27 replies to this topic

[Wino]

I am not sure if capital punishment deters murder or not. If I had to guess, I would say probably not. I have always heard that most murders are unplanned or more impulsive, usually between individuals that know each other. With all the drug gangs and drive-by shootings, that premise might not hold true anymore. I don’t know.



There have been many studies to determine whether capital punishment deters crime. The proponents always site the study in the mid-1970, where they concluded that execution deterred about 7 or 8 murders. I do not think anyone was able to replicate the outcome of that study. Seems the overwhelming studies tend to be inconclusive or say capital punishment is not a deterrent.



If the states are forced to spend millions of dollars on keeping the death penalty, I would think those millions would be better spent for more policemen and law enforcement work.

[Bob]

Wino, on 23 October 2009 - 09:46 PM, said:

If the states are forced to spend millions of dollars on keeping the death penalty, I would think those millions would be better spent for more policemen and law enforcement work.[/size][/font]

I'd vote to use those dollars to go ask the fifth grade teachers to identify the screwed-up kids in their classrooms - and then have some intervention (psychological, family assistance, etc.) that'll help the kid not become a juvenile offender (and, later, an adult offender) in the first place. Intervention much after the age of 10-12 is pretty much a lost cause.

[Thaimo]

Bob, on 25 October 2009 - 02:45 AM, said:

I'd vote to use those dollars to go ask the fifth grade teachers to identify the screwed-up kids in their classrooms - and then have some intervention

I have two problems with that. The first would be to wonder if the teachers would be able to find any fifth graders who aren't already screwed up. The second would be to question about the intervention. It seems to me that ever since about the early 1960s any time people start 'intervening' with school kids the whole system gets steadily worse and the ones doing the intervening leave behind kids who are more screwed up than they already were.

[Bob]

Thaimo, on 25 October 2009 - 03:04 AM, said:

I have two problems with that. The first would be to wonder if the teachers would be able to find any fifth graders who aren't already screwed up. The second would be to question about the intervention. It seems to me that ever since about the early 1960s any time people start 'intervening' with school kids the whole system gets steadily worse and the ones doing the intervening leave behind kids who are more screwed up than they already were.

I can understand your reservations....but the alternative is to do nothing and watch the prison population increase (3 or 4 years ago, the US overtook Russia as being the #1 modern country with the highest percentage of its adult population in prison). By the way, most 5th graders are perfectly fine.

[WannaGo]

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If I had to guess, I would say probably not. I have always heard that most murders are unplanned or more impulsive, usually between individuals that know each other.

One of the primary characteristics of any person who engages in frequent criminal behavior is low impulse control. For that reason, I have serious doubts about the deterrent effect of the death penalty on anyone other than the person executed.

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I'd vote to use those dollars to go ask the fifth grade teachers to identify the screwed-up kids in their classrooms - and then have some intervention...

I think a significant number of future offenders are going to offend regardless of intervention.

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Some people say the death penalty is only revenge. I don't see anything wrong with revenge. If someone close to me was murdered, I would want the revenge. If I myself am ever murdered, I would want the person who did it to pay heavily for the crime. I wouldn't be around to see it, but I would still want the revenge.

You're right, vengeance certainly has its place.

[Wino]

WannaGo, on 25 October 2009 - 11:31 PM, said:

You're right, vengeance certainly has its place.

Vengeance might make you feel good for a while but if you can find room in your heart for forgiveness, it is much better for you in the long run.

[WannaGo]

Wino, on 28 October 2009 - 10:02 PM, said:

Vengeance might make you feel good for a while but if you can find room in your heart for forgiveness, it is much better for you in the long run.

Nope...trust me.

[Wino]

WannaGo, on 30 October 2009 - 12:50 AM, said:

Nope...trust me.

No, trust me. It eats you up and leaves you empty-hearted.