To think we should bring back the Death Penalty for proven very serious offenders

[ILiveAtTheBeach]

They have raped and murdered. Yet, they have no money worries, a roof over their head, 3 square meals a day, Sky TV, PS4, arranged activities....why are we so bloody soft? We have an over crowding problem in jails. Why can't we give these monsters a lethal injection and be done with it? Sometimes they are released back into society under a false identity (to protect them). What about our protection? They could move in next door. Who would be up for getting rid?

Sometimes they are released back into society under a false identity (to protect them). Are you thinking of Jamie Bulger's killers, Mary Bell (ie children themselves), Maxine Carr (not a killer but gave a false alibi?)

Tempting though the idea can be in cases such as the Yorkshire Ripper or the Soham murder case, I think not. It is state sponsored murder and we lose the moral high ground.

Also, serious miscarriages of justice do occur. If the victim of these is in prison they can be released/compensated in some way. If they are dead, what then? It is just too much of a risk.

So no to the return of the death penalty from me.

However, I would like "life" sentences to mean just that, life in prison unless there turns out to have been a miscarriage of justice.

I'm on the fence, the arguments against it for wrongful convictions are a good point but on the other hand you have monsters like Ian Brady who continue to play their little psychopathic mind games from behind bars and harm their victims' families even more. I wouldn't be too sorry if he had hanged for his crimes.

And prisons are overcrowded with petty criminals, not murders and rapists. Increasing conviction rates for serious crimes would be a more realistic start.

OP - would you be prepared to personally look into the person's eyes, and flick the switch/ inject the poison.

In front of their family?

Yabu

No.
So many reasons why not but the most obvious which springs to mind is the Birmingham Serious Crime Squad.

I think all pedophiles should die a slow and painful death. the death penalty should be allowed to be used for people that harm any child

www.google.co.uk/search?q=luxury+prison+england&rlz=1C1CHWA_enGB598GB598&es_sm=93&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CCoQsARqFQoTCIbB8JrphskCFQWODwodyzEEpg

A family member of mine was murdered. I have no interest in seeing the person who did that killed, because that would make me as bad as them.

YABU. Going around killing people is mad stuff. Going around killing people because you are bitter that they can earn TV privileges is off the wall crazy.

Nope, would emigrate before I lived in a country that takes the life of human beings as punishment.

Of course if someone hurt my child I would want their entrails ripped out and fed to sharks but I don't ever want the society I live in to sanction this as public policy.

No. No. No. No. No.

What is that link meant to be showing OP, cos I'm getting a former prison turned hotel...

Ha ha most of those swish pictures are from FORMER prisons turned into boutique hotels.

2/10 OP.

I love that you're using photos of the Malmaison Oxford to make your point there. It is nice, I agree.

The mark of a civilised society is one that knows the difference between punishment and revenge...and ensures the former never becomes the latter.

I could never condone state executions.

yes some of those are pictures of HOTELS - such as Mal Maison in Oxford that was built in an EX prison

I would like to know what sort of person who would choose this as a career choice.

Beach, there have been several points raised about where / how do you draw the line in the sand as to what is / isn't sufficient for execution? I asked some serious questions about how this would affect the victim - might be worth considering.

Slightly more important than television...

ILiveAtTheBeach - You still haven't addressed the question of convicting the wrong person.

Mistakes are made. A lot of innocent people would be dead if the death penalty were still around. You can free an innocent person - you can't resurrect them.

I do think sentences for some murders are shockingly brief - but that's a whole different argument.

And the punitive part of prison is the total loss of autonomy and freedom. I don't think harsh conditions are necessary to punish. I also question whether enough murderers who would warrant the death penalty are imprisoned to make the least dent on over-crowding.

I think there are lots of problems with prison. I think we lock up too many people and I also agree there is a problem with male violence and that some crimes don't have log enough sentences. I think there is a huge problem with rehabilitation and helping prisoners once they're released. I can understand why some people reoffend but I think that says more about how shit their life outside is, than how wonderful life inside is.

I absolutely, positively, vehemently do not agree with the death penalty. Not for any crime. Never.

I don't think prison is a cushy life. Your every move monitored and controlled. Pointless activities and watching TV all day. Sharing a cell, never on your own. You'll never go to the pub again. The corner shop. The beach.

I think we've become immune to what it means to take someone's liberty away. It's a fucking big deal. Don't need the death penalty.