CPW: The death penalty

kcvasquez · October 2011

There was a story in the news here that got me thinking about this, so how do you feel about the death penalty? Especially when the evidence is very clear they are guilty of the crime?[Poll]

Jessiree · October 2011

There are definitely cases where I think it is justified, but I think it should be reserved for cases where the convicted individual's guilt leaves no room for doubt. Bundy, Manson, Wournos, those types. I also think all appeals should be expedited so people aren't sitting on Death Row for 20 plus years.

star173 · October 2011

I don't know. I used to support it, but as I've gotten older, I am not sure. I'm not sure if the state, basically a handful of people should decide the life/death of another. I don't think they should be set free EVER, if the crime is that heinous, but I'm not sure killing them is a good idea.

Then, I read certain stories and want to kill a person myself for what they've done. Soooooooo, I'm kind of on the fence.

lucky81089 · October 2011

I'm very in between on this. I don't think it's right for us to decide who lives and dies...but then again there are people who do some really horrible stuff and I am not a fan of how much $$ it costs to keep them in prison the rest of their lives....

aeshipley · October 2011

I had read somewhere can't remember where that it actually costs the state more money to execute someone then it does to imprision them for life. I actually think that being imprisioned for life is in someways more of a punishment than the death penalty.

MAMAxB · October 2011

As a Christian.. it's not my decision who dies.

Yes, there are horrible people. But God has grace for EVERYONE.

cschissell · October 2011

I am 100% opposed to it. I have two degrees in Criminal Justice (BA and MS) and nothing I have learned has convinced me of its deterrent effect, cost effectiveness, or accuracy of sentencing. I also am 100% not comfortable with a person or persons ever saying "this person deserves to die". I just don't think that anyone should be able to make that determination regardless of if it is legal or not.

cschissell · October 2011

aeshipley:
I had read somewhere can't remember where that it actually costs the state more money to execute someone then it does to imprision them for life. I actually think that being imprisioned for life is in someways more of a punishment than the death penalty.

This is true. It costs several million dollars (with the appeals process) to put a person to death. It costs several hundred thousand dollars to imprison them for life.

haswelljme · October 2011

Jessiree:
There are definitely cases where I think it is justified, but I think it should be reserved for cases where the convicted individual's guilt leaves no room for doubt. Bundy, Manson, Wournos, those types. I also think all appeals should be expedited so people aren't sitting on Death Row for 20 plus years.

Agreed!

What's the point keeping someone on Death Row for 20 years?

firegirle1 · October 2011

Jessiree:
There are definitely cases where I think it is justified, but I think it should be reserved for cases where the convicted individual's guilt leaves no room for doubt. Bundy, Manson, Wournos, those types. I also think all appeals should be expedited so people aren't sitting on Death Row for 20 plus years.

I am on the fence about this issue. My big reason to be against it any person wrongly executed is a person to many. However if there was say a child killer on tap, DNA evidence and a confession I become less sure of what I think.

spolan · October 2011

An eye for an eye would make the world blind.

kmm2150 · October 2011

As pp said, I think one person wrongly executed is one too many, and there are SO many cases of people being found innocent after being sentenced to death.

I also think that in many cases people who commit the crimes that end up on death row have serious mental issues, and I don't know that it's right to put them to death for that - not that they can ever be totally rehabilitated, but I don't think that's society's/the government's right to put them to death.

And, I also agree with another pp that I would think life in prison would be a much worse punishment for many than being put to death.

Also, I don't know how much this is done, but it seems valuable from a social science/criminology perspective to be able to observe and study people who commit such horrible crimes and possibly learn from them that to put them to death.

Ninasama · October 2011

I'm against it for many it reasons. I agree that one person wrongly executed is too many. I can't imagine having that kind of guilt on my conscience as a juror. Second, it just seems odd to me that the punishment for someone who decides that another deserves to die (i.e. commits murder) is for us to decide that they die. I just can't believe in an eye for an eye. And I don't believe it will ever take the victims' pain and suffering away.

lovinthomas · October 2011

I agree with most here. I believe we do not have the right to sentence a person to death, regardless of the crime. IMO death is an easy way out. I live in a state that carries out the death penalty and this is one of the many reasons why we plan to move out of this state.

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