Should we bring back the death penalty?

[lhancock90]

I think it should but only if u murder someone. an eye for an eye. the reason ppl reffend is becauad its so nice in prison. they get everything it makes me really mad

That has to be one of the most ill-informed comments I've ever read. I give up.

It is sometimes true however.
I watched a show where a man admitted he constantly reoffended because he preferred life on the inside, he had no worries there. Its sad but unfortunately, SOME not all get round to that way of thinking.

 

[Tasha]

In those cases is it not becaus the are institutionalised rather than it simply being nicer or cushty?

 

[joshiesmum]

Maybe if our prisons were like prisons abroad people would think twice about reoffending

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Yes, Tasha is right. With some, it comes down to that they can't even function on the outside.

 

[blondey]

Maybe if our prisons were like prisons abroad people would think twice about reoffending

What where there are no human rights? Prisoners get beaten, starved etc.

I know sometimes The Human Rights Act has a lot to answer for, in terms of being overly lenient etc. However I know I would much rather live in a country where our civil liberties and rights are protected even if prisoners get it cushty.

I don't think the severity of the prison is a deterrent to reoffending in many cases. I mean if that was the case then why do people still murder in America when there's the risk of the death penalty and why are people going to prison in these countries abroad that you speak of?

I'm not saying our prisons couldn't do with being harsher in some cases, however Ii don't think it will have as much of an impact as you think.

 

[lhancock90]

In those cases is it not becaus the are institutionalised rather than it simply being nicer or cushty?

I agree, but do you think if prisons were a little harsher this would be less likely to happen?
I know someone who in prison said it was like "Butlins" surely it shouldn't be that way?

 

[Natsku]

In those cases is it not becaus the are institutionalised rather than it simply being nicer or cushty?

I agree, but do you think if prisons were a little harsher this would be less likely to happen?
I know someone who in prison said it was like "Butlins" surely it shouldn't be that way?

If that was true you'd expect that there would be less crime in countries with harsher prisons and more crime in countries with nicer prisons when in reality its usually the opposite way round.

 

[Dragonfly]

An eye for an eye would make the whole world blind.

I agree however the justice system is messed up, criminals are getting off with things and victims are suffering more from injustice. But I dont agree that the death penalty should be brought back.

 

[pinkpolkadot]

Sorry if I repeat here, I have only skimmed over the replies!

It's hard to put into words how I feel about this but I'll try... when I think about a person killing someone, ending their life, it makes me feel sick to the pit of my stomach. No matter what that person has done, it is still wrong to take a life, no matter which way I look at it. As others have said, I think the word I am looking for is 'barbaric'. Same can be said for other forms of physical punishment (chopping hands off for stealing etc...)

Further to that, from what I can see, stats show that where it is in operation it appears not to be a more effective deterrent anyway, not to mention the comparative cost of keeping a death row inmate (appeals etc...)

On the prison conditions, I have seen a few prison documentaries lately which have really made me sit up and think in a different way about the whole thing. I came across this, not sure if it's right or wrong but it's interesting that the re-offending rate from this 'cushy' prison is the lowest in Europe:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18121914

Yes we want to see our criminals punished but is there any point in prison if they are going to come out just as likely/even more likely to re-offend?

A very interesting topic and one I have significantly changed my stance on in the last few years!

 

[louandivy]

No I do not believe in it. No matter the severity of the crime - I will never believe in 'an eye for an eye' because is not based on justice, but on retribution and vengeance. I honestly really struggle to understand how anyone can see the sense in murder as a punishment for murder.

 

[louandivy]

I don't think it's used enough. I would love to see it used for repeat criminals. If you've been convicted 3 times for the same crime (or progressively worse ones) you're likely not going to stop and shouldn't be continually put back into society (and have more children to repeat the cycle). Keeping someone in prison is very expensive for tax payers. If they start culling the bad ones there will be less of them AND knowing that you are going to DIE if you keep getting in trouble may actually cause some of them to reform themselves vs. the commit a crime get put on probation, repeat, get probation again, repeat, probation again. They REALLY need to have severe consequences to keep people from continually committing crimes.

[edited]

 

[fantastica]

I don't think it's used enough. I would love to see it used for repeat criminals. If you've been convicted 3 times for the same crime (or progressively worse ones) you're likely not going to stop and shouldn't be continually put back into society (and have more children to repeat the cycle). Keeping someone in prison is very expensive for tax payers. If they start culling the bad ones there will be less of them AND knowing that you are going to DIE if you keep getting in trouble may actually cause some of them to reform themselves vs. the commit a crime get put on probation, repeat, get probation again, repeat, probation again. They REALLY need to have severe consequences to keep people from continually committing crimes.

Wow...just wow. Even for petty crimes? I'm pretty sure the death penalty actually costs more than keeping people in prison.

Think they need to work more on rehabilitating prisoners and equipping them with the right skills to go back into society, sometimes a 'life of crime' is all they know. There are reasons some people do the things they do, not every criminal is inherently bad.

I cannot actually believe that this is even a point to consider. The death penalty is just so so so wrong.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

This is one of those things where there is no grey area to most people. They are either for or against. It's so hard to say when you've never been faced with a situation that directly affects you.

 

[lhancock90]

This is one of those things where there is no grey area to most people. They are either for or against. It's so hard to say when you've never been faced with a situation that directly affects you.

Exactly, i can say i'm against it until i'm blue in the face but if someone killed a member of my family? How would i feel then.

 

[Dragonfly]

Good point. Probably be out for blood personally.

 

[louandivy]

This is one of those things where there is no grey area to most people. They are either for or against. It's so hard to say when you've never been faced with a situation that directly affects you.

Exactly, i can say i'm against it until i'm blue in the face but if someone killed a member of my family? How would i feel then.

But justice should not be based on the emotions of the victims.

Of course if someone killed a person I loved I would personally want them dead but that doesn't mean that it is justified. I would still think that the death penalty is immoral.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

This is one of those things where there is no grey area to most people. They are either for or against. It's so hard to say when you've never been faced with a situation that directly affects you.

Exactly, i can say i'm against it until i'm blue in the face but if someone killed a member of my family? How would i feel then.

But justice should not be based on the emotions of the victims.

Of course if someone killed a person I loved I would personally want them dead but that doesn't mean that it is justified. I would still think that the death penalty is immoral.

Should the emotions of the victims be considered?

 

[smelly07]

I think it would be a pretty normal emotion to feel, but doesnt mean its right.

I still cant believe its legal still in some places, i remember a story where arnold schwarzenegger had the right to decide whether a prisoner on death row who had served 19 years and clearly had changed his way should be put to death ........ in my eyes he is no better than the prisoner, actually he is worse........trying to google the story cant find it. x

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I think it would be a pretty normal emotion to feel, but doesnt mean its right.

I still cant believe its legal still in some places, i remember a story where arnold schwarzenegger had the right to decide whether a prisoner on death row who had served 19 years and clearly had changed his way should be put to death ........ in my eyes he is no better than the prisoner, actually he is worse........trying to google the story cant find it. x

Every governor in the US has that right. They can issue a pardon. Trust me though, prisoners can still be manipulative.

 

[smelly07]

i still dont believe that the death penalty is right, nor should anyone legally be given the right to decide that. x

“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” - Martin Luther King.