? Also it seems a "life sentence" is on average about 12 years.

For a typical 'Mad Dog' type individual, someone like a Charles Manson, who deliberately murdered people, admitted as much, was openly glad to have done so, and would in all probability kill again given half a chance then yes, just kill them and be done with it. There is no point in even thinking of rehabilitation or wasting a cell on such a lost cause. For other situations, life (actual life) imprisonement for severe crimes with no parole is probably sufficient enough punishment. Perhaps those found guilty of such horrible crimes when faced with the prospect of that punishment could be offered a choice. Death by lethal injection or life in prison. I wonder would many when faced with that prospect choose the former?

Yes. But first we need to build more prisons and make them a lot, lot less humane. We need to stop letting people with 100's of previous offences walk free because that is really the injustice in our society.

HigginsJ wrote: »

Out of interest, for those who say no due to possible wronful conviction, what if the convicted person comes out and openly admits that they are indeed guilty and do not fight the charges, would you accept the death penalty in these cases?

Normally a confession would be the result of bargaining. I can't see anyone confessing if the punishment would be the same.

I have voted yay.

The way I would advocate using it would be for serial offenders. People who have a record as long as their arm and who never likely to be 'rehabilitated'.