The Forum > Article Comments > Lives cut short - the ugly reality of the death penalty > Comments
Lives cut short - the ugly reality of the death penalty : Comments
By Tim Goodwin, published 6/7/2005Tim Goodwin argues Australia should be doing more to encourage our neighbours to abandon the death penalty.
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Is the use of capital punishment a deterrent or punishment? From a pro side, to call it a punishment would better suit the deterrent claim. It reflects the crime. A deterrent is for those who would commit the crime, not have committed it.
The option: Life in prison. In Australia the average lifer is about 15yrs at the moment. Some are natural predators who will kill again, no matter the punishment instilled. If Life is to be an option, it should be life.
Then weigh life against the social cost. The average cost of housing prisoners is roughly $38,000(AUS). The conditions for most prisoners? They generally have access to many resources victims and other citizens don’t have. Where’s the justice?
Against:
Does the death penalty make the society as bad as the executed? Are we no better than those we kill, if we condone killing to satisfy our desires (safety, vengeance, etc.)?
What is the price we pay for an innocent death? Current figures indicate that no innocents have been killed. Well, who’s current figures? Who can really know? A rhetorical argument but then, what is the price society is willing to pay? What is the price an individual is willing to pay? What if it was your father, brother, daughter? Corby by example (yes, yawn!). Who REALLY knows if she’s innocent (no, not believes, KNOWS)? What if it was the death penalty? Better yet, what if a true offender had been located after she had died? Some thinking required.
Life in prison offers the chance that offenders will make a change. Life offers offenders time to learn and grow. It can also offer offenders a living hell for a long time. Resources might be plentiful but security, peace and contentment is near non-existent.
I do not know the answer. I think each will come to a place they are comfortable with. However I would err on the side of caution – I know I wouldn’t sleep well if I put some one to death and was wrong. Would you burden another with that responsibility?