This is why I’m against the death penalty. “Department of Corrections” is such a misnomer for our penal system, which is much more accurate. The focus is on penalties, not on reform.
The other argument in favor of the death penalty is that it acts as a deterrent, making potential criminals think twice before they do something bad. Show me a (long-term) correlation between increased penalties and reduced crime; you won’t find it. People don’t think that way. Immediate gains win over delayed loss. That’s why our society is also eating, drinking, and smoking ourselves to death.
It took me a long time to really figure out where I stand with this one, but I think I agree with you Dinh (for now at least).
I don’t think that the death penalty acts as a deterrent at all, especially not if you’re already committing the magnitude of crime that warrants a death penalty.
Really, the only reason I could see to defend capital punishment would be to allow a sense of retribution or closure for the family. I think an ideal situation would be for a murderer to contribute a lifetime of work to the family or community.