09-21-2005, 07:43 PM
gekko,Sep 21 2005, 01:50 PM Wrote:...I think if the crime is an abomination and there is overwhelming evidence then death is a reasonable solution. If there is any doubt then the State should not seek or advocate the death penalty. I'd be in favor of a prisoner labor system (chain gang) if a way could be found to keep it from being abused. There is also the added deterrent between serving hard time of the past, and the serving time now days. Unfortunately, in many juristictions drifters and vagrants were rounded up and pinned with lengthy jail terms to inflate the free work force, which in turn lined the pockets of the prison officials, law enforcement, local businesses, and everyone else involved.
Personally, I am more interested in the question of live in prison vs. the death penalty - how much more of a deterrant is one vs. the other? How cruel or humane is one vs. the other? Should public taxes be used to keep dangerous offendors alive for 50+ years?
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Some revivals of this concept in Ohio, Cincinnati Enquirer - Chain gang begins its work And, the controversial and extremes of Joe Arpaio. But, again, I'm not totally convinced that criminals really consider getting caught, and if they do not think about that then death or tough prisons are not a deterrant.