Is the death penalty effective? [ENDS 27/03/2011]

Is the death penalty effective?

ENDS: 27/03/2011

The death penalty is becoming less commonly used for crimes within legal systems across the world, with it being phased out with life in prison. But many question whether it is an effective deterrent for others. Some argue that it is, for it places a sense of fear in the consequences of his and her actions. Also, if they killed many people, why should they be allowed to live. It is also believed that by using it the crime rates drop significantly. Furthermore, others argue why the tax payer should pay for prisoners to spend their whole like in prison.

On the other hand, some say that it is not effective and should not be used at all due to the fact that two wrongs don't make a right. They claim that it has little effect on crime and does not deter anyone. It is also said to be a barbaric act that should not be practiced in any modern day society. Also, although we may convict someone to a crime, no one is ever 100% sure that the person has committed that crime, sure, the justice system could be 99% sure, but there is always this net where things can pass through.

All in all an interesting topic that can be debates from various perspectives for a long time.

People will always commit crimes, including ones where the death penalty is the punishment. Why? Because when you commit murder, the last thing going through your mind is "I wonder what I'd get for doing this?" Actions tend to be on the spot, with little to no rational thought.

I never want to see it in the civilised Western World, where murder can be legalised and hints that a life is worth nothing in the eyes of the state. It isn't effective, just look at countries considered "barbaric" in comparison to ours where a legal system barely exists - they kill their own people for little to no reason, and the standard quality of life is incredibly low - living in constant fear. Life imprisonment, or prison in general, may not be perfect, but it's better than proving that man is a violent creature in a suit. If anything, we should be making prisons harsher - make life on earth hell for them, not let them out the easy way :P

I'm going to be making a similar argument here to the one i made in the debate on torture. I used to think that the death penalty should be used in some cases. However as i got older i realised that it is morally wrong to have a death penalty. The main reason though i would have for not having a death penalty would be that it's impossible to be 100% sure a person commited the crime. I saw a great film about this a while back "The life of David Gale". At least if a person didn't commit a crime and they are in prison, all is not lost for them in the end.

If it was possible for a person to be 100% definately guilty, then i would be a lot more likely to support the death penalty. However even then there is something morally wrong with killing people "legally" in a modern western society.

The death penalty is probably the best idea the world of Criminal Justice invented - and they're not using it.

Obviously people will commit crime regardless, but the majority of people will be scared of the consequences and will therefore not commit crime.

I think that "tough sentences" simply aren't enough. As "life" can become 20 years, or even 10 with good behaviour. LIFE should mean LIFE. Sorry, but it's appalling how the public are mislead that a murderer will be sentenced "for life" and then he is released 15 years later on "good behaviour".

I think the American legal system is far better than our own. Ours is based on forgiveness and rehabilitation. Some people are so ****** you CANNOT rehabilitate them, and you SHOULD just help the planet by killing them.

In my view crimes that should get death are: (mass) murder, terrorism/treason, and attempted murder. As long as the jury & judge are 100% sure. That is my only thing. I think the judge should be 100% sure they are guilty, and the offender be able to appeal and take it to a higher court if necessary.

But I agree 110% with the death penalty.

Another point Grig said - "life" sentences cost the tax payer money. Our prisons are already overflowing and it costs a fortune to run. Rid our country of some of the disgusting murderers that are in there and save us money at the same time by introducing the death penalty.

All in all, the death penalty does no harm. It saves us money, keeps the jails emptier, lowers crime levels and rids the world of horrible people who do not deserve to live, but somehow do in a stupid and idiotic justice system.

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Originally Posted by GommeInc

People will always commit crimes, including ones where the death penalty is the punishment. Why? Because when you commit murder, the last thing going through your mind is "I wonder what I'd get for doing this?" Actions tend to be on the spot, with little to no rational thought.

I never want to see it in the civilised Western World, where murder can be legalised and hints that a life is worth nothing in the eyes of the state. It isn't effective, just look at countries considered "barbaric" in comparison to ours where a legal system barely exists - they kill their own people for little to no reason, and the standard quality of life is incredibly low - living in constant fear. Life imprisonment, or prison in general, may not be perfect, but it's better than proving that man is a violent creature in a suit. If anything, we should be making prisons harsher - make life on earth hell for them, not let them out the easy way :P

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So you are against abortion and euthanasia then?

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Originally Posted by GommeInc

when you commit murder, the last thing going through your mind is "I wonder what I'd get for doing this?" Actions tend to be on the spot, with little to no rational thought

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I'm not a murderer so I don't know this first hand, but a huge number of murders are found to be premeditated - that's why there's a legal distinction between a planned murder and killing in "hot blood"

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Originally Posted by GommeInc

It isn't effective, just look at countries considered "barbaric" in comparison to ours where a legal system barely exists - they kill their own people for little to no reason, and the standard quality of life is incredibly low - living in constant fear

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Not sure how to approach this part as it's worded rather odd. Do you mean that in our country a legal system barely exists or in those countries considered barbaric? Furthermore, what does that have to do with the death penalty? Parts of America still use capital punishment and that's not generally considered a barbaric country or one where the standard of living is extremely low, nor do their citizens live in constant fear. That's another point I don't quite get, as surely introducing the death penalty would only cause "constant fear" if every single illegal activity was punished in that way - I can't imagine people consciously thinking "oh my, I'd best not murder anyone today" and choosing a sheltered life just in case

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Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

I'm not a murderer so I don't know this first hand, but a huge number of murders are found to be premeditated - that's why there's a legal distinction between a planned murder and killing in "hot blood"



Not sure how to approach this part as it's worded rather odd. Do you mean that in our country a legal system barely exists or in those countries considered barbaric? Furthermore, what does that have to do with the death penalty? Parts of America still use capital punishment and that's not generally considered a barbaric country or one where the standard of living is extremely low, nor do their citizens live in constant fear. That's another point I don't quite get, as surely introducing the death penalty would only cause "constant fear" if every single illegal activity was punished in that way - I can't imagine people consciously thinking "oh my, I'd best not murder anyone today" and choosing a sheltered life just in case

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You said it. People won't live in constant fear. Only those who are criminals would? If you're a law-abiding citizen you have nothing to worry about - tbh you should be happy that dangerous criminals are being killed rather than being let out of jail after 10 years.

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Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

I'm not a murderer so I don't know this first hand, but a huge number of murders are found to be premeditated - that's why there's a legal distinction between a planned murder and killing in "hot blood"

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So when planning they calculate how many years they will be in prison? It is still the last thing going through their minds :P Criminal Psychology suggests that the planning process completely misses out the punishment, as the only thing they care about is seeking revenge or killing someone for the sake of it. Afterall, if you're crazy enough to want to kill someone (or seriously injure someone, but it results in death), then you're probably lacking a few cogs in the old brain department to even comprehend what happens after the attack. In recent years, the number of murders has died down, adding capital punishment to what is now becoming a non-problem seems all too much, especially when premeditated attacks will always exist.

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Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

Not sure how to approach this part as it's worded rather odd. Do you mean that in our country a legal system barely exists or in those countries considered barbaric? Furthermore, what does that have to do with the death penalty? Parts of America still use capital punishment and that's not generally considered a barbaric country or one where the standard of living is extremely low, nor do their citizens live in constant fear. That's another point I don't quite get, as surely introducing the death penalty would only cause "constant fear" if every single illegal activity was punished in that way - I can't imagine people consciously thinking "oh my, I'd best not murder anyone today" and choosing a sheltered life just in case

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Depends on your prospective. America is quite barbaric when you look at any statistics about gun crime, capital punishment and any other crimes. To be fair, allowing "the right to bare arms" in that country is bound to cause trouble anyway. The constant fear analogy revolves around the idea that if the state considered legal murder appropriate then the country itself must be a relatively unpleasant one. I'd hate to live in a country where murder becomes justified, even if it is to punish (albeit, a small number of) wrong doers.

I don't think there's any justifiable reason to bring back capital punishment when the majority of prisoners are involved in quite small crimes when being put infront of the idea of the ultimate punishment of death. The only people who would have it are murderers (or manslaughter cases), and seeing as that statistic is dropping in favour of theft. The costs are said to be horrific too, seeing as there has been extensive research done and in the US it takes years for someone on death row to meet their maker.

EDIT: Oh, and capital punishment isn't a deterrent - the US have had it for years and people still commit crimes that result in the death sentence, with a flux of results where it goes up and down. It should only be brought back if there are huge numbers of crimes. If it starts to deter people, then what was the point brining it back for such a small number of criminals? :P Waste of money reinstigating it.

EDIT 2: Knife crime seems to be rising too, though it's rare for a case to result in death.

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Originally Posted by Conservative,

The death penalty is probably the best idea the world of Criminal Justice invented - and they're not using it.

Obviously people will commit crime regardless, but the majority of people will be scared of the consequences and will therefore not commit crime.

I think that "tough sentences" simply aren't enough. As "life" can become 20 years, or even 10 with good behaviour. LIFE should mean LIFE. Sorry, but it's appalling how the public are mislead that a murderer will be sentenced "for life" and then he is released 15 years later on "good behaviour".

I think the American legal system is far better than our own. Ours is based on forgiveness and rehabilitation. Some people are so ****** you CANNOT rehabilitate them, and you SHOULD just help the planet by killing them.

In my view crimes that should get death are: (mass) murder, terrorism/treason, and attempted murder. As long as the jury & judge are 100% sure. That is my only thing. I think the judge should be 100% sure they are guilty, and the offender be able to appeal and take it to a higher court if necessary.

But I agree 110% with the death penalty.

Another point Grig said - "life" sentences cost the tax payer money. Our prisons are already overflowing and it costs a fortune to run. Rid our country of some of the disgusting murderers that are in there and save us money at the same time by introducing the death penalty.

All in all, the death penalty does no harm. It saves us money, keeps the jails emptier, lowers crime levels and rids the world of horrible people who do not deserve to live, but somehow do in a stupid and idiotic justice system.

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lol sorry what? just read back what you put there, lol.

i personally don't agree with the death sentence, just because i see it as morally wrong and have similar views to what gomme does on the situation.

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Originally Posted by benjamin

lol sorry what? just read back what you put there, lol.

i personally don't agree with the death sentence, just because i see it as morally wrong and have similar views to what gomme does on the situation.

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I meant to society. Obviously it kills the guilty offender, but to society and in general, it doesn't harm anyone other than that guilty criminal.