Linked by Amjith Ramanujam on Sat 30th Aug 2008 13:50 UTC
Linux guru and convicted murdered Hans Reiser was handed a prison sentence of 15-to-life Friday, putting a final capstone on a case that began as a murder mystery, and ended with Reiser leading police to a makeshift grave a short distance from where he strangled his wife.
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RE[6]: Comment by JMcCarthy
by sbergman27 on Sat 30th Aug 2008 21:22
in reply to "RE[5]: Comment by JMcCarthy"
Member since:2005-07-24
RE[7]: Comment by JMcCarthy
by apoclypse on Sat 30th Aug 2008 23:31
in reply to "RE[6]: Comment by JMcCarthy"
Member since:2007-02-17
RE[7]: Comment by JMcCarthy
by irbis on Sun 31st Aug 2008 11:22
in reply to "RE[6]: Comment by JMcCarthy"
Member since:2005-07-08
Does the provision, or not, for the death penalty in a state affect the murder rate?
I suppose the murder rate is related more to the culture and the society and its in problems in general (like social injustice, or a culture where guns and violence is favored and even admired as a solution to social problems).
As to death penalty as a punishment, personally I've always been against it and cannot see how it helps preventing crimes in any way. I have no stats to back this up right now, but I'm also pretty sure that often those countries that use death penalty are also having bigger crime rates than countries where death penalty is forbidden.
Also, many criminals might be so frustrated with their life that a death penalty could even come as a relief to them only, instead of being a serious punishment? Better to make them sit and think about their actions in a prison for a few years, preferably in such conditions where they also go through some kind of a rehabilitation program too.
Edited 2008-08-31 11:30 UTC
RE[7]: Comment by JMcCarthy
by irbis on Sun 31st Aug 2008 17:45
in reply to "RE[6]: Comment by JMcCarthy"
Member since:2005-07-08
Does the provision, or not, for the death penalty in a state affect the murder rate?
Death penalty is the most extreme case of penalty system, and not a good example of the effectiveness of the normal penalty system as a deterrent of crimes in general. Also, in almost all European countries death penalty is already forbidden and so rather considered a crime in itself than a proper way to treat criminals.
But just consider the much milder penalties for traffic offenses, for example. Isn't it pretty clear that more people think twice before they drive car too fast or go driving a car when they are drunk because they may have to pay for that kind of foolishness? As a result probably much fewer people die or get hurt in traffic accidents than would be the case otherwise, without the penalty system for traffic offenses.
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Member since:
2005-07-08
Good points. In an ideal civilized society constructive rehabilition of criminals and turning them from negative behavior models to positive ones should be favored instead of revengeful punishment.
But the penal system works also as a deterrent, preventing crimes in advance. Even if you felt tempted to hurt someone, the resulting punishment should make you feel too afraid to do so. In that sense the penal system shouldn't look to soft or it might lose its effect. Even bad psychopaths won't usually continue doing stupid things if they learn through the hard way that they are going to get severely punished for it.