Death Penalty By Country

[BlackRain]

The Death Penalty Worldwide

According to Amnesty International, during 2003 more than 1,146 people were executed in 28 countries, and more than 2,756 people were sentenced to death in 63 countries. See also U.S. Figures.

Death Penalty Outlawed (year) *1

Andorra (1990)
Angola (1992)
Australia (1984)
Austria (1950)
Azerbaijan (1998)
Belgium (1996)
Bermuda (1999)
Bosnia-Herzegovina (1997)
Bulgaria (1998)
Cambodia (1989)
Canada (1976)
Cape Verde (1981)
Colombia (1910)
Costa Rica (1877)
Côte d'Ivoire (2000)
Croatia (1990)
Cyprus (1983)
Czech Republic (1990)
Denmark (1933)
Djibouti (1995)
Dominican Republic (1966)
East Timor (1999)
Ecuador (1906)
Estonia (1998)
Finland (1949)
France (1981)
Georgia (1997)
Germany (1987)
Guinea-Bissau (1993)
Haiti (1987)
Honduras (1956)
Hungary (1990)
Iceland (1928)
Ireland (1990)
Italy (1947)
Kiribati (1979)
Liechtenstein (1987)
Lithuania (1998)
Luxembourg (1979)
Macedonia (n.a.)
Malta (1971)
Marshall Islands (1986)
Mauritius (1995)
Micronesia (1986)
Moldova (1995)
Monaco (1962)
Mozambique (1990)
Namibia (1990)
Nepal (1990)
Netherlands (1870)
New Zealand (1961)
Nicaragua (1979)
Norway (1905)
Palau (n.a.)
Panama (1903)
Paraguay (1992)
Poland (1997)
Portugal (1867)
Romania (1989)
Samoa (2004)
San Marino (1848)
São Tomé and Príncipe (1990)
Serbia and Montenegro (2002)
Seychelles (1993)
Slovak Republic (1990)
Slovenia (1989)
Solomon Islands (1966)
South Africa (1995)
Spain (1978)
Sweden (1921)
Switzerland (1942)
Turkmenistan (1999)
Tuvalu (1978)
Ukraine (1999)
United Kingdom (1973)
Uruguay (1907)
Vanuatu (1980)
Vatican City State (1969)
Venezuela (1863)


Death Penalty Permitted in Exceptional Cases *2

Albania (2000)
Argentina (1984)
Armenia (2003)
Bolivia (1997)
Brazil (1979)
Chile (2001)
Cook Islands (n.a.)
El Salvador (1983)
Fiji (1979)
Greece (1993)
Israel (1954)
Latvia (1999)
Mexico (n.a.)
Peru (1979)
Turkey (2002)


De Facto Ban on Death Penalty*3 (year)*4

Algeria (1993)
Benin (1987)
Bhutan (1964)
Brunei Darussalam (1957)
Burkina Faso (1988)
Central African Republic (1981)
Congo (Republic) (1982)
Gambia (1981)
Grenada (1978)
Kenya (n.a.)
Madagascar (1958)
Maldives (1952)
Mali (1980)
Mauritania (1987)
Nauru (1968)
Niger (1976)
Papua New Guinea (1950)
Russian Federation (1999)
Senegal (1967)
Sri Lanka (1976)
Suriname (1982)
Togo (n.a.)
Tonga (1982)
Tunisia (1990)


Death Penalty Permitted

Afghanistan
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Botswana
Burundi
Cameroon
Chad
China (People's Republic)
Comoros
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Cuba
Dominica
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Ghana
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Malawi
Malaysia
Mongolia
Morocco
Myanmar
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian Authority
Philippines
Qatar
Rwanda
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Saudi Arabia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Somalia
Sudan
Swaziland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United States of America
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe


NOTE: n.a. = date not available.

1. Year death penalty abolished for most, though not necessarily all crimes.

2. Exceptional crimes include some committed under military law or crimes committed in wartime.

3. Death penalty is sanctioned by law but has not been the practice for ten or more years.

4. Year of last execution. Source: Amnesty International, Jan. 2003.

[Abolith]

I like the death penalty, I support it and hope we continue to use it.

[SeanAshi]

I like the death penalty, I support it and hope we continue to use it.I use to be for it but now I believe that the United States should abandon the death penalty.

[Zarathustra]

I like the death penalty, I support it and hope we continue to use it.I use to be for it but now I believe that the United States should abandon the death penalty.


Why ?

[SeanAshi]

It's expensive.

Financial Facts About the Death Penalty


$ Kansas Study Concludes Death Penalty is Costly Policy
In its review of death penalty expenses, the State of Kansas concluded that capital cases are 70% more expensive than comparable non-death penalty cases. The study counted death penalty case costs through to execution and found that the median death penalty case costs $1.26 million. Non-death penalty cases were counted through to the end of incarceration and were found to have a median cost of $740,000. For death penalty cases, the pre-trial and trial level expenses were the most expensive part, 49% of the total cost. The costs of appeals were 29% of the total expense, and the incarceration and execution costs accounted for the remaining 22%. In comparison to non-death penalty cases, the following findings were revealed:


The investigation costs for death-sentence cases were about 3 times greater than for non-death cases.
The trial costs for death cases were about 16 times greater than for non-death cases ($508,000 for death case; $32,000 for non-death case).
The appeal costs for death cases were 21 times greater.
The costs of carrying out an execution (including death row incarceration) were about half the costs of carrying out a non-death sentence in a comparable case.
Trials involving a death sentence averaged 34 days, including jury selection; non-death trials averaged about 9 days.
(Performance Audit Report: Costs Incurred for Death Penalty Cases: A K-GOAL Audit of the Department of Corrections) Read DPIC's Summary of the Kansas Cost Report.


$ Death penalty trials very costly relative to county budgets
Capital cases burden county budgets with large unexpected costs, according to a report released by the National Bureau of Economic Research, "The Budgetary Repercussions of Capital Convictions," by Katherine Baicker. Counties manage these high costs by decreasing funding for highways and police and by increasing taxes. The report estimates that between 1982-1997 the extra cost of capital trials was $1.6 billion. (NBER Working Paper No. w8382, Issued in July 2001) Read the abstract.

$ Total cost of Indiana's death penalty is 38% greater than the total cost of life without parole sentences
A study by Indiana's Criminal Law Study Commission found this to be true, assuming that 20% of death sentences are overturned and resentenced to life. (Indiana Criminal Law Study Commission, January 10, 2002)

$ North Carolina spends more per execution than on a non-death penalty murder case
The most comprehensive death penalty study in the country found that the death penalty costs North Carolina $2.16 million more per execution than the a non-death penalty murder case with a sentence of life imprisonment (Duke University, May 1993). On a national basis, these figures translate to an extra cost of over $1 billion spent since 1976 on the death penalty. The study,"The Costs of Processing Murder Cases in North Carolina" is available on line at www-pps.aas.duke.edu/people/faculty/cook/comnc.pdf.

$ Florida spends millions extra per year on death penalty
Florida would save $51 million each year by punishing all first-degree murderers with life in prison without parole, according to estimates by the Palm Beach Post. Based on the 44 executions Florida has carried out since 1976, that amounts to an approximate cost of $24 million for each execution. This finding takes into account the relatively few inmates who are actually executed, as well as the time and effort expended on capital defendants who are tried but convicted of a lesser murder charge, and those whose deathe sentences are overturned on appeal. (Palm Beach Post, January 4, 2000)

$ California spends millions more on capital cases
California spends $90 Million dollars annually above and beyond the ordinary costs of the justice system on capital cases. $78 million of that total is incurred at the trial level (Sacramento Bee, March 18, 1988). In January 2003, despite a budge deficit, California Governor Gray Davis proposed building a new $220 million state of the art death row. (New York Times, January 14, 2003)

$ Florida spent average of $3.2 million per execution from 1973 to 1988
During that time period, Florida spent an estimated $57 million on the death penalty to achieve 18 executions. (Miami Herald, July 10, 1988)

$ Texas death penalty cases cost more than non-capital cases
That is about three times the cost of imprisoning someone in a single cell at the highest security level for 40 years. (Dallas Morning News, March 8, 1992)

[BlackRain]

It's expensive.


But oh so worth it when a criminal rapes and kills your sister.

[Zarathustra]

It's expensive.

Indeed, but I think It's the fault of this system, if the thugs will be hanging, it will be not so expensive... :roll:

[2Sheds_Jackson]

It's expensive.

Financial Facts About the Death Penalty


$ Kansas Study Concludes Death Penalty is Costly Policy
In its review of death penalty expenses, the State of Kansas concluded that capital cases are 70% more expensive than comparable non-death penalty cases. The study counted death penalty case costs through to execution and found that the median death penalty case costs $1.26 million. Non-death penalty cases were counted through to the end of incarceration and were found to have a median cost of $740,000. For death penalty cases, the pre-trial and trial level expenses were the most expensive part, 49% of the total cost. The costs of appeals were 29% of the total expense, and the incarceration and execution costs accounted for the remaining 22%. In comparison to non-death penalty cases, the following findings were revealed:


The investigation costs for death-sentence cases were about 3 times greater than for non-death cases.
The trial costs for death cases were about 16 times greater than for non-death cases ($508,000 for death case; $32,000 for non-death case).
The appeal costs for death cases were 21 times greater.
The costs of carrying out an execution (including death row incarceration) were about half the costs of carrying out a non-death sentence in a comparable case.
Trials involving a death sentence averaged 34 days, including jury selection; non-death trials averaged about 9 days.
(Performance Audit Report: Costs Incurred for Death Penalty Cases: A K-GOAL Audit of the Department of Corrections) Read DPIC's Summary of the Kansas Cost Report.


$ Death penalty trials very costly relative to county budgets
Capital cases burden county budgets with large unexpected costs, according to a report released by the National Bureau of Economic Research, "The Budgetary Repercussions of Capital Convictions," by Katherine Baicker. Counties manage these high costs by decreasing funding for highways and police and by increasing taxes. The report estimates that between 1982-1997 the extra cost of capital trials was $1.6 billion. (NBER Working Paper No. w8382, Issued in July 2001) Read the abstract.

$ Total cost of Indiana's death penalty is 38% greater than the total cost of life without parole sentences
A study by Indiana's Criminal Law Study Commission found this to be true, assuming that 20% of death sentences are overturned and resentenced to life. (Indiana Criminal Law Study Commission, January 10, 2002)

$ North Carolina spends more per execution than on a non-death penalty murder case
The most comprehensive death penalty study in the country found that the death penalty costs North Carolina $2.16 million more per execution than the a non-death penalty murder case with a sentence of life imprisonment (Duke University, May 1993). On a national basis, these figures translate to an extra cost of over $1 billion spent since 1976 on the death penalty. The study,"The Costs of Processing Murder Cases in North Carolina" is available on line at www-pps.aas.duke.edu/people/faculty/cook/comnc.pdf.

$ Florida spends millions extra per year on death penalty
Florida would save $51 million each year by punishing all first-degree murderers with life in prison without parole, according to estimates by the Palm Beach Post. Based on the 44 executions Florida has carried out since 1976, that amounts to an approximate cost of $24 million for each execution. This finding takes into account the relatively few inmates who are actually executed, as well as the time and effort expended on capital defendants who are tried but convicted of a lesser murder charge, and those whose deathe sentences are overturned on appeal. (Palm Beach Post, January 4, 2000)

$ California spends millions more on capital cases
California spends $90 Million dollars annually above and beyond the ordinary costs of the justice system on capital cases. $78 million of that total is incurred at the trial level (Sacramento Bee, March 18, 1988). In January 2003, despite a budge deficit, California Governor Gray Davis proposed building a new $220 million state of the art death row. (New York Times, January 14, 2003)

$ Florida spent average of $3.2 million per execution from 1973 to 1988
During that time period, Florida spent an estimated $57 million on the death penalty to achieve 18 executions. (Miami Herald, July 10, 1988)

$ Texas death penalty cases cost more than non-capital cases
That is about three times the cost of imprisoning someone in a single cell at the highest security level for 40 years. (Dallas Morning News, March 8, 1992)



Well - these stats are nice, but they don't mean anything. They only show that the way the death penalty is currently implemented are costly.

The death penalty in the US could be as simple as:
1. You are convicted and sentenced to death
2. You are marched around back and shot.
3. Total cost - under $50 for security guards time & 1 bullet.

But that's not the way it is implemented. The legal profession has ensured that it is extremely costly (they being the benefactors of that price).

What we need is legal reform, not the abolishment of the death penalty.

[BlackRain]

It is only expensive due to the exhaustive appeals (i.e. lawyers -- bloodsuckers on the legal system) process put in place to avoid mistakes in convictions.

In the old days, executions were scheduled quickly after the jury found the defendant guilty as in this famous case:



On September 26, Justice White addressed Czolgosz: “The sentence of this court is that the week beginning October 28, 1901, at the place, in the manner and means prescribed by law, you suffer the punishment of death. May God have mercy on your soul. Remove the prisoner!” Czolgosz never made a sound nor did he stir an inch. As police guarded him closely, he was escorted out of court and taken to a hidden room. Authorities were very concerned about street mobs breaking into the jail and lynching the prisoner. Throughout the trial, there were continued threats of mob violence and the court was eager to get Czolgosz out of Buffalo.

On September 27, he was taken to Auburn State Prison, which at that time still had an electric chair. Although he arrived at Auburn at 3:00 a.m., there were hundreds of angry people waiting for him at the train station. Czolgosz was attacked and dragged off the train by crowds of people who beat him relentlessly as the security detail struggled to keep control. Cops swung their blackjacks at the rioting crowd who seemed determined to lynch the terrified prisoner. He was dragged kicking and screaming into the prison where guards fired rifles above the crowd to fend them off. Eventually, Czolgosz was tossed into a cell, bloodied and beaten unconscious.


For the next few weeks, he remained in his cell. He was allowed no visitors and he was not permitted to go outside even for exercise. The prison warden, J. Warren Mead, was determined that Czolgosz receive no notoriety for his crime. He would not let reporters inside the prison nor would he allow any photographs. Dr. Carlos McDonald of New York City, one of the physicians who had examined Czolgosz and concluded he was sane, was scheduled to be at the execution. He made a request to Warden Mead to remove Czolgosz’s brain after death to perform a detailed examination. The request was denied because the warden was afraid it would increase publicity. “I cannot allow anything to go away from the prison that will in any way continue this man’s identity or notoriety…my present plan is not to allow any portion of the man, his clothing or even the letters he received to leave this place,” said Warden Mead to the N.Y. Times.

On the morning of October 29, 1901, at 7:00 a.m., just 45 days after McKinley died in Buffalo, Czolgosz was removed from his cell and brought to the execution chamber. It was a rather small, gray room with heavy steel doors. There were several rows of seats for witnesses and the windows on each side of the walls were high up near the ceiling. As the witnesses sat into their seats, Warden Mead addressed the audience: “You are here to witness the legal death of Leon F. Czolgosz. I desire that you keep your seats and preserve absolute silence in the death chamber no matter what may transpire.”

In a corner of the room was a closet-like structure that concealed the control panel for the electrical current. Electrician Edwin Davis, the state’s executioner, who also traveled to other prisons to administer the death penalty, manned the controls. The chair itself was a large, ordinary piece of furniture. It had huge, wide leather straps for the chest area and legs. Hanging down from the ten-foot ceiling was a coiled wire that attached to a helmet, which was placed over Czolgosz’s head. The attendants fastened the straps over his body as a third guard wet a specially made sponge and placed it under the helmet. This was done to ensure a solid connection and to enable the current to do its deadly work. During this era, when killing by electricity was still new, executions were frequently mishandled. Many of those were due to poor preparation and a failure to understand that electricity needed secure contact to travel freely.

As the guards made the final adjustments on the straps, Czolgosz spoke to them. “I killed the President because he was an enemy of the good people of the working people. I am not sorry for my crime!” he said. The final strap was placed over his chin and fastened to the chair to prevent his head from jerking forward during the application of the current. “I’m awfully sorry I could not see my father,” he said through clenched teeth.

Precisely at 7:12 a.m., Warden Mead gave the signal and the electrician pulled the lever that sent 1,700 volts soaring through the body of the prisoner. Czolgosz jerked forward, throwing his chest hard against the restraining straps that looked as if they would snap from the pressure. His hands tightened up into fists and his whole body trembled at once. His face became a beet red and a tiny wisp of steam emanated from under the helmet. The current remained at 1,700 volts for one full minute until the electrician gradually lowered the amount to zero. Then, after a wait of a few seconds, he turned up the power again to 1,700 volts for ten seconds more. The lifeless body of Czolgosz again jumped forward as the chair noticeably creaked. The current was then shut down completely. Dr. McDonald stepped forward from the witness row to examine the prisoner. Although he felt no pulse, he suggested another application of current. He stepped back and again the electrical current was applied. After a second brief examination, Dr. McDonald happily announced, “Gentlemen, the prisoner is dead!” Czolgosz was the 50th person to die in the electric chair in New York.

[mrfloppy]

Perhaps someone is interested in the following:

According to this list, death penalty has been outlawed in Germany in 1987. In fact, this date only relates to the German Democratic Republic (=former East Germany), while in the Federal Republic of Germany (=former West Germany) the death penalty had already been outlawed in 1949 with the implementation of our constitution (Grundgesetz). There were hovewer some exceptions:

- Berlin was out of scope of the constitution until 1990, due to the four-power government, but death penalty was outlawed 1951 by a separate law (the last execution took place in 1949).
- the constitution of the federal state Bavaria contained an article concerning death penalty until 1998, when it was deleted after a referendum.
- article 21 of the constitution of the federal state Hesse still contains the death penalty but as penal law is a matter of the federal government, it has never been applied.

My personal opinion is, that death penalty is an outdated means of punishment. It obviously fails to deter people from committing crimes, while unfortunately there seems to be a considerable amount of unguilty people being executed. Life imprisonment leaves the unguilty a chance to survive (and be released), while it forces the criminal to live with his felony.

[Trident-za]

A question: is it more expensive to sentence a prisoner to death, and go through that whole process, or to house and feed him/her for the rest of their natural lives?

No political point of view should be construed from my question, I'm merely curious.... personally, I think the death penalty is "better", but mostly because a prison sentence in South Africa is not much of a deterrent (free housing and 3 meals a day is a deterrent??)

[radon]

Mostly third world countries use death penalties , but I dont have anything against it. Cost of death penalty should be , a couple years of waiting if new evidence should come up and 1 bullet.

[Abolith]

A question: is it more expensive to sentence a prisoner to death, and go through that whole process, or to house and feed him/her for the rest of their natural lives?

No political point of view should be construed from my question, I'm merely curious.... personally, I think the death penalty is "better", but mostly because a prison sentence in South Africa is not much of a deterrent (free housing and 3 meals a day is a deterrent??)

California Department Of Corrections
Facts And Figures -- Second Quarter 2004

Budget: $5.7 billion (2003-2004 Budget Act)
Avg. yearly cost: per inmate, $30,929; per parolee, $3,364

now lets say the crime was done by a 30yr old.....

30,929 X 45yrs = 1.39 Mil. EACH

and this is an avg per inmate, max sec cost alot more due to the increased costs of buildings, guards ect...

I say it's freakin cheaper to kill em`

[Trident-za]

$30,929 a year to house an inmate??? Damn, thats more than I earn a year, given the exchange rate, and I'm considered an above average earner in South Africa! If it wasn't for Bubba trying to have his way with me, I'd sign up.

[Fee Fi Fo Fum]

i think the UK should have the death penalty, i think are law system if ****ed up! if someone does a hit and run in this country you get 15 years max! its terrible, some lad 4 miles from me done a hit and run (robbed car) and ran over a girl and her mum (both died) and then crashed into a firetruck he got 8 years!!! its ****!

[NcDeuce]

I like the death penalty, I support it and hope we continue to use it.I use to be for it but now I believe that the United States should abandon the death penalty.

Yeah, it is expensive now.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USACWsurrattP.jpg
*Graphic*

What's wrong with bringing back the rope? As far as I know, in Montana and Washington, hanging is still a legal method of execution.

[Kilgor]

I think it should be brought back for clear cut cases where reliable DNA testing can prove guilt beyond all doubt.

I dont think its fair we have prisoners never to be released costing us 30,000 USD a year, whilst other people in society are disadvantaged.

Commiting such a voilent crime your rights should be forfeited.

Other than that. We need to find a big ****hole island surrounded by sharks and just dump the trash there. Escape from New York style !

[Mongrel]

Kilgor wrote:

Other than that. We need to find a big ****hole island surrounded by sharks and just dump the trash there. Escape from New York style !

Hey leave the Australians out of this! :P

I'm kidding...no flames please.
Cheers!
M.

[Kilgor]

Or.. we employ the running man idea

Convicted criminals in game shows fighting for their lives !
Perfect for the reality tv craze going at the moment ! :D

[Geezah]

I firmly believe in an eye for an eye, worst thing Britian ever did getting rid of the DP but considering the circumstances that led up to it being abolished I can somewhat understand :(

[SeanAshi]

I actually thought I would get more support from members in Europe for me being against the death penalty. Many nations once had the death penalty but got rid of it I believe its time for the United States to do the same.

[Jehuty]

I actually thought I would get more support from members in Europe for me being against the death penalty. Many nations once had the death penalty but got rid of it I believe its time for the United States to do the same.

You have mine. :(

[EvanL]

I think as civilized human beings we should be beyond the death penalty. Sadly there are some criminals in this world that i would wish dead. Rapists, Child Molesters, and most types of ****** predators.

[usa320]

I thouroughly support the death panelty in the US and think more states should use it more often.

anyone found guilty of multiple rapes or murders should be killed.

Unfortunately, jail times and fines are just not enough to deter criminals. A large percentage of inmates have been in jail several times before.

Once you start killing bad guys then perhaps the scum will realize it isnt worth it. And those that arent detered by it, will soon find themselves facing it.

And it doesnt need to be expensive, we just make it expensive with long appeals and expensive methods.

I say go back to the good ole firin squad... Its just as painless as lethal injection... Not that its a good thing. Some of these guys deserve pain...

[Mongrel]

Somehow I don't think that life in a Prison would be a picnic.

I say if someone rapes a member of your family the judge hands you a baseball bat, and says "seek justice". :bash:

Cheers!
M.

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

How can I tell M lives on vancouver island :lol: ;)

[Beowulf]

I used to support the death penalty, but now I would be more in favor of putting prisoners to work. clearing land, building roads, whatever. Plus if you're in maximum security or higher you get no cable tv, no weights. It should be like leavenworth. big rocks->little rocks->dirt 12 hours a day.

I saw that speck video and it changed my mind about death row.

[Loco]

I actually thought I would get more support from members in Europe for me being against the death penalty. Many nations once had the death penalty but got rid of it I believe its time for the United States to do the same.
Last executions in Spain were in 1975. I was a little children and I remember of that deads, in fact they are some of my first memories in life, and the feeling of that day was something terrible. The executed were members of FRAP and ETA, terrorists groups, still Franco was alive and some of the deads had their hands stained with blood, other hadn´t, but we lived in a dictatorship and trial of course wasn´t fair, today we have a democracy and in the case we´d have death penalty, that we haven´t, it´s sure they wouldn´t be shooted. Even people who supported that regime knew that executions were unfair in some way. This are things I learnt years after when I grew up, anyway I couldn´t understand killing with so cold blood even I was a very little child. By those years, death penalty was legal in France even after we recovered democracy and we supressed death penalty, you know the guillotine, I live near french border and press published from time to time news about some common criminal beheaded, the feeling was of repugnance I can tell you, even with the people that in Spain were favourable to death penalty, people just didn´t understan how a country who seemed so free an open compared with the grey Spain of dictatorship could do such repugnant things.
It´s a proved fact that there´s a percentage of people wrongly executed in democracies with death penalty( I don´t account dictatorships regimes because they´re inherently corrupts). Only 1 case of an innocent wrongly executed would be enough for banning the death penalty. Regarding USA, well, every country has its exceptions and things that keep out perfection that country, and I think USA has a fascination and a problem with anything related with violence and weapons. I wouldn´t say americans are more violent than europeans in a daily basis, because you aren´t, I say the way you talk about death penalty or killing other people in a way or in other way many times it´s hard to listen, and many times it´s ignoble. It´s said that once GWBUsh when he was governor of Texas he mocked of a woman who was being executed in the face of cameras, I don´t know if it´s true, but if it´s true I´m pretty sure that GWBush would be kicked in his ass an off the office in anyother democratic country with death penalty in the last 100 years.
The other fact is what statistics shows, that racial minories are by far overrepresented in the number of executed people, that´s a blatant scandal that it seems it doesn´t matter for many people favourable to death penalty. I saw many documentals about death penalty or wars, and I remember one of them about hangmen of different countries: hangmens from countries of former Warsow Block, France and USA, the one from USA was a former MP who hang the ones from Nuremberg Trial, and this one was the only hangman disrespectful with the convicts, he even bragged how he insulted and bullied the nazis convicts in prision and he lamented he couldn´t torture them, I could snap that old man in the face if I were besides him: You can´t do that! Historically, in Europe hangmen were quiet and silent people, they lived with discretion, people never liked here hangmen even if they were favourable of death penalty.
My country is Spain, our XX century was difficult, we lived 48 years under two dictatorship (one of them relatively soft), included three years of hard civil war, and 52 years in democracy, and except the last 24 years of XX century, there were death penalty in Spain from 1900 to 1976, included years of democracy. Even so, there never was a case of people lynching a convict like in USA, even you couldn´t find any case of people trying to kill a convict here, because people thinks it´s a shame beating anyone who´s tied and probably is going to die soon. You only could find those cases of indiscriminated violence in the years of Civil War(1936-39) but that wasn´t a common period. Usually, here hangmen didn´t like to say who they were, nor people liked them even if they like death penalty. And regarding our policemen or our soldiers, I can´t remember anyone of them bragging how many thiefs or enemies he killed in the streets or in the trenches, here it´s ugly to say that things. Situations in USA like that of people near the jail hurrying the death of a convict, even if he´s a repugnant raper, kidnapper and killer, are ignoble, ugly, repugnant. First of all that people should behave in a civilizated way, and keeping themselves at home when there´s an execution in the place of going near the jail to do the same as talibans; only after a civilizated behaviour, they could think and rethink about death penalty and if even so they support death penalty, then OK, but even so you never must be disrespectful with convicts, specially if they are gonna be executed. I´d never be friend of beast like that who cheers up when there´re executions, they are inherently cowards a miserables.

And I think many of you who wrote here aren´t sinceres in what you´re writing, beginning with youm SeanAshi, I think you wrote with an extreme approach to that subject with the only purpouse of creating a good discussion ;) : Are you only against death penalty because it´s expensive? Or are you against death penalty because it´s barbaric and racially oriented in USA and intrinsecally unfair?
I think death penalty it´s a thermometer of the wealth of a society. The more fair a society it´s, the more that society don´t like death penalty. And at last, it´s a fact that death penalty it doesn´t help to fight the crime. If you look at countries around the world, usually those countries with the most extreme punishements are the most corrupts countries of the world. USA is a democracy since two centuries ago, and in a general rate, a very fair country, but even so if you look the states with death penalty in USA you see that many of them are in the top rank of corruption, read Florida, Texas, etc.
I have my contradictions. I´m plainly agaisnt death penalty, although when sometimes I read the crimes a convict close to execution did in USA I think: "I don´t feel sorry for you man, bye" and I know if a criminal´d attack anyone close to me I could strangle him if I had the chance, but that´s why there is a fair legal system with warranties, isn´t it?

[Kampfbaer]

If someone is personally touched by a violent ceime like the murder of his child, i can understand that he is crying for revenge.

If you look at the same crime from an objective point of view, I do not know anybody in my country who would support DP after ten seconds of thought.

I'm convinced that any EU country has laws that are enough to deal with capital crimes, but the judges should use the laws mor rigidly, e.g. life imprisoment in harsh cases should mean "in for life".

Very dangerous criminals shoudn't be allowed to get away after a couple of years because one psychatrist thinks that they do not pose a danger any longer.

Has anyone any statistic at hand that shows that the DP lowers crime rates?

I read that the DP does nothing to lower crime rates, prove me wrong if you can.

The US should abolish the DP, because too many innocents were killed by the state.

Harsher Gun laws like in Germany would do more to lower the crime rates. How many people are killed by their own weapons?

Flame me if you want..... :D :D :D

[rafaelcb]

It's expensive.


But oh so worth it when a criminal rapes and kills your sister.

The main problem cames when the system makes a mistake and kills an innocent. Besides, killing someone seems sometimes 'just too easy'.


I'm convinced that any EU country has laws that are enough to deal with capital crimes, but the judges should use the laws mor rigidly, e.g. life imprisoment in harsh cases should mean "in for life".

In most EU countries the maximum jail time anyone serves is something between 25-35 years, regardless of whether thay were sentenced for life or just to 50 years.

I think the worst criminals should be kept alive in jail for life. This really gives time to think about their crimes. Besides, certain times of crimes indicate that those people could commit them again. Keeping them in jail is the best way of making sure the crimes are not repeated.

[Abolith]

If you look at the same crime from an objective point of view, I do not know anybody in my country who would support DP after ten seconds of thought.

There are plenty over here in the US. Even as costly as the DP is it is still much cheaper than a life sentence. that and most inmates who get life only serve a small portion (15-20 yrs) and are out again. a majority turn around a commit the same type of crimes again, kill em first and save someone else the horror of being raped or losing a child ect..



The US should abolish the DP, because too many innocents were killed by the state.

Acceptable losses. Would it be still acceptable if it was me or my child......yes. Better to lose one innocent and save hundreds more from being killed/raped/other really bad crimes. new forensics have drasicly reduced the chances that an innocent would be convicted and sentenced to die.




Harsher Gun laws like in Germany would do more to lower the crime rates. How many people are killed by their own weapons?


Not as many as some would have you belive. and guns laws have done SO much to stop school shootings and masked men running around in germany. the truth is that really strict guns laws don't work.




I think the worst criminals should be kept alive in jail for life. This really gives time to think about their crimes. Besides, certain times of crimes indicate that those people could commit them again. Keeping them in jail is the best way of making sure the crimes are not repeated.

I have had the "pleasure" of knowing a fair number of hardcore criminals, and guess what? They see Jail as a paid vacation, a chance to be fed three times a day and a roof over one's head without the worry of bills. and most simply do not care about those that they hurt or killed in the crimes that they have commited. to them it is more like "Ya, whatever. I was stronger and got what I wanted, **** the rest of the world" you cannot reason with people like that. They spend thier time figuring out how they got caught so they won't be next time....(this was from a conversation with my cousin and his friends. all of them multi-time cons for things like murder, rape and armed robbery, and yes I think they ALL should be killed)

[radon]

I think the worst criminals should be kept alive in jail for life. This really gives time to think about their crimes..

If you want them to have a hard time , then there is always the theoretical possibilty of torture and shoot. Well I dont support torture now

[Mongrel]

Kampfbaer Wrote:

If you look at the same crime from an objective point of view, I do not know anybody in my country who would support DP after ten seconds of thought.

I say sure they would in a heartbeat! In the right situation, and throw in a little mob mentality...you bet. Take a good look at the little known out of the EU, German dog breed ban.

http://www.angelfire.com/biz6/dogholocaust/

Mobs of hysterical wingnuts roaming the streets looking to kill anything that resembles a certain breed. This just smacks of the same cultural hysterical mindset that existed in the middle ages.
Hmmm seen this before.

What's this have to do with people? Well see quote below, and trust me I have worked as a proffessional in this field long enogh to see a strong connection.

" If (man) is not to stifle human feelings, he must practice kindness towards animals, for he who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with man. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." -Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

Not flaming just pointing out some sad details.
Cheers!
M.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Lots of good opinions here, unfortunately some are a load of crap. :lol:

First to the argument that the death penalty is barbaric. Yes it is, and so is imprisonment, so is crime. The purpose of prison in the US is no longer rehabilitation - it's for punishment. It should not simply be a holding pattern where you get to live out your days in comfort, with TV, a gym, a computer, conjugal visits with the girlfriend etc. while your victims rot in the ground. F*ck that.

Beowulf- I like your idea of putting them to work, but this has also been called barbaric. See, it's unfair to make people work like that. What are they, slaves? You can't oppress them like that. They're criminals, not hourly workers - that kind of thing is for suckers. Sh*t, if they'd wanted to work, they wouldn't have killed the clerk at 7-11.

We've even had cases in the States where prisoners sued over having to wear the classic striped prison uniforms. Apparently it's degrading to criminals to be recognized as...criminals. Why, that's an insult to their human dignity. Never mind that they sodomized some kid, then sliced them up - it hurts their feelings for people to know they're bad. Another legal fee in the pocket.

As it is now, the death penalty is not a deterrent, because it is invisible. We are detached from death, as if it happens somewhere else, apart from civilized society. Maybe it should be broadcast to the prison population so that they know what awaits them if they continue with crime. I'm all for going full-blown Clockwork Orange on them.

Some have alleged that minorities are unfairly targeted - not true. As I have posted before, in the US (I can't speak for other nations), prison populations reflect the racial makeup of the poor. That is to say that the prison population mirrors not the ratio of blacks to whites to Hispanics in the general population, but that ratio that exists in the poor population. There are simply more poor people committing crimes (for obvious reasons) - so to imply that there is some institutional mechanism at work to target minorities is wrong. There is surely the issue of legal representation (the rich get better lawyers) and the rich are more likely to be non-minority. But that is a symptom of a capitalist system, not a racial policy of the justice system.

[caleb]

Kampfbaer Wrote:

If you look at the same crime from an objective point of view, I do not know anybody in my country who would support DP after ten seconds of thought.

I say sure they would in a heartbeat! In the right situation, and throw in a little mob mentality...you bet. Take a good look at the little known out of the EU, German dog breed ban.

http://www.angelfire.com/biz6/dogholocaust/

Mobs of hysterical wingnuts roaming the streets looking to kill anything that resembles a certain breed. This just smacks of the same cultural hysterical mindset that existed in the middle ages.
Hmmm seen this before.

What's this have to do with people? Well see quote below, and trust me I have worked as a proffessional in this field long enogh to see a strong connection.

" If (man) is not to stifle human feelings, he must practice kindness towards animals, for he who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with man. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." -Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

Not flaming just pointing out some sad details.
Cheers!
M.

Sorry to be that direct but that link is a load of ****.

There have never been any "mass killings" of a certain dog breed in Germany. :cantbeli:

After several incidents in wich "fight dogs" like Staffordshire or Pit Bull Terriers killed or wounded people, the Gouvernment issued a law that ONLY restricts the posession and handling of certain dog types.

But: If a dog repeatedly attacked other people and is proven "agressive" by an independent animal doctor, it will be killed through narcotics. But that happens very few times.

Oh and I'm sure every man or woman that has been to Germany would assure you, that it is one of the "dog friendliest" countries in the world.

[Mongrel]

With all, due respect you don't know what you are talking about.
But I can imagine how much it sucks to have someone show a dirty secret about ones country.

I have been watching this issue for the past 5 years very very close, and interviewed many that have been eye witneses to this issue. I have both friends, and family in Germany giving me reliable info, I have also talked to Government officials, and Vets.

Also I have met many Germans that have come to Canada and left everything behind just to take their dogs out. Germany is not a fine dog country by any stretch...unless of couse you own only a "German breed".

See all the reactions and letters of protests from all the various kennel clubs, and vets as well. And Germanys push to make the rest of the EU take up their witch hunt.

My point was not too go off topic, but to point out that the 'witch hunt' mentality that would vote for the death penelty IS alive and well in Germany, in one form or another. As it still is BTW in many "modern educated" countries.

Cheers!
M.

[Hullebullen]

For me, the only objection I have is that death penalty (when carried out that is) is irrevocable. Other than that I firmly believe that some people we would be better off without.

[Loco]

There are simply more poor people committing crimes (for obvious reasons) - so to imply that there is some institutional mechanism at work to target minorities is wrong. There is surely the issue of legal representation (the rich get better lawyers) and the rich are more likely to be non-minority. But that is a symptom of a capitalist system, not a racial policy of the justice system.
I think the first paragraph is wrong. There are crimes poor people are more keen to commit and crimes typical of rich people, but there are bad people in every social class. Anyway, if in your country it´s like you say, may be you need a marxist revolution to correct that social disparity and so the poor people don´t commit crimes anymore(sarcasm here). In the good old times of communist China, not far ago, certain kind of crimes commited by rich or powerful people were punished with death penalty, and if the chinese CEO of a company cheated with taxes or artificially rose up the prices of his products with prejudice of the chines contributors, they usually were condemned to death penalty and got a bullet in the backneck 30 minutes after being judged. I bet many americans supporting the death penalty would like to change the Law Code in the way they could sit Martha Stewart or World Com and Enron´s CEO in the electric chair. Still you are on time to do it.
I agree with those who say that life in prision musn´t be like living in a hotel, and I would like prision in life for certain crimes.

[Vance]

I used to be really interested in death penalties back when I was about 11. I think it was cause of seeing The Green Mile.

[caleb]

With all, due respect you don't know what you are talking about.
But I can imagine how much it sucks to have someone show a dirty secret about ones country.

I have been watching this issue for the past 5 years very very close, and interviewed many that have been eye witneses to this issue. I have both friends, and family in Germany giving me reliable info, I have also talked to Government officials, and Vets.

Also I have met many Germans that have come to Canada and left everything behind just to take their dogs out. Germany is not a fine dog country by any stretch...unless of couse you own only a "German breed".

See all the reactions and letters of protests from all the various kennel clubs, and vets as well. And Germanys push to make the rest of the EU take up their witch hunt.

My point was not too go off topic, but to point out that the 'witch hunt' mentality that would vote for the death penelty IS alive and well in Germany, in one form or another. As it still is BTW in many "modern educated" countries.

Cheers!
M.

I don't want to get in a fight with but I honestly don't know what the fück you're talking about!!!


But I can imagine how much it sucks to have someone show a dirty secret about ones country.

WTF??
I own a dog myself a Jack-Russel Terrier and I live in Germany. You don't. :bash:

I assume that I know better of my countries inner affairs then you do my Canadian friend. And the truth is what I already stated in my previous post. Only repeatedly violent "fight dogs" like the ones used for dog-fights can be killed AFTER an independent animal doctor aproved the agressivenes of the dog.

I honestly don't know what kinds of "german friends" you have but they must be either some kinds of fundamentalist dog-lovers or hold fight dogs themselfs.

One advice: As a foreigner, it is a stupid idea trying to tell a German how things work in his country.[/quote]

[Mongrel]

One advice: As a foreigner, it is a stupid idea trying to tell a German how things work in his country.

Tell your Government to keep its dog crap out of the EU then.

BTW a Jack Russle is under the 30 cm hight rule so your OK.
Keerist! You don't even know your own countries laws.

Lets take this to PM' ing if you need more info.
Edited to add:
http://www.dapbt.org/researchinfo.htm

And yah tell me these folks are scumbags:
http://www.dapbt.org/baxter.htm

Cheers!
M.

[caleb]

One advice: As a foreigner, it is a stupid idea trying to tell a German how things work in his country.

Tell your Government to keep its dog crap out of the EU then.

BTW a Jack Russle is under the 30 cm hight rule so your OK.
Keerist! You don't even know your own countries laws.

Lets take this to PM' ing if you need more info.
Edited to add:
http://www.dapbt.org/researchinfo.htm

And yah tell me these folks are scumbags:
http://www.dapbt.org/baxter.htm

Cheers!
M.


Are you really that ignorant? You start to piss me off....

I said there are rules against certain dog breeds and they are necessary because of the many incidents we had over the last couple of years. Try to tell public that you won't do anything against something they consider a threat to their security. What determines a " fight dog" may be arguable. The first link you provided just states that the authors think it is false to rule certain dog breeds as "fight dogs" or generally more dangerous than others. The seconds link is the greatest **** and waste of time I've read in a long time.

If you actually would have read the law, what I did then you would probably know that it is impossible and against federal law!!!
:bash:
As a dog holder I've read this law when it first came out and read it again today so I was sure I didn't miss any "holocaust" parts in the law.

http://www.karlsruhe.de/Stadt/BuS/polr06.htm

^This is the link to the "Kampfhundeverordnung" this "evil german holocaust law", it's only in German but it is from the official website of the city of Karlsruhe. There is everything in detail but I guess you can't speak any German? Then use babelfish and just shut the fück up. Again, you are from Canada, I am from Germany...hmm...who would know better of German laws?

But again and I hope You get it this time: There are no fücking "mass-killings" of dogs in my country. But if a dog was repeatedly violent and/or attacked other dogs/people it is possible that it will be killed, because it would be a threat to public security.

[BlackRain]

The other fact is what statistics shows, that racial minories are by far overrepresented in the number of executed people, that´s a blatant scandal that it seems it doesn´t matter for many people favourable to death penalty.

Wrong! You are simplistic in your reasoning. Americans blacks committed a disproportionate amount of crime in the USA relative to their population size of around 35 million.

RACE OF DEFENDANTS EXECUTED IN THE U.S. SINCE 1976

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/G-RaceDefendants.jpg

Whites are executed the most.

FBI Crime stats showing the differences in crime by race.

Each year, some 1.2 million violent crimes involving blacks and whites occur nationwide. In fully 90 percent of those cases, according to U.S. Justice Department figures, the perpetrators are black and the victims are white. Violent white felons choose black victims for fewer than 3 percent of their attacks, whereas violent black felons choose white victims about 56 percent of the time. Statistically, the "average" African American is an astonishing 56 times more likely to attack a white than vice versa. In 1988 there were nine reported incidents of black women being raped by white men. In the same year there were 9,400 reported cases of white women being raped by black men. In 1991 there were 94 reported cases of white on black rape, but 20,016 reported cases of white women being raped by black men. (Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 1993, p.290, Table 351.)

USA Homicide Offenders by Race 1976-2000: All Homicides

White Offenders: 46.4%
Black Offenders: 51.5%
Other Offenders: 02.0%





More reading here: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/race.htm




hangmens from countries of former Warsow Block, France and USA, the one from USA was a former MP who hang the ones from Nuremberg Trial, and this one was the only hangman disrespectful with the convicts, he even bragged how he insulted and bullied the nazis convicts in prision and he lamented he couldn´t torture them, I could snap that old man in the face if I were besides him: You can´t do that!




I read the crimes a convict close to execution did in USA I think: "I don´t feel sorry for you man, bye" and I know if a criminal´d attack anyone close to me I could strangle him if I had the chance, but that´s why there is a fair legal system with warranties, isn´t it?


Let us review your feelings. 1) You are sympathetic to Nazi criminals facing punishment. 2) You are sympathetic to criminals on death row but show no feelings for their victims in your writings.

[Brandon]

Im all for the DP here. It is pretty sickening to think that some son of a bitch that raped and killed another human is sitting in prison eating and living better than I am. Im all for immediate killing of the guilty criminal right after the trial.

We had a case around here about 5 or 6 years ago I think where some sick f**k raped, killed and cut up 2 poor girls. Now this sick bastard and his wife taped the raping, killing and cutting. Now he and his wife are sitting in a prison an hour from here living it up. After "guilty" was said in the court room, they should have dragged their ass outside and either strung them up or put a .20 cent bullet in their head. That would be the end of it. Now they will drain away on the Canadian tax payers until they finally die in jail. Its totally sickening the way our country is run sometimes.

[Loco]

Let us review your feelings. 1) You are sympathetic to Nazi criminals facing punishment. 2) You are sympathetic to criminals on death row but show no feelings for their victims in your writings.
So I must be sentenced to jail.
I´m not sympathetic with nazis in anyway, this is simplistic and false in your side, simply I couldn´t feel any sympathy about them or similiar ideologies, it´s a question of family business so to speak, we had victims. What I say it´s you must not be disrespectul with convicts in the jail, and if anyone it´s going to be executed, you must be extremly careful with them. That old MP was simply a sadist indecent, he only had the luck he was born in USA, but you can be sure if that man was born in Berlin 85 years ago he had served gladly in a death camp, and it´s because people like him aren´t disliked in USA that babyface women take photos of themselves torturing and humiliating men in Irak. You could find bastards like that women and the old MP in my country, but they know they are human sh#t and they´d keep out themselves of taking photos and talking openly of what they did, not to speak of bragging about it.
And there is a difference between simpathy and empathy, and it´s wealthy a hangman or a jail guardian can imagine themselves in the skin of a convict from time to time. I´m against death penalty, but I respect who support that punishement, I don´t respect sadist.

[pinkeye]

The other fact is what statistics shows, that racial minories are by far overrepresented in the number of executed people, that´s a blatant scandal that it seems it doesn´t matter for many people favourable to death penalty.

Wrong! You are simplistic in your reasoning. Americans blacks committed a disproportionate amount of crime in the USA relative to their population size of around 35 million.

RACE OF DEFENDANTS EXECUTED IN THE U.S. SINCE 1976

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/G-RaceDefendants.jpg

Whites are executed the most.

FBI Crime stats showing the differences in crime by race.

Each year, some 1.2 million violent crimes involving blacks and whites occur nationwide. In fully 90 percent of those cases, according to U.S. Justice Department figures, the perpetrators are black and the victims are white. Violent white felons choose black victims for fewer than 3 percent of their attacks, whereas violent black felons choose white victims about 56 percent of the time. Statistically, the "average" African American is an astonishing 56 times more likely to attack a white than vice versa. In 1988 there were nine reported incidents of black women being raped by white men. In the same year there were 9,400 reported cases of white women being raped by black men. In 1991 there were 94 reported cases of white on black rape, but 20,016 reported cases of white women being raped by black men. (Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 1993, p.290, Table 351.)

USA Homicide Offenders by Race 1976-2000: All Homicides

White Offenders: 46.4%
Black Offenders: 51.5%
Other Offenders: 02.0%





More reading here: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/race.htm




hangmens from countries of former Warsow Block, France and USA, the one from USA was a former MP who hang the ones from Nuremberg Trial, and this one was the only hangman disrespectful with the convicts, he even bragged how he insulted and bullied the nazis convicts in prision and he lamented he couldn´t torture them, I could snap that old man in the face if I were besides him: You can´t do that!




I read the crimes a convict close to execution did in USA I think: "I don´t feel sorry for you man, bye" and I know if a criminal´d attack anyone close to me I could strangle him if I had the chance, but that´s why there is a fair legal system with warranties, isn´t it?


Let us review your feelings. 1) You are sympathetic to Nazi criminals facing punishment. 2) You are sympathetic to criminals on death row but show no feelings for their victims in your writings.

kudos for conveniently ignoring the socio-economic factors that permeate the issue!! your post is pathetic...
:cantbeli:

[pinkeye]

http://www.civilrights.org/publications/cj/index.html

http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/usa/

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm

http://www.buildingblocksforyouth.org/justiceforsome/jfs.html

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/htiuscdb.pdf

etc. etc.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

kudos for conveniently ignoring the socio-economic factors that permeate the issue!! your post is pathetic...
:cantbeli:

So what exactly are you saying about these "socio-economic factors"- - that the poor should get a pass on murder because they're poor?

We should have a sliding justice scale if your mommy or daddy didn't love you? If you had to drive a Ford to your senior year of high school instead of a BMW, that you're justified in stealing a BMW?

Once again, misplaced responsibility. You're implying that the offender is not to blame - American society is, right? Now there's a surprise.

But wait - murders happen outside of America too! Is American society to blame for those murders? Then perhaps these socio-economic factors are not unique to America? And since America is no where near the top of the list of nations with the highest murder rates ( I think South Africa is #1) - that indicates that these socio-economic factors are better in the US?

The US better than somebody else? Say it ain't so! You won't be able to pass that up.

Loco - I do agree with you that white collar criminals get off too lightly. Some a-hole wiping out thousands of people's 401k accounts gets off with 6 months in a country club jail. That's criminal.

[BlackRain]

Based on your so called "socio-economic" excuse, the USA should have had a spike in homicides during the "Great Depression".

Most folks were living hand-to-mouth and had nothing. My mother and father lived through the Depression and they were dirt poor.

However, the last time I checked...they never murdered anyone.

So use what ever excuse get's you through the night believing that "socio-economic" factors are the cause for murder and not the lack of self-control.

[Cambridge Rabbit]

Am I the only person here who would rather be sentenced to death than life in prison without the possibility of parole? Even if you can overcome the daily rapes, beatings, and murders, you're still faced with spending the next (in my case) sixty or so years in prison. That must suck. I'd rather be shot behind the court house ten minutes after the jury says, "Guilty!"