Death Sentence in the USA

[UKnjb]

Can convicted killers be rehabilitated?* Or if they no longer languish on Death Row and are released, will they kill again?* For her book Back From The Dead, American lawyer JOAN CHEEVER has gone to the heart of the question and interviewed the convicted killers who escaped Death Row during the few months in the 1970s when the death penalty was abolished in the United States.* Back From The Dead: One Woman’s Search For The Men Who Walked Off America’s Death Row is published by Wiley.

There was an interesting interview with Joan Cheever on BBC Radio4's "Start The Week" this morning. You can listen to the programme here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/starttheweek) (needs Real Time - she is the second interview on the programme, about a third of the way into the programme) and I would welcome any comments from American MR members about what she has to say.

[stubeeef]

not loading realtime.

But, I am against the death penalty for a multitude of reasons. I am also considered a right wing christian facist by many here. So I may be out of the norm.

[blackfox]

I am also considered a right wing christian facist by many here. So I may be out of the norm.
aww...come on now Stu, I don't think that's fair - I don't consider you as such.

It is fascist btw.

[skunk]

I am also considered a right wing christian facist by many here.Who is? Little old you? Nah. I know it's all a front.;)

[gekko513]

But, I am against the death penalty for a multitude of reasons.
*hugs stubeef*

At least we agree on one thing. :)

[FFTT]

If our legal system could truly prove guilt beyond
all reasonable doubt, I wouldn't show any kindness
to those guilty of violent crimes.

The cost to keep a violent criminal incarcerated costs
the tax payer somewhere between $20-$50,000 per year.

Even though some may feel that these criminals should spend the rest of their lives being punished
for what they have done,
I don't think it's right to burden others when someone has shown a total disregard for human life.

[solvs]

Those on death row are there for years anyway, and appeals are very expensive. Even if it was cheaper though (which it often isn't), do we really want to use cost analysis when it comes to human life? Sometimes I want people to die for their crimes too, it's only human nature, but how are we better than they are if we treat life just as (pardon the pun) cheaply?

[FFTT]

Our legal system does make it difficut to separate degree of guilt beyond
all doubt.

There are cases however where there is no doubt and where the severity
of the crime demands swift justice.

[mpw]

I don't have a problem with the concept of taking a life as punisment for certain crimes at all, however I do have a problem with the legal systems of most countries not being up to the task of making the 'right' judgement. There's always going to be mistakes and having taken life in error it's impossible to correct. That said it's impossible to give back 20years of freedom when a long term prisoner is found innocent too.

I'd have no problem sending a criminal to his death if it were proven that they were responsible for the crime accused AND that they were likely to re-offend in released.

If someone is guilty of murder but it could be shown that the likelyhood of them offending again was negligble then I have some difficulty with condemming them to death and feel they should spend an appropriate time in jail.

But then I also feel that the cost to the taxpayer to keep criminals in jail is far too high the figure of $50,000pa was mentioned above, and I don't doubt it, but here the figure was quoted as ~£39,000pa (~US$74,000) about 5years ago which represents 177% of the average income. Assuming the cost has risen in line with average wages the present cost would be in the region of £50kpa (US$94kpa)

[xsedrinam]

The Justice Project charges that one of the central problems is a "broken system" (http://www.thejusticeproject.org/problem/), a Judicial System which is inefficient, inaccurate, incompetent and irresponsible as it continues to wield the sword or pull the lever in the name of due process and justice. Since capital punishment was reestablished in the U.S. in the 70's more than eighty capital cases have been reversed. The leading state is Florida.