Jamie_L

I think there is something to the "cost-benefit" analysis, so long as the "costs" accurately reflect issues such as liberty, rights, ethics, etc.

We've hammered the supposed costs of the death penalty. Now, here's the flip side of the question:

What are the supposed benefits of the death penalty?

As best I can tell, these are the commonly asserted ones:

1) Deterent - People will commit fewer horrible crimes if they fear execution.
2) Closure for Victims families - Victims need executions to allow them to gain solace, feel safe, and gain closure.
3) Justice - It's not fair for killers and murderers to live. There is a moral imperative (maybe that's overstating it, maybe not) to punish these criminals by execution.

As I've said, I take issue with all of these benefits, but for now, I just ask does anyone have other potential benefits to add to the list?

Jamie

The AntiChris

Jamie_L

This doesn't answer your question, but one of your listed "benefits" raises a question for me:

Why is there no apparent moral imperative to rape rapists, torture torturers, abuse abusers...?

Chris

Happy Wonderer

I think that an issue that resonates with a lot of death penalty supporters is "permanance." Due to (well-intentioned) quirks in California's parole system, you have the spectacle of Charles Manson going for a parole hearing every five years. (As if he is going to actually be released....)

I think people are afraid that the "libs" will get power in their state and release all the murderers and really awful people we have serving life sentences. Of course, the morality of killing someone just to keep someone else from releasing them in the future is questionable, at best...

HW

Triple Six

I have no problem with the death penalty for first degree murder or for serial rapists. I wouldn't have a problem with LWOP either as both effectively remove the offender from a society they are not fit to be a member of. The inabilty of the "justice" system to follow through with LWOP is a real worry though. Examples where it doesn't are the latest machinations of the ever more absurd European Court of Human Rights and the widespread early release of murderous thugs from both sides in Northern Ireland in the name of political expediency.

One other point to ponder, the DNA technology that has highlighted past miscarriages of justice also makes future convictions that much more certain, it works both ways and weakens the wrong conviction argument.

Totalitarianist

I disagree with you 100%. The death penalty works, only if done correctly. If a man is to be caught stealing, killing, drinking alcohol, etc., he should be instantly shot in the head by an elite police officer. There'd doubtless be far less crime.

The Eliter Police would be a special kind of police force where the select few are specially educated from a child to be both judge and excecutioner.

Who's with me?

[ May 31, 2002: Message edited by: Trebaxian Vir ]</p>

Baloo

I would be, but I see some shortcomings. For instance, have you given any thought as to who will protect the Elite Police Officers from the plotting of villainous groups, like the Secret Order of Evil Ninjas? Perhaps you ought to consider some sort of supreme "Protector of Justice", who will be equipped with futuristic antigravitational technology, so he'll have the ability to fly, and will have microscopic lasers implanted in his corneas, so he can zap bad guys with his eyes. Ooh! Ooh! And he'll be genetically engineered and loaded with hyper-advanced steroids to give him the strength of 10 men, too! The Ninja's Secret Order won't have a chance!

Vorkosigan

SCENE: THE AFRICAN PLAINS. A DUST DEVIL WHIRLS IN THE DISTANCE. IN THE FOREGROUND, A BOY WATERS CATTLE AT A MUDDY WATERHOLE

CAMERA PANS TO: A LAND ROVER.

TIME PASSES. THE LAND ROVER STRUGGLES DOWN THE HEAVILY RUTTED ROADS. THE DUST DEVIL BLOWS BY. SLOWLY THE ROVER MAKES ITS WAY TOWARD THE BOY.

IT PULLS UP, THROUGH THE CATTLE, WHICH SCATTER FROM ITS PATH. IT SHRIEKS TO A HALT AT THE LIP OF THE WATER HOLE.

A HEAD POKES OUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. IT IS A RUDDY-COMPLEXIONED, OVERWEIGHT, MAN.

Man: Have you seen the Troll Hunter, son?

&lt;Boy shakes head, pokes mud with a stick. Land Rover drives off&gt;

dangin

Just curious TV, could you list the crimes you think are worthy of instant judgement and execution.

If drinking alcohol is one of them, I've just got to see the whole list.

Jamie_L

Okay, so the new list of potential death penalty benefits (from the pro-DP point of view):

1) Public safety - Dead people don't get out of prison. Live people can a) escape, and b) get released by softy liberals in the future.
2) Deterent - People will commit fewer horrible crimes if they fear execution.
3) Closure for Victims' families - Victims need executions to allow them to gain solace, feel safe, and gain closure.
4) Justice - It's not fair for killers and murderers to live. There is a moral imperative (maybe that's overstating it, maybe not) to punish these criminals by execution.

Now, potential costs (from the anti-DP point of view):

1) Immorality - barbaric, vengeful, bloodthirsty, etc. Civilized societies don't do this sort of thing.
2) Violence begats violence - Some argue that a society that condones this kind of violence sends a message to its people that violence is okay. Thus, it encourages violence.
3) Executing innocents - Innocents may get executed because a) people/government mistakenly convict the wrong person, b) people/government may intentionally convict (or help convict) the wrong person. Execution of innocents should go beyond mere numbers because an enlightened government should protect the rights of its citizens even at the expense of protecting the rights of people guilty of crimes.
3a) Guilty escape punishment - Once an innocent (believed to be guilty) is executed, there if virtually no incintive for anyone to pursue the real guilty party. An innocent in prison may keep pushing the issue, and help bring the truth to light.

Comments?

Now all we have to do is weight them against each other. That shouldn't be hard, right?

Jamie

The AntiChris

How about the effects of death by execution on the condemned person's family and friends? They'll suffer as much as the victim's family and friends and they're equally "innocent".

Chris