Is it more humane to execute someone or sentence them to a life in prison?

[exball]

I am saying that rational people only abide by the law for fear of punishment. Some people will irrationally avoid commiting crime but rational people will commit crime for personal gain if possible and reliable

So if their were no laws around you would basically run around cheating and stealing? I would say that's more an example of your character rather than a rational person.

 

[autisticdragonkin]

So if their were no laws around you would basically run around cheating and stealing? I would say that's more an example of your character rather than a rational person.

I wouldn't because I am an irrational person who doesn't have the will to do such things. If I were perfectly rational I would but I am not.
This flaw can be turned into an advantage if laws are written such that statistically breaking them will always cause a net loss and following them will always get a net gain though.

 

[Xarpho]

I believe a state has no right to impose a legally irreversible sentence on someone. This includes formally being put to death or being exposed to so much danger while incarcerated that the person is killed or severely disabled by others.

Such a right protects the rights of the wrongfully accused. If a sentence cannot be reversed in light of any evidence the person was innocent, it is not a fair sentence. There is a shocking number of death row vindications from DNA evidence.

No state, not even Texas, just executes people within a few years of sentencing*, and executions are still done for the "worst of the worst". Most of the criminals had been in prison for 10-30 years before. In 2015, just about 30 people (that's for the whole United States) were executed, which is a tiny fraction of people who commit homicides.

* The list linked does include Alredo Prieto, a serial killer executed in Virginia just four years after sentencing, not sure what the circumstances there were, and Daniel Lopez, who voluntarily waived appeals

 

[AnOminous]

No state, not even Texas, just executes people within a few years of sentencing*, and executions are still done for the "worst of the worst".

The problem is it's generally for those who have the worst of the worst lawyers, rather than those who commit the worst of the worst crimes. A lot of Texas death row cases are just run of the mill drug dealers shooting each other type cases, not the kind of horrific, depraved killings that genuinely deserve it.

 

[Datiko]

I would have to preface by stating I disagree with how the prison system in many countries works. Too many countries treat prison as a harsh punishment then impose so many restrictions after release that the lines between the outside and inside begin to blur. All systems like these produce are high rates of recidivism. I feel like sending somebody to jail should be a punishment, but reform should be the goal. Being locked up and out of control of ones life for years or decades is punishment enough. Once a felon serves their sentence they should be able to rejoin society and resume all of their suspended rights without restrictions. I absolutely disagree with felony disenfranchisement, marks on background check, and sexual offender registries.

Based on my beliefs, I completely disagree with "life without parole" or "multiple life sentences. In these cases society says," This felon is beyond redemption. There is too much risk for the rest of society for us to ever let them walk free again.". In that case, I believe it is simply more humane to execute them. Keep the long appeals process to provide the accused every chance to prove their innocence or that they can be saved even if the cost is higher than life imprisonment. Cost isn't the issue. Removing a "threat" to society is the civilized way to execute the intent of the life sentence.

 

[Chippy]

This is a tough one.

Honestly, I think that this would need to be something that would have to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Who determines if the punishment is humane? Shouldn't the criminal have a say in it? Or not?

If it was me, and I knew I had no chance of ever escaping prison or being released, I'd rather just die. I've been binge watching Beyond Scared Straight the last few nights while gaming, and if I've learned anything, it's that the American prison system is hell on earth. If you're stuck inside it and there's no chance to escape, that's a very dreary and hopeless situation. You're a slave-- that's not conjecture, it's literally in the text of the Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution, and a lot of corporations exploit prison labor, as well. And that's just the things that are internal to your situation, disregarding the likelihood of getting beaten or raped by the other inmates.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'd rather die than spend the rest of my life in prison with the way that the prison-industrial complex is in the United States.

But there are some people who would probably rather live in prison for the rest of their life rather than dying, for some unfathomable reason. So this isn't the sort of situation that has a one-size-fits-all answer, I think it would need to be left up to the criminal in question, at least partially.

That being said, I am more or less against the death sentence on principle-- I do think that that's inhumane, because it is a permanent solution that erases all possibility for release of the criminal if they're ever found innocent, and it's been proven several times that the justice system is not infallible and that it does make (serious) mistakes more often than it should.

 

[autisticdragonkin]

If it was me, and I knew I had no chance of ever escaping prison or being released, I'd rather just die.

That is an unlikely scenario though

I've been binge watching Beyond Scared Straight the last few nights while gaming, and if I've learned anything, it's that the American prison system is hell on earth.

Beyond scared straight is not a reliable source

If you're stuck inside it and there's no chance to escape, that's a very dreary and hopeless situation.

There is always a chance to escape even if extremely slim

But there are some people who would probably rather live in prison for the rest of their life rather than dying, for some unfathomable reason. So this isn't the sort of situation that has a one-size-fits-all answer, I think it would need to be left up to the criminal in question, at least partially.

Can't one just say that they are wrong or that they are taking escaping into account

That being said, I am more or less against the death sentence on principle-- I do think that that's inhumane, because it is a permanent solution that erases all possibility for release of the criminal if they're ever found innocent, and it's been proven several times that the justice system is not infallible and that it does make (serious) mistakes more often than it should.

Well isn't there a certain amount of time in which even if a convict is found innocent their life becomes not worth living due to spending do much of it in prison. Assuming no escape or contact with the outside world I would rather be executed for a crime that I didn't commit after a year then spend 35 years in prison and then be released.

 

[GS 281]

Both seem as though they could be equally measured in terms of humanity. If someone commits a crime and they are incarcerated, then it is the responsibility of the government to care for them. I don't like the idea of the government being able to kill people who have been convicted of a crime.

Unless its Chris, he's basically hitler.

 

[AnOminous]

I don't like the idea of the government being able to kill people who have been convicted of a crime.

Unless its Chris, he's basically hitler.

The government doesn't have to kill you, though. They can just go out for a doughnut while you're raped and murdered in prison.

 

[GS 281]

If "you" is Chris then I hope they at least video it.

 

[MarvinTheParanoidAndroid]

The major problem with the death sentence is that often times the wrong man gets convicted for the crime. At least when the right person gets convicted in a life sentence, the other guy gets to continue living whatever hollow shell of a life remains for him.

Then there's the issue with the method of execution. I heard that when they use the lethal injection, they don't actually use enough of the stuff required to kill a dog and it turns out to be a long, horrible & painful process that lasts way longer than intended.

 

[Derbydollar]

It really depends on the quality of life in prison. Take this for example:

From what I understand, and I'm hardly an expert on the subject, this picture reflects itself in more than just the quality of the room.
Swedish prisoners are able to request things like movies and video games while American prisoners are not, for example.

If you're just going to be stuck in a room with extremely limited access to entertainment and communication, then yes: Execution could be argued the more humane option IMO