Another argument for the death penalty is the simple fact that we do not live in a perfect society. While it is not a pretty fact, the death penalty is a "necessary evil" (Amsterdam qtd
Defending life and the sanctity of life is a social responsibility and this is a message that must be sent to all potential murders, says Mufti Zubair Bayat. Murder is the "greatest crime, an open violation of the basic human right to life" (Bayat)
Justice is never wrong and we as a society should never feel guilt or wrong when we feel angry because someone has been murdered. Anger is a "human passion" (Berns qtd
Joanna Shepherd explores the history of capital punishment and explains that while many studies produced mixed results, modern economic studies reveal executions "significantly deter murders" (Shepherd). In addition, Wesley Lowe reports when the death penalty was temporarily suspended, the number of murders in the America "skyrocketed from 9,960 to 23,040, a 131% increase" (Lowe) and the murder rate "doubled from 5
Joanna Shepherd explores the history of capital punishment and explains that while many studies produced mixed results, modern economic studies reveal executions "significantly deter murders" (Shepherd). In addition, Wesley Lowe reports when the death penalty was temporarily suspended, the number of murders in the America "skyrocketed from 9,960 to 23,040, a 131% increase" (Lowe) and the murder rate "doubled from 5
Those enticed by killing someone might think twice if they know their life will be taken as a consequence. Joanna Shepherd explores the history of capital punishment and explains that while many studies produced mixed results, modern economic studies reveal executions "significantly deter murders" (Shepherd)
Indeed, throughout the l990's, despite declines in crime, one state after another pumped tens of millions of dollars into building supermax prisons and supermax facilities within existing prisons-sections that are usually called secure housing units (SHU's). Defenders of supermaxes argue that their restrictions provide a way to establish control in what is inherently an extremely dangerous environment (Abramsky, 2002)
Rather, any overall decrease in prison violence results completely from incapacitating the most violent and serious offenders. The most common goals of supermax prisons are summarized in the following table: Table 1 Goals and intended impacts associated with supermax prison goals Increase prison safety • Fewer murders of staff and prisoners • Fewer assaults on staff and prisoners • Fewer riots • Less concern and fear among inmates and staff about threats to personal safety Increase system wide prison order and control of prisoners • Greater compliance with rules by prisoners • Greater and more consistent fulfillment of daily routines and obligations by prisoners • Fewer disruptions and outbursts • Fewer lockdowns in general population prisons • Fewer use of force incidents by staff • Fewer warning shots fired by staff Improve supermax prisoners' behavior • More successful reintegration of supermax inmates into other prisons and society • Greater rule compliance following release from supermax prison • Less violence following release from supermax prison • Fewer returns to supermax prisons Reduce the influence of gangs • Less gang involvement • Less intimidation by gang members of fellow prisoners • Less drug trafficking Punish violent and disruptive prisoners • Increase level of punishment for violent and disruptive inmates • Increase perceived level of punishment among violent and disruptive inmates Increase public safety • Fewer escape attempts • Fewer successful escapes • Lower recidivism rates among supermax and general population prisoners • Less crime • Less fear of crime among residents Improve operational efficiencies • Reduce delays for prisoners awaiting placement into some type of segregation • Reduce costs by operating fewer segregation cells and blocks in different facilities • Reduce staff time devoted to transporting prisoners from facility to facility Source: (Mears & Watson, 2006) Impacts associated with Supermax Prisons There are many potential impacts of prisons that are intended or unintended and that can be positive or negative
The addition of isolation, however, suggests that the pains of imprisonment in supermax facilities are more severe than those in maximum-security prisons. Consequently, any negative emotional or psychological reactions to imprisonment should be greater in supermax facilities than in lower security facilities" (Pizarro & Stenius, 2004)
Others are simply free-standing prisons that were retrofitted. "According to a study by the Urban Institute, the per-cell cost of a Supermax is about $75,000 annually, compared to $25,000 for each cell in an ordinary state prison" (Ross, 2006)
On the other side, the government argues that the prisoners are chattel and prison administrators should have complete power to place any inmate wherever they want him, regardless of his actions and regardless of the conditions in the prison. Administrators persist that the criterion for placing and keeping an inmate in a supermax remain totally subjective and are based solely on their professional judgment as to the inmate's probable future performance (Rudolph, 2008)
-- considered to be the most dangerous and disruptive can be held in a regime of prolonged solitary confinement in small high-security units, with varying levels of restrictions on visits, telephone calls, access to programming and other privileges. In Scandinavia, pre-trial detainees are routinely held in solitary confinement for up to three months and at times indefinitely, with restricted access to visits, telephone privileges, correspondence and newspapers" (Shalev, 2011)
In 1999, by various counts and various definitions, between thirty and thirty-four states had supermax prisons or units, with more building apace (Supermax Housing: A Survey of Current Practice, 1997). In 2004, state-run supermaxes in 44 states held about 25,000 people (Tapley, 2010)
Stanley Rothman and Stephen Powers, "Execution by Quota," The Public Interest (2) 1994: 44. (Williams, 13 Laurie P
Thomas Aquinas the answer to the question if the death penalty should ever be allowed is "if a man be dangerous and infectious to the community, on account of some sin, it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good."(Campion 1967, 80)
Rhetorically skillful, the pope, speaking before an American audience, used the language of American jurisprudence rather than his faith, stressing the cruelty and unusual nature of capital punishment to condemn the death penalty, even as he made analogies between the death penalty and other medical issues in a way that might make some American Catholics uncomfortable. (Feister, 1999) Not all American Catholics who are outspoken against the death penalty have condemned capital punishment in the same language and terms
"What should we forgive? The first response to this question is, quite simply, everything we can," as Catholics, suggests Maria Harris. (Harris, 2000) She provides the humbling examples in other parts of the world where different groups have struggled with the issue of forgiveness of the most horrifying acts
Amen." (Prejean, 2000) Violence is violence, stresses the nun, even retributive violence by the state, and must thus be abolished
It was not until the last decade of the twentieth century that the majority of the population in at least some European countries became abolitionist. Even at present, a significant portion of the population in England, France, and elsewhere would prefer that executions resume in their nations (Bae, 2008)
In fact, only 454 counties out of 3,146 have carried out any executions. Just 14 counties have executed more than 10 individuals, but together these counties constitute 30% of the national total (Baumgartner & Richardson, 2010)