The risk with the whole reform them stance is knowing when the reform is successful. I'd rather not find out that the reform didn't work when more dead bodies show up in a dumpster. You are putting society at risk when you put concerns for the murder/serial killer first.

Dillenger's point about studying them does have some merit. We should be studying them.

chris also makes a good point about how lax the American justice system is. Capital punishment is not a deterrent if the sentence is never carried out. There are too many prisoners on Death Row for 5, 10 or more years. If you hand out a death sentence, then carry it out. Otherwise, don't bother and just sentence them to life behind bars.