by Ucal Finley

Created on: October 22, 2008

The debate about the death penalty being effective in deterring violent crimes in America
will continue to exist. It has to be difficult for a family member who has suffered the loss of a loved one due to a violent and maybe even preventable crime.
I believe, for the most part, this is why the death penalty continues to exist. We are a society that takes, at least one aspect of the Bible literally, "an eye for an eye". However, the question remains, is the death of the perpetrator, truly vindication for the wronged and even more so, will it actually keep others from committing similar crimes. The answer unfortunately is no. In the U.S. between the years of 1977 to 1998, 598 persons were put to death. According to the Death Penalty Information Center,

www.deathpenaltyinfo.org, as of January 2007, 3350 people were on death row.
In one year's time, January 2008, that number decreased to 3309 people, which does not support the theory that a sentence of death will stop punishable offences.

In addition to those who are truly guilty of their crime, we must still take issue with those who have been wrongfully convicted. History has proven that the majority of those sentenced to death are minorities and/ or those who cannot afford proper legal representation. We live in a society that is not only biased on race, but also wealth. Those who are seemingly acceptable in society, generally Caucasian, very well off or rich males tend to have judgments ruled in their favor. Others, the outcasts and poor, have an extremely difficult time proving their cases and winning the same results of their counterparts.
None of us are blind to this fact, yet we tend to turn a blind eye or deaf ear to the realities of this facet of the issue.

Does this mean that we should allow the persons committing a punishable by death offence to continue to live? Well, of course. The judicial system and legislative branch need to create harsher laws to determine the fate of these criminals and should even consider removing their "rights" as prisoners. If prisons and correctional facilities resembled more of an undesirable place to live, than many of them are today, this may be a more effective deterrent. Prisoners should not be allowed contact with the outside world at all; they should not have Internet access, weight training facilities, televisions, pay phones or three wholesome meals a day. Prisoners should actually pay for their crimes and not be given the luxuries as though they are out in the free world. They should be forced to live with the consequences of their actions, begging and praying for the day of their release. Taking away privileges that many prisoners have while locked up should really make a potential con choose freedom over jail.

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