People in close custody have nothing but time to think of new ways to "play" with the people around them. Giving a convict a lethal substance and telling him/her "go ahead and use it on yourself" would likely not go well. Before you knew it you'd have three guards on the other side of the prison dropping dead and your inmate would be nice and healthy, probably laughing his/her ass off.

I say lock them up and consider them "legally deceased." No contact with anyone, no mail... nada. After a few years of good time they could earn the privilege of having reading materials other then religious books.

i'm not saying that the punishment of each crime should mirror that crime, but with increasing severity, more time is taken from the criminal's life. i like the idea that if someone serving a long amount of time wishes to die before their sentence is up, then they should have the right to make that request for any sentences lasting longer than 10 years.

imagine how the survivors feel, they would probably want all the horrible things imaginable done to this criminal. naked with lights on 24/7 may cause psychological damage, i agree, but thats kind of the point of punishment: to make people suffer for what they did. cruel and unusual? how many people living in Antarctica live colder than most naked folk with sunlight on for 24 hours a day for 6 months at a time. how many of them are seriously psychologically damaged?

Oh Snap. It's my Graham v. Florida (or was it Florida v. Graham) legal brief all over again. Other countries don't have death penalty for juveniles, only Somalia still does. etc. etc.

Is this cruel and unusual punishment, etc. etc.

I'd really like to see papers discussing solitary confinement and it's mental effects on prisoners.

:Shrug: As far as I'm concerned, the state goal of incapacitation as justification for life without parole is good enough for me.