Quote:
Originally Posted by MSD
It's a heavily studied subject, and the fact is that heavy punishments like the death penalty do not deter criminals because the vast majority who commit crimes do not expect to be caught.
|
They not only don't expect to get caught, they also know the the likelihood of being actually executed is so very remote. Although it is common to decry the death penalty, we for all practical purposes do not have one.
In its place we have a kind of "death penalty theatre" played by get tough politicians on one side and liberal activists and protesters on the other. Death row inmates are rarely if ever actually executed.
The death penalty will of course fail as a deterrent if it is never actually carried out.
Lindy