Life in Prison or Execution?

[jag312]

I have been involved with 13 death penalty cases during my career. For some of the defendants, the death penalty is well deserved. For others, it was not, in my opinion. There have also been cases where the defendant was sentenced to life, with or without parole, and I feel the death penalty was more appropriate. Sometimes I think there should be a third option; life at hard labor at a labor camp somewhere near Nome, Alaska.

 

[rwsmith]

If it's that clear cut....

I used to say 'kill and you die', especially with senseless killings of helpless people but I've recently started changing my mind. After all of these cases where people are exonerated after years in prison. If it's no question and clear cut, I'd just as soon administer capital punishment. But if there is ANY doubt, even a 'shadow' I'd go for life. There's always a chance something will come to light but if you 'do' them, it's just too late.

PS I didn't vote because I can't automatically say yes or no.

 

[Broke Hoss]

Yes, the system failed him. But that, alone, does not mediate his actions. I would like to know of any other crimes he has been convicted of.

I do not feel the death penalty should be taken lightly & it certainly is not a deterrent. But there are some crimes & criminals that are so heinous that it is the only reasonable option.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Most people have no idea of prison conditions. The food is not good, health and mental health inadequate, prisoners are made to work for pennies, or nothing at all, and their labor in many cases sold for a profit. A profit that often goes not to the state, but into a handful of pockets.

Going into prison as a child rapist and killer means being at the bottom of the pecking order. Unless that state has one of the rare facilities just for such offenders, life in prison likely is its own death sentence.

If you want the guy to suffer, then you would want him in prison. Bad food, beatings, being someone's property, and likely being killed by other inmates.

I do not agree with the death penalty for libertarian reasons, I.e. do not entrust that power to the government. The way to handle a case like this is you let the parent who lost a child kill the guy. Then you try the parent for murder, but with a jury that will vote not guilty.

 

[Gamecock]

Defective person, without human grace.

I don't care how he got that way.

 

[CajunBass]

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Matthew 7:2

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

John 8:7

The older I get the less inclined I am to call for vengeance.

Because I have been shown much mercy by my Lord, I must extend mercy also.

I vote for imprisonment.

 

[James&theGiant1911]

Even if he gets the death penalty he will never be executed, since the drugs are listed and the global pharma companies no longer make the drugs necessary to carry it out. So, word is that eventually they will bring the electric chair back but do not think that will happen.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

47 posts and no lock! Well done lads well done. Very thought provoking responses-very thoughtful indeed.

 

[transit]

Even if he gets the death penalty he will never be executed, since the drugs are listed and the global pharma companies no longer make the drugs necessary to carry it out. So, word is that eventually they will bring the electric chair back but do not think that will happen.

That's another keen observation.

Why is it that an individual can go to Oregon, for example, get a prescription, and pick up the drugs to commit suicide at the pharmacy, but a state's correctional apparatus cannot secure the required materials for a chemical execution?

I'm thinking only of the logistics of the thing.

The Dutch, or whoever, don't like capital punishment, so U.S. states "can't" obtain lethal drugs. But I can relocate to the west coast, and all I'll need is the scrip and the co-pay.

 

[mg357]

the whole thing is one big awful mess but I say EXCUTION!

 

[dougb1946]

The death penalty does not prevent crimes. It does lower the rate of recidivism.

The Old Testament, written before God got religion, mandated death for a few acts:

“Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man” (Genesis 9:6).

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, the avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.( Romans 13:3-4)

Reports have shown that it costs more to execute a person than to store them behind bars and walls. Modern medicine may have changed that.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Perhaps if we spent as much on a state's social services for the year as a single NBA game things might change. As it is, we get social service people who make less in a year than Lebron James gets for missing a single free throw.

 

[PALADIN85020]

John

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Tough case and sorry that Holly fell through the cracks of the DHS system and he himself was a child being abused! But he took a young innocent child's life!
Sorry folks when someone does this sort of thing to a child there is only one way for me to vote if I was on that jury!

We have to keep in mind that social services agencies have a vested interest in maintaining as many cases as possible, and for as long as possible. If a solution is found and effectively achieved there is no longer a need for social services. Come budget time it helps to be able to present a huge, even overwhelming case load to justify higher budgets, more employees, more administrative and supervisory positions, etc.

Throughout the 20th Century the United States moved steadily away from a focus on punishment toward a focus on rehabilitation, supported by statistics showing a recidivism rate of 30%-plus (percentage of those released from prison that were again convicted). Now, with a focus nearly 100% on rehabilitation, recidivism rates have more than doubled.

Say what you want about death penalty vs. incarceration/treatment programs/etc, but the simple fact remains that the death penalty pretty much eliminates recidivism. Punishment does not work perfectly, but it seems to work better than any form of rehabilitation.

 

[cowart]

Just look at Manson. He was sentenced to life without parole, yet he keeps having parole hearings. WHY??

Incorrect - he was originally sentenced to death, which was allowed in California at that time.

A footnote to the conclusion of California v. Anderson, the 1972 decision that neutralized California's death sentences, stated, "Any prisoner now under a sentence of death … may file a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the superior court inviting that court to modify its judgment to provide for the appropriate alternative punishment of life imprisonment or life imprisonment without possibility of parole specified by statute for the crime for which he was sentenced to death."

This made Manson eligible to apply for parole after seven years' incarceration.

 

[red14]

Bad things happen to everyone. No one is perfect, and we all fall short of grace. Environment, circumstances, upbringing, and many other factors affect us throughout our lives. But, I believe how we react to those things (good or bad) is more important than those actions.

I learned a long time ago there were two things you can do to most bad situations/actions. The first real job I ever had was at a steel mill. I leaned on a I-beam someone had just used a torch on, when I wasn't looking. When I put my hand down, it didn't burn at first, so I left my hand there for a few seconds. Then it started to burn, and it didn't stop! Even after I put salve on it and bandaged it up, it hurt for three or four days. I asked the guy who was using the torch why he didn't tell me it was hot and he replied, no one told him when he got burned, and wanted to teach me a lesson (he said I would remember it better). Well, when the same situation happened a few days later, and I was doing the cutting, I warned the poor slob to move his hand. You see, I was brought up with the Golden Rule.

That being said, that 'person' who killed that child had a choice, and chose to torture and kill. I chose the death penalty because he is a monster, and I just don't care how a monster is created, it must be destroyed.

A great number of violent offenders are repeat offenders, and most pedophiles are never rehabilitated.

 

[Rogue Wizard]

I'm a bit of a hard arse.... excuses, excuses. I've know people who have had a really really really (did I mention really?) rancid upbringing. They turned into fine upstanding folk. Time to cleanse the gene pool....

 

[jackvs1]

For all those who voted kill him, read below and let us know if the vote changes, be honest with yourself.

In my latter years of with the NYSP I instructed at two colleges - the course "Ethics in Criminal Justice." Here is the questions I posed; Do you believe in the death penalty, most of the class did (I had those who said yes raise their hands, next question was, if it was a friend who was on death row, do you still believe in the death penalty, a few more hands came down, then I asked if it was a relative on death row do you still believe in the death penalty, more hands came down. I finally asked if it was your son or daughter on death row, etc, even more hands came down.

For these reasons I do not believe in it, lock the killer up and throw the key away.

 

[DeadAye]

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:2
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.
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And there ya go...
Torture and kill a 6 year old and ye too shall be put to death.
Seems fair to me.

This is a secret ballet - Right?

 

[Gamecock]

This is a secret ballet - Right?

No dancing here.