capital punishment lowers us to the level of the psychopath.

All human life is sacred, including - and especially - that of the enemies of reason and compassion.

You seem to have failed to take into account the wishes of those who are to be punished. Given a choice 'twixt life in an institution, life in prison and death, I suspect that the vast majority of people would opt for former two. The human instinct for self-preservation is so powerful that most people will endure lifetimes of misery in the most horrific circumstances (far worse than Australian prisons) rather than end their own life. I agree that psychopaths do not deserve our cruelty, but I consider murder (for that is what is being proposed) far crueller than deprivation of liberty.

That being said, if a 'never to be released' prisoner would rather suicide than endure prison, I think they should have the option of painless medical euthanasia, instead of having to trying to make do with their bedsheets.

"Gardening" is why many of the criminals are there.

Society needs alot a faith in the justice systen, before we can consider capital punishment. Stop false convictions and then consider this option.

I have always thought there was a lot to be said for transportation. Violent serial offenders who have demonstrated they cannot be relied on to follow the constraints of law should be prepared to forego its benefits as well. Set aside a remote island for them, assign a gunboat to guard it, supply some seeds, agricultural equipment and medical supplies, and let them get on with it at a safe distance.

Contributing Author
Bernie Matthews:

Debate on Incarceration and prisons is in short supply on these pages. Bernie Matthews was a contributing author on this subject in the period 2003 until his sudden disappearance from the pages of OLO in 2007. All his contributions are available through OLO archives and are a fruitful read for those interested in juvenile justice and its outcomes and much much more on this interesting social topic

Brian writes
'Science says that a crime is directed by a neural network in the perpetrator's brain, and that this network is hard-wired from birth, not acquired later. We'd rather not think about that.'

Science in the 70's said the earth was in for an ice age. Science until fraud was uncovered recently said that the earth is going to cook. Please include the word 'pseudo' when trying to justify your theory by pseudo science. Crime is simply a choice. It is made easier by those who refuse to lovingly discipline their children. I think that is a lot closer to the mark.