BellaOnline Forums News and Politics Crime Death Penalty....Yes or No?

Hi everyone,
Executions were halted in Florida and California after a botched execution in Florida this week. Angel Diaz was convicted of killing a strip club manager in a botched burglary and sentenced to Death Row. His execution appeared to have taken almost 2x's as long as any other lethal injection in Florida's history of execution's. Read the full story to learn more about what may have gone wrong.

The link to the full story below:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/15/diaz.execution.ap/index.html

How do you feel about the death penalty? <img src="/images/graemlins/fish.gif" alt="" />

I'm not sure which choice is better, although I dislike death penalty but guess preserving some mad killer and severe murderer, would waste a lot of money and beside its dangerous for society.
<img src="/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />

Hi Babak,

Welcome to the Crime Forum!

Actually the statistics show that keeping a prisoner on death row is more costly that keeping a prisoner sentenced for life.

I do not quite understand how that statistic works out as being more costly myself however, I suppose being on death row and having to have the prisoners more isolated may mean more overhead and more space and more people power etc.

I personally feel we are a little too lenient in our country with plea bargains and letting people off on technicalities.
I wish we had more mandatory sentencing for certain crimes and no pleaing down to a lesser crime.

Instead of letting people off on technicalities why not start fining the person who made the error for the technicality. I bet he or she would only do it once and they would quickly go out and spread the word on what not to do if they messed up.

There has to be a better way!

There is an awesome site for more information on all aspects of the death penalty at:
Death Penalty Information Center

Including a great history of the death penalty over the past 50 years.

Again welcome to the Crime Forum and please come back and visit often I enjoy your commentary! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

"I wish we had more mandatory sentencing for certain crimes and no pleaing down to a lesser crime."

I like the way you put that. It's true, people get away with murder, literally.

As far as the death penalty.... I have mixed feelings. Part of me thinks, if someone takes the life of another, for ANY reason it's still murder, and in that sense is still wrong. Also, sentencing them to death, is basically letting them not have to feel their guilt or shame or whatever. If they have to live with what they did, and have all their human rights taken away, and left alone with no chance of getting out, and they have nothing in life, isn't that punishment enough? Some would say yes, some would say no. If you end their life, then they don't have to deal with anything. They don't have to think about what they did.

Or what about if they are wrongfully accused of something, and they are put to death for something they didn't do?!

But at the same time, it probably gives relief to the victims family that there is one less rapist, or killer out there.

I don't know.. It's such an interesting topic... I could go on, but it can get confusing.

Hi Lala21,

Welcome to the crime forum!



Unfortunately I do not think living in prison nowadays in living with what they did is necessarily all punishment. One warden wanted to take away the playstation games and was told if he did he would likely have a riot. The prisoners "need" their fun time or they will go crazy. I agree they need outlets to express their energy like basket ball and exercise, but prisoners have comforts many americans cannot afford monthly.



I have to say I was never so relieved as I was the day TImothy McVeigh left this Earth. I felt had he ever left or escaped prison he would have no problem killing more people.



Sadly not everyone in prison is not guilty, that is a proven fact. The death penalty should only be used in cases where there is conclusive DNA evidence that can prove the person is the perpetrator. If there is any doubt what so ever than I believe that the death penalty should not be an option.



The death penalty is a difficult subject and causes mixed feelings for me also. I think that is a good sign, anyone that says thay are all for or all against something I don't believe considers all sides of the topic at hand.

hey!

I dont think that the way prison is nowadays in punishment enough. They get to do whatever they want in prison. Phone calls, games, tv, movies, - they basically live their normal life, except in one building. But I do think that if they had all of that taken away it might be more of a punishment.

Gotta go.. be back later <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The paradox is- we kill someone.
But want him/her to get killed peacefully.

Hi cdmohatta,

Welcome to the crime forum!

I see you came a long way ~ India.
My best friend and his wife are living and working in India.
I hope to visit your country one day.



I have to agree with you, although, I have advocated bringing back public hangings in the townsquare on Saturday at highnoon for quite sometime now.

I think we keep punishment too clean in America.

The biggest problem I have noted as a child adolescent Psych RN and as a mother in today's world...there is no accountability for one's actions.

<img src="/images/graemlins/fish.gif" alt="" />

Death?
No. Unequivocally.

Humiliation in public stocks, (for petty crimes, such as burglary)and being pelted with rotten fruit, eggs and smelly cheese? Yes.

Having a hand removed for aggravated assault?
Yes.

Public flogging for grievioius bodily harm? Go for it.

Castration for rape and sexual assault? Won't do it again, will they?


Used to work.

Could work again.

But killing? No Sorry. I draw the line.

Thanks Erika for your kind sentences.

For what reason we use dead penalty. Maybe first of all, people before committed huge crime aware of this severe punishment, then for preserve society in peace and secure.
Yes hang a guy is so difficult, getting anyone life is inhumanity but what can we do?
I somewhat agree with lala, it isn�t proper punishment if some one have convenience situation in prison but in the other hand he/she is human anyway.

If anybody kill my daughter surely killed me too, a murderer is a family killer I think.
Personally not different for me if that guy has more severe punishment, I rather to see his/her hang up or be in prison before committed the crime not after.



Hope this test and DNA observation become mandatory and then psychologists work on him/her to find out how many risk is in. and maybe find some way to preserve society from them.

Yeah maybe if it happen for me or some one who I loved so much that commited and involve in a major crime, then maybe I show anther opinion!

I guess It�s really so complicated to tell an exact opinion about it perhaps need more information and statistics.
In here our laws are so different from you but in our society we talk about dead sentence too.