Do executions deter would-be murderers?

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MielieSpoor

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Each execution deters an average of 18 murders, according to a 2003 nationwide study by professors at Emory University.
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They count between three and 18 lives that would be saved by the execution of each convicted killer.
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I say bring back the death penalty!! That will have a huge effect on crime in this country!!!
 
21000 murders a year, so we only need to execute 1200 or so murderers.

/me gets axe
 
With the state of or justice system, it wouldn't be a good idea.

Just imagine that one of your family members were accused wrongly of a crime and sent to death but proving in the court otherwise might not help.

The country should sort out its justice system, build more prisons etc etc. That will deter more murderers from doing so. A lot of the ppl who commit crimes have nothing to lose anyways.
 
According to stats in the US, there's no correlation between murder rates in states with the death penalty vs those without. Same applies to different countries.

This would imply that the death penalty has no deterring effect - and why would it? Most deliverate criminals think they're not going to get caught, and criminals of passion aren't thinking about consequences.
 
Hmmmm, I say bring it back. Only when the crime is reaaly hardcore. Like mass murdering or rape and murder.

And so what if someone is executed wrongly. They sacrificed for a greater good;)
 
Do executions deter would-be murderers?
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Have listened to many a debate about whether this punishment is a deterrent or not.
I look at it from another angle. Even if it does not deter would be murderers, why should the law abiding public pay to keep people like this alive?
 
Sneeky said:
Have listened to many a debate about whether this punishment is a deterrent or not.
I look at it from another angle. Even if it does not deter would be murderers, why should the law abiding public pay to keep people like this alive?
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Two reasons.

1: It's cheaper than executing them.
2: Mistakes. I'm very disturbed at the number of death-row or life prisoners in the US that have been freed in the last few years due to new DNA evidence. It's relatively easy to free and compensate a guy for a mistake. Not so easy when he's dead.
 
I agree taht the death penalty should be in place. The punishment should fit the crime. Rape or Murder should get the death penalty. Stealing should get their hand chopped off...
 
Claymore said:
According to stats in the US, there's no correlation between murder rates in states with the death penalty vs those without. Same applies to different countries.

This would imply that the death penalty has no deterring effect - and why would it? Most deliverate criminals think they're not going to get caught, and criminals of passion aren't thinking about consequences.
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That's because their justice system is a little more mature than ours to say the least.
 
JUGGY said:
And so what if someone is executed wrongly. They sacrificed for a greater good;)
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I'm sure you'll still have that opinion when it is you or a member of your family about to be murdered by the state.
 
noxibox said:
I'm sure you'll still have that opinion when it is you or a member of your family about to be murdered by the state.
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This is one of those eternal moral / ethical questions.
"Would you rather all criminals were convicted, along with 5% innocent people, or that no innocents were convicted, but 10% of criminals 'got off' "

No real right / wrong answer.

However, it is pretty evident that SOMETHING need be done in SA - leaving things "as is" is not helping.
 
noxibox said:
I'm sure you'll still have that opinion when it is you or a member of your family about to be murdered by the state.
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It was meant as a light hearted joke. Are you implying that I come from criminally minded family or my friends are dodgy?

Don't assume to know who I am.

If one of my family members mudered or raped someone then they must be punished, I have consistent moral values.
 
noxibox said:
Because we're better than them.
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I don't really want to argue that point - it is afterall correct.

However, consider:

So are the people who could have gotten better educations / health / housing etc with the money NOT spent on housing crims.
 
JUGGY said:
It was meant as a light hearted joke. Are you implying that I come from criminally minded family or my friends are dodgy?

Don't assume to know who I am.
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Suddenly not-so-funny when its your family, hey?

What was noxibox assuming? He was asking "what if?" before you had your sense of humour failure.
 
Wel, you've edited it since I replied. Is it still alright if one of your family is executed wrongly? Just a "light-hearted" question?
 
chiskop said:
Wel, you've edited it since I replied. Is it still alright if one of your family is executed wrongly? Just a "light-hearted" question?
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That would be anacceptable, with new technologies ie DNA testing and forensic sciences so advanced there is a much smaller chance that that would happen.

Like I said, what I said in my first post was meant to be light hearted. I apologise if it was insensitive.
 
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