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I think the point is having an execution over your head is a form of torture - as if waiting for the execution in a maximum security prison cell isn't torture i

I think the point is having an execution over your head is a form of torture - as if waiting for the execution in a maximum security prison cell isn't torture itself. The appeals process doesn't always work. So - people who were on Death Row that were then freed: The West Memphis Three [0]. In this case, it's been widely credited that the legal system was incredibly corrupt and a retrial just never could be done, since so many people made their careers off of it. It was a witch hunt. They sentenced teenagers to death. I don't see how that could ever be a good idea. [0]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Memphis_Three http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Memphis_Three

slg 11y ago
>The appeals process doesn't always work. >So - people who were on Death Row that were then freed: The West Memphis Three [0]. In this case, it's been widely credited that the legal system was incredibly corrupt and a retrial just never could be done, since so many people made their careers off of it. It was a witch hunt. They sentenced teenagers to death. I don't see how that could ever be a good idea. Isn't this addressing the symptom and not the cause? It sounds like the real issue is a potentially corrupt justice system. The death penalty if obviously worse, but you can't exactly give those kids the 15+ years of their life back either.
- dragonwriter 11y ago
  > Isn't this addressing the symptom and not the cause? If you can propose an adequate remedy for the cause that negates the need to mitigate the symptoms, please do so. Otherwise, yes, and so what? > It sounds like the real issue is a potentially corrupt justice system. Sure, one of the root problems is the fallibility of the criminal justice system (whether failures are do to corruption or other sources.) This is exacerbated when failures result in executions. > The death penalty if obviously worse, but you can't exactly give those kids the 15+ years of their life back either. Well, no, you can't give them the time they spent in prison back. You can give them the rest of their life that would have been taken away had the wrongful sentence been fully executed, and you can potentially give them some, even if imperfect, compensation for the part you can't undo.

slg 11y ago

>The appeals process doesn't always work. >So - people who were on Death Row that were then freed: The West Memphis Three [0]. In this case, it's been widely credited that the legal system was incredibly corrupt and a retrial just never could be done, since so many people made their careers off of it. It was a witch hunt. They sentenced teenagers to death. I don't see how that could ever be a good idea. Isn't this addressing the symptom and not the cause? It sounds like the real issue is a potentially corrupt justice system. The death penalty if obviously worse, but you can't exactly give those kids the 15+ years of their life back either.

dragonwriter 11y ago
> Isn't this addressing the symptom and not the cause? If you can propose an adequate remedy for the cause that negates the need to mitigate the symptoms, please do so. Otherwise, yes, and so what? > It sounds like the real issue is a potentially corrupt justice system. Sure, one of the root problems is the fallibility of the criminal justice system (whether failures are do to corruption or other sources.) This is exacerbated when failures result in executions. > The death penalty if obviously worse, but you can't exactly give those kids the 15+ years of their life back either. Well, no, you can't give them the time they spent in prison back. You can give them the rest of their life that would have been taken away had the wrongful sentence been fully executed, and you can potentially give them some, even if imperfect, compensation for the part you can't undo.