Death penalty

[Quietus]

It.... is... like... talking to a bloody brick wall.

May I suggest you please read some of my posts, because to be frank you are talking rubbish.

You're saying people who commit murder is not 'abhorrent' enough?

What do you propose they do to the London Bombers when caught?

People killing innocent people is one thinking.
Death penalty is another.

It's like saying there should be no War at all. So, your neighbor countries are firing missiles at your backyard. And you stand there with your peace flag? That will only reinforce and encourage them to keep shooting.

Self preservation. That's what death penalty is about.

If you're not planning on killing innocent people, there's really no worry.

[Samurai Waki]

I think the Soviet style Prisoner Battalions should be put back into mainstream use. One prisoner is handed a gun another is handed a clip, the MPs are located in a well protected machine gun bunker... when the man in front you drops his gun, pick it up and continue foreward, if you show cowardice and turn back on the enemy you will be shot, continue foreward and if you succeed in your attack than perhaps one day you will regain your freedom via banishment from the state. I think this might turn a few con-artist, rapists, and pedophiles from even thinking twice about it. of course the chances of death are about 99% meaning only 1 out of every one hundred men stand a chance of survival. Of course this is coming from a totalitarian point of view, but there needs to be something done about America's over extended prison system. Either Prison Camps (ala Construction crews for buildings, transportation use, or military prison squads needs to be used) After all many of the men who went to vietnam were con-artists and convicted thieves, they had two choices, either fight or suffer through the extreme degredation and humiliation of the American Prison system... personally I would choose the latter.

[Oaty]

well the problem with killing people immediately, is that people arnt always guilty of their crimes. Some guy just got out recently after being in jail for 20 years for being falsly accused of rape. If he had just been killed 20 years ago then an inoccent man would have died.

So shouldnt the accuser now serve 20 years. After he did 20 hard years for someones lie

[Kagemusha]

First rule of justice is it has nothing to do with vengeange.

[Steppe Merc]

A much saner solution would be to make prisons more like prisons and less like country clubs first of all. Murders or repeat sex offenders should get life sentences without the possibility of parole. Also, while prison life should be tough and unpleasant, you should also extend and re-educate or teach marketable job skills to those who are willing to take advantage of it. Use both the carrot and the stick. Make prisons miserable so people don't want to come back, and help those who want help to have a chance at an honest life.

I can't say whether jail life is tough or easy, though I'd mainly lean towards way to tough, considering the violence that can go on. Most country clubs don't have murders, or attempted escapes (we saw one of those... quite scary, really).
But help the ones who want to be helped get a job, and the others should just serve out their time. In the prison that I went to, they had to work while they were in the prison, otherwise they were shipped to a different prison. I think then hypothetically the prisoners could then use those skills to work when they get out.

[Red Harvest]

So shouldnt the accuser now serve 20 years. After he did 20 hard years for someones lie

I agree, but it also depends on circumstances/intent. Quite a few are simply bad ID's by the victim. That doesn't imply any willful malice in most instances. If the person or victim honestly thought they had made the right identification, does it do any good to lock them up? No, it leads to victims and witnesses being unwilling to testify. I am more concerned about instances I've read of prosecutors/others hiding contradictory evidence and statements. Those are criminal acts that cannot be justified.

DNA testing has been terrific at correcting some of these aberrations, mistakes, and railroading, but it can't take back the years.