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A good debate - on the cost of capital punishment, this is why I think
that it is only viable in the most serious of cases where there is incontrovertible evidence. One finds it hard to see why there should be extensive legal to-ing and fro-ing in these cases. When there is an open and shut case, there should not be extensive rights of appeal and expensive lawyers brought in, or 25 year waits on death row.
posted by
Antonionioni
on January 27, 2007 at 12:37 PM
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Troosha, can't let this go by...
...without noting that the death penalty is actually far more expensive than life imprisonment.
So if anything is a waste of tax money, capital punishment is it!
posted by
Dyl_Pickle
on January 27, 2007 at 8:04 AM
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Tonyz, throwing people into prisons certainly isn't the answer..I wish
I knew what was...I won't go off on a tangent here and blather away, but it is certainly a most frustrating problem....
posted by
Rumor
on January 27, 2007 at 7:32 AM
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Tony,
as long as there is a crime being committed and as long as there is a criminal, the prison is indispensable.
posted by
richinstore
on January 27, 2007 at 7:16 AM
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Tony-you've started something---good for you---
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all the comments left on your site-regarding this post---and naturally-just thinking about criminals is MAKING MY BLOOD BOIL!!!! Well-
not the criminals but the diabolical -- lack of penalties etc.Chris--well written Tony.
posted by
Scramble
on January 27, 2007 at 6:44 AM
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Tony
All the comments are very educative in a way that it focusses our attention to the macabre nature of crimes, seemingly unstoppable, and is ever on the increase all over the world. One serial child killer was caught recently in Delhi with more than 80 killings after raping them, over the last 4 years. How could the authorities not catch him in the very heart of the capital is a mystery and substantiates your analysis of corruption. This reminds me that I had once written how mumans can descend to a worse state than animals. But surprisingly, if you must have observed, and it is common, that none such are ever overcome with remorse, or the slighest of guilt feelings. They should, and rightly be wiped out from the face of the earth.
posted by
Bhaskar.ing
on January 27, 2007 at 5:26 AM
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Thanks all of you for those interesting comments.
Yes, Troosha, we have noticed that case over here- sounds grim. We had a serial prostitute killer recently over here, too. Personally, I don't like the death penalty but where there is incontrovertible DNA or filmed evidence or solid evidence of that kind, in the most severe cases - e.g. more than 5 deaths, or the assassination of a prominent person such as a prime minister or president - then maybe it is justified. For other cases they should be incarcerated and given no stimulus, no luxuries, and no company. Of course, this could not happen - the corrupt legal system has grown rich from ensuring that criminals are not only defended but their rights are protected. And for non-violent types, I think that prison is definitely not a good idea, for the reason Dylan gives, that they become worse as a result, and often they grow to like it, and so they reoffend - well it's better than working - and then there's the incredible cost of imprisoning people. Some people talk about community service and so on but the cost of supervising criminals outside of a prison must surely be just as high, therefore I can't help thinking that where criminals, e.g. fraudsters and gangsters are concerned, have a lot of money, they should be penalised financially and lose all their goods, and so should their families, and their assets should be frozen, and for the poorer criminals, simple and possibly repeated (in the more serious cases) public humiliation in their own neighbourhoods or at their workplaces would be a cheap and enjoyable deterrent. Putting them in the stocks for a day and letting people throw left over vegetables from local schools and restaurants, for example.
posted by
Antonionioni
on January 27, 2007 at 2:03 AM
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The problem is, the status quo in criminal punishment...
...serves powerful interests.
Prisons turn petty offenders into hardened criminals. These inmates are no threat to society when they go in, but they certainly are when they come out. But the wealthy, powerful people are in no real danger, hiding in gated affluent communities. Meanwhile potential subversives, who might channel their energies into reforming the political system, are shoved into prison and thus rendered non-threatening to the powerful interests. It's all very convenient. So there's little incentive to reduce the prison population by, say, decriminalizing drugs, removing mandatory-minimum sentences, or giving prisoners real rehab and job opportunities to keep them out of prison when released. Of course there is also the power of the prison industry, the private firms that make their money off of building and running prisons. Fewer inmates would mean lower profits for them.
posted by
Dyl_Pickle
on January 26, 2007 at 7:05 PM
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TonyZ
I'm all for public humiliation of small-time criminals. Now that most of my antics and foolishness are behind me, I'd be happy to paste some young hooligan for the greater good :). Good Post.
Be well,
-smartdog
posted by
smartdog_670
on January 26, 2007 at 5:36 PM
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Tony
Sir,
" Better to build schools for the children than prisons for the adults"
Hang 'em an' flog 'em, I say. Give 'em a touch of the pussy, and if that don't cure 'em, then by Gad, Sir, give 'em a whiff of grapeshot!
Damned scoundrels! Why, only the other day, some blackguard actually stole my Times from my letter box! As long as this chappie, Bliar, keeps tinkering with our formerly superb system of justice wherein even miscreants as young as six or seven could be hanged, or transported, then we are doomed! Doomed I say! Doomed!
Yr obt serv't,
Disgusted,
Tunbridge Wells
posted by
ariel70
on January 26, 2007 at 1:27 PM
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Tony
Capital punishment is a sensitive, moral debate but I'm afraid I'm one of those who believe that in some instances it seems a waste of taxpayers money to incarcerate someone for life. We have quite the trial going on here (which you've probably heard or seen in the news). http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1582656,00.html
Now you tell me.... does this guy deserve to live?
posted by
Troosha
on January 26, 2007 at 1:19 PM
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Provide for the lawful and require criminals to earn their keep
would be a start.
posted by
cpklapper
on January 26, 2007 at 12:58 PM
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hmmmm...
I have no answer... only the knowlege that crime will always be with us.
posted by
Blue_feathers
on January 26, 2007 at 12:30 PM
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