John Lott, writing on FoxNews.com, reports that studies are showing that the death penalty is discouraging crime. I think that should be quite obvious. No executed person has ever committed another crime. At least not in this world.
Seriouly though, the one strong reservation that I have about the death penalty is due to the possibility that an innocent person might be executed. Considering the number of imprisoned people being released these days because modern forensics is proving them to be innocent of the crimes they were charged with, executing an innocent person is a very real possibility.
I don’t have much confidence that judges, juries and prosecutors will always reach the right verdict. I strongly believe that no person convicted of a capital crime based solely on circumstantial evidence should be sentenced to die.
Related post: Mike Nifong and the Justice System
I feel much the same. Although I would not complain about more liberally executing known murderers, there is that little guarantee of LIFE, liberty, …
The most valuable treasure that the government can take from a private citizen is their life and extreme care must be taken to ensure that every person executed is, in fact, guilty.