01-26-2006, 04:13 PM
The entire American prison system has a rather significant identity crisis. Someone just needs to decide whether we're rehabilitating or punishing criminals. The stated goal for the prison system is that the entire instiution is intended to rehabilitate individuals who break the law, but then 38 of 50 states execute people and people who seem to be legitimately rehabilitated are killed anyway (i.e. Stan Williams aka Tookie). Throw in the fact that prison sentences are way out of whack - I can get 22 years in prison for setting fire to some SUVs but attempted rape gets me 15 days in jail? ( http://www.freefreenow.org/sentences.html and http://www.freefreenow.org/ ) - and I have to question whether our legal system is impartial enough to decide whether someone lives or dies.
It even costs more money to sentence someone to death than keep them incarcerated for life since a capital case goes through so many appeals. 65% of capital cases are overturned. 10% of inmates on death row are mentally retarded. It has yet to be shown that the death penalty actually deters crime. Has it really come down to vengeance and "it makes me feel good to kill this person"? That's a scary thought.
Why are we so eager to kill fellow human beings?
http://www.newsbatch.com/deathpenalty.htm
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-facts-eng
It even costs more money to sentence someone to death than keep them incarcerated for life since a capital case goes through so many appeals. 65% of capital cases are overturned. 10% of inmates on death row are mentally retarded. It has yet to be shown that the death penalty actually deters crime. Has it really come down to vengeance and "it makes me feel good to kill this person"? That's a scary thought.
Why are we so eager to kill fellow human beings?
http://www.newsbatch.com/deathpenalty.htm
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-facts-eng
--Mith
I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Jack London
I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Jack London