Does The Death Penalty Deter Murderers?

[03Lightningrocks]

I always wonder, when people bring this up, do they think that keeping an innocent person in jail for the rest of their life is less serious than putting them to death?

I think a wrongful sentence of life in prison is less serious than death.

It is blindingly obvious that a wrongful execution cannot be corrected or remedied.

A person who is in prison (whether rightly or wrongly convicted) can make something out of his life. Even David Berkowitz, the admitted "Son of Sam" serial killer, has done so.

If the prisoner is found to be wrongly convicted, he can be freed and given some monetary compensation. If he is a decent person, he can get on with life.Simply writing off wrongful convictions and executions erodes respect for the law.

The question of this thread is whether the death penalty is a deterrent, not whether it is just. With respect to that question, failures that erode respect for the law also damage whatever deterrent effect might exist. Many criminals already look at capture and conviction as a sort of lottery, and they win more often than not. As I said recently, murder has better odds than roulette.

- Jim

[anygunanywhere]

One of Mrs. Anygun's first cousins was executed in Texas. He was the triggerman in a murder for hire scheme , the Wanstrath murders in 1979. There is a book about the HPD detective, Johnny Bonds, who broke the case which was initially called a murder-suicide even theough a firearm was not found at the scene (?). I think the book was called "The Cop Who Wouldn't Quit". The killer's name was Allen Wayne Janecka. Markham Duff-Smith hired him to kill the Wanstraths, including their 14 month old son. He was shot in the head as he lay asleep in his crib.

Yes, killers should be executed for their crimes. Like some have said on this thread, those most opposed to the death penalty would change their mind if one of their loved ones was brutally murdered. I never met Mr. Janecka, although I have met many in his family.

We are supposed to forgive those who harm us. Forgiveness and mercy do not remove the fact that one must pay for one's crimes. Our country was built on laws and justice. All laws are not just and justice is not perfect. We must make every attempt to make certain that those who are innnocent go free and the guilty never harm anyone again. Multiple offenders are a mark of a failed justice system. The most brutal murderers often kill in prison. Even the most depraved criminal in prison deserves protection from those who would kill him for no reason.

Anygunanywhere

[03Lightningrocks]

Let's not confuse issues. The question posed was "DOES THE DEATH PENALTY DETER MURDERERS". Answering no does not necessarily mean a person is against the death penalty. We seem to have two different conversations going on here.

[Texas Size 11]

I heard my grandfather (a retired trooper) say many times that he couldn't prove the death penalty deterred crime, but it certainly reduced the chance of a repeat offense.

It puts them where they belong.

Does it deter others? Probably to some degree, but it won't phase a true sociopath.