Do you agree with death penalty?

[TheKnightWho]

You didn't answer my question. You asked if you could just execute psychopaths OR did you have to wait until they were actually throttling someone?

Hence my question - are you suggesting killing all psychopaths even before they've committed a crime?

That really is 1984!
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So how are you going to protect us from the psychopaths ? The Russell Square murderer will always be a threat to us all for as long as he lives - execute him and that threat is gone. Unfortunately a poor innocent woman has lost her life because of your attitude. What is wrong with putting the rights and safety of everyday folk ahead of a murderous loony ?

Similarly to the EU poll

Perhaps the fact that we don't lock people up before they've committed a crime? It's very obvious that you're an extreme authoritarian individual, but thankfully we don't live in that kind of society.

 

[NSEFAN]

How much money would be spent on executing this occasional madman murderer?

Given how bureaucratic and bespoke the process would be, it could easily be millions of pounds per inmate.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Given how bureaucratic and bespoke the process would be, it could easily be millions of pounds per inmate.

Whenever a figure is quoted on how much it costs to keep certain people in incarceration, why does that figure never seem to be remotely the same as by the same incurred by people living at home?

 

[richw]

I'm not sure.

The French police seem to have got to the point where they don't even bother with a court, they just shoot certain offenders straight down.

 

[me123]

Whenever a figure is quoted on how much it costs to keep certain people in incarceration, why does that figure never seem to be remotely the same as by the same incurred by people living at home?

Probably because most people don't have guards keeping a close eye on them for 24 hours a day

 

[Harbornite]

I can see sense in arguments for and against capital punishment. I must admit that when I hear of stories such as the recent stabbing attacks in London, I do feel as though the perpetrators shouldn't be kept alive and that they have no place in society.
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Make of this what you will...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told a huge rally in Istanbul that he would approve the return of the death penalty if it was backed by parliament and the public.
He was speaking to hundreds of thousands of flag-waving supporters who had gathered in Turkey's biggest city.
The rally followed last month's failed coup.
Mr Erdogan also said the state would be cleansed of all supporters of the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.
The cleric is blamed by the Turkish government for the attempted uprising. He denies any involvement.
Religious figures and leaders of two of Turkey's three opposition parties attended the rally. The Kurdish party was not invited.

More than 270 people died in events surrounding the 15 July coup attempt, which triggered a government crackdown.

Thousands of alleged supporters of Mr Gulen have been detained or dismissed from government jobs.
Western nations have been critical of the government's response to the coup. The European Union - which Turkey has applied to join - refuses to accept capital punishment in member states.
Mr Erdogan told the rally: "It is the Turkish parliament that will decide on the death penalty... I declare it in advance, I will approve the decision made by the parliament.
"They say there is no death penalty in the EU... Well, the US has it; Japan has it; China has it; most of the world has it. So they are allowed to have it. We used to have it until 1984. Sovereignty belongs to the people, so if the people make this decision I am sure the political parties will comply."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37003819

 

[Butts]

I can see sense in arguments for and against capital punishment. I must admit that when I hear of stories such as the recent stabbing attacks in London, I do feel as though the perpetrators shouldn't be kept alive and that they have no place in society.
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Make of this what you will...



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37003819

Could Erdogan introduce it retrospectively? - silly question seemingly he can do what he likes

 

[Mutant Lemming]

That really is 1984!
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Perhaps the fact that we don't lock people up before they've committed a crime? It's very obvious that you're an extreme authoritarian individual, but thankfully we don't live in that kind of society.

No just one that puts the rights and safety of vermin like Smail Ayad above innocent individuals.
I, and I would imagine an awful lot of people, would have absolutely no qualms about seeing him executed.
Maybe you'd prefer to have him as a neighbour when he's released.

 

[Bromley boy]

A fascinating question.

My instinctive view is that the death penalty should never be imposed by the state. As any criminologist will attest, it demonstrably does not deter crime (many crimes eligible for the death penalty are committed in "the heat of the moment"). It does not, in practice, reduce costs. In my view it also reduces the justice system to a savage, base level where vengeance is meted out rather than justice.

However the mandatory death sentence formally imposed for murder in the uk has been replaced with a mandatory "life" sentence, which in many cases no longer means true "life" due to sentencing tariffs. This is also wholly unacceptable, in my view, for the most serious cases. Conversely it also means certain cases of murder, where partial defences such as diminished responsibility do not apply, attract a life sentence where many would agree this is too harsh a punishment (think euthanasia). .

For murder, life should mean life in certain cases. In other cases, it clearly should not. For this reason I would be in favour of introducing "degrees of murder" with appropriate sentencing tariffs, up to and including "life without parole" as is the case in the US.

As an aside, the death sentence as it used to be imposed in the UK took some beating. A dignified, swift and humane execution by long-drop hanging soon after trial rather than the appalling charade we see delivered in the US, protected over decades and with much suffering for all concerned.

 

[Harbornite]

My instinctive view is that the death penalty should never be imposed by the state. As any criminologist will attest, it demonstrably does not deter crime

After reading this, I looked up Albert Pierrepoint, one of Britain's most famous executioners. Although I was aware of him, I didn't know until today that he in fact shared this stance.

 

[Butts]

After reading this, I looked up Albert Pierrepoint, one of Britain's most famous executioners. Although I was aware of him, I didn't know until today that he in fact shared this stance.

You should read his biography if you ever get the chance - fascinating reading.
He hanged most of the Nazi War Criminals and Ruth Ellis if I remember correctly.

Half decent film starring Timothy Spall in the title role as well.

 

[Busaholic]

After reading this, I looked up Albert Pierrepoint, one of Britain's most famous executioners. Although I was aware of him, I didn't know until today that he in fact shared this stance.

As did his father and uncle, both Pierrepoints, both of whom executed people. James Berry, from Victorian times, also came out against the practice.

 

[fowler9]

The death penalty clearly doesn't work as a deterrent or it would never have been used anywhere it is a possible option. If it doesn't work as a deterrent then I cannot justify it, it is revenge.

 

[Busaholic]

The death penalty clearly doesn't work as a deterrent or it would never have been used anywhere it is a possible option. If it doesn't work as a deterrent then I cannot justify it, it is revenge.

The death penalty could work as a deterrent in lessening or even abolishing certain crimes, but probably not (except in certain cases) murder. For instance, if a mandatory death penalty was in place for mobile phone use while driving, the problem with this menace would disappear virtually overnight, certainly once it had been applied. I'm not being flippant, let alone advocating that it should happen, I'm just pointing out that drastic 'solutions' can be found for many problems, so drastic that most people with a sense of proportion wouldn't agree with them. Certain Far East states have found that sentencing smugglers of/dealers in hard drugs to death has had a salutary effect, and imo such an approach is worthy of consideration, although again I'm not advocating it.

 

[fowler9]

The death penalty could work as a deterrent in lessening or even abolishing certain crimes, but probably not (except in certain cases) murder. For instance, if a mandatory death penalty was in place for mobile phone use while driving, the problem with this menace would disappear virtually overnight, certainly once it had been applied. I'm not being flippant, let alone advocating that it should happen, I'm just pointing out that drastic 'solutions' can be found for many problems, so drastic that most people with a sense of proportion wouldn't agree with them. Certain Far East states have found that sentencing smugglers of/dealers in hard drugs to death has had a salutary effect, and imo such an approach is worthy of consideration, although again I'm not advocating it.

It doesn't work though. There are still drugs in Thailand etc. etc. etc. You just seem to end up with the odd high profile case where someone from the west gets executed for drug dealing or whatever and the person who made it happen gets away with it.