Death Penalty -vs- Life In Prison

Discussion in 'Philosophy & Psychology' started by Bess Barber, Sep 20, 2019.

  1. Bess Barber

    Bess Barber Veteran Member
    Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2019
    Messages:
    3,760
    Likes Received:
    7,600
    If you had committed a crime which would warrant a choice of the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole, which one would you choose?

    I would prefer the death penalty. I absolutely could not endure a 'prison' life. No privacy, all the noise, the other inmates. It would be a living hell for me. I would rather be dead. Just get it over with.
     
    #1
  2. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,311
    Likes Received:
    42,316
    I believe I have read that death row inmates are not in general population. I might be OK with that since I am a loner by nature and can entertain myself if I have books. Neither choice holds much attraction, though. :D
     
    #2
  3. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Messages:
    51,949
    Likes Received:
    17,919
    Definitely death!! I couldn't bear to be locked up. never to feel the grass under your feet, to never touch a tree, to never sit by the seashore.. to never drive a car, never even get on a bus or train, never to go into a shop , never to stroke a dog, never to visit the countryside and open fields, never to turn your own light off at night, never to choose when to have your own meals , never to make your own choices, ...nope I'd choose them to pull that switch without a shadow of any doubt!!
     
    #3
    Cody Fousnaugh and Bess Barber like this.
  4. Al Amoling

    Al Amoling Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
    Messages:
    4,555
    Likes Received:
    8,377
    69629544_2823019147712825_9157353566266982400_n.jpg I think I'd rather be dead instead of waiting around.
     
    #4
  5. Bess Barber

    Bess Barber Veteran Member
    Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2019
    Messages:
    3,760
    Likes Received:
    7,600
    Did you know if you are on death row, they give you a full physical to make sure you are healthy enough to die? :confused:
     
    #5
  6. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
    Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    13,054
    Likes Received:
    24,630
    Let’s see now.
    I’ll take a 3 lb Porterhouse, a loaded baked potato, Brussels sprouts w/ sauce Bernaise, Cherries Jubilee for dessert and a bottle of Chateau Margaux. The ‘34 would be nice but the 2000 will do.
    Yeah, skip the salad, not enough room for it.

    Nuff said?
     
    #6
  7. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2017
    Messages:
    8,797
    Likes Received:
    15,381
    Lucky for me, I don't see me ever having to make that choice. Probably death and not twenty plus years down the road
    My contribution to society by not having to house, feed, care for medical needs or my rehabilitation concerns that I will never use.Society should not have to pay for my :)upkeep for long.
     
    #7
    Bess Barber and Bobby Cole like this.
  8. Bess Barber

    Bess Barber Veteran Member
    Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2019
    Messages:
    3,760
    Likes Received:
    7,600
    @Bobby Cole I think it would be difficult to enjoy a last meal under the circumstances regardless of what it was. However, your choice was excellent!
     
    #8
    Lois Winters and Bobby Cole like this.
  9. Hal Pollner

    Hal Pollner Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2018
    Messages:
    6,161
    Likes Received:
    4,368
    Not only do I prefer the D.P, but the cost to the taxpayers for life imprisonment is unwarranted.

    $60K year, just to keep a murderer in good health?

    Hal
     
    #9
    Holly Saunders and Faye Fox like this.
  10. Jim Nash

    Jim Nash Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2018
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    287
    When life is seven-tine years years in Britain and becoming religious ensures you spend your latter time wandering out in public, it's a no brainer
     
    #10
  11. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
    Staff Member Senior Staff Greeter Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    24,327
    Likes Received:
    42,631
    Some people have earned college degrees while on death row. They are guaranteed a place to stay, food, and, particularly if they have some support from people on the outside, they are well supplied with most everything they need. Being stupid and on death row could be a real problem, I think, but an intelligent person can find plenty to occupy his time with. However, once you get off of death row, looking at life in prison, you've got to worry about the politics of surviving amongst the rest of the prison population. That would be the problem, I think. In some states, there is always the possibility of getting out, I think, even when sentenced otherwise. While Maine has no death penalty, sentences are what they are, since there is no parole. Someone sentenced to twenty-five years will serve twenty-five years, and life means your entire life. The possibility of getting out would help to control a segment of the population, I think. Otherwise, if someone is serving life in a state that doesn't have the death penalty, what can you hold over them other than solitary confinement?
     
    #11
    Holly Saunders and Lois Winters like this.
  12. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,311
    Likes Received:
    42,316
    How about those mass murderers that are sentenced to "3 consecutive life sentences plus 38 years" or whatever? I'm always curious about just exactly how that works. :D
     
    #12
    Lois Winters likes this.
  13. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    May 13, 2015
    Messages:
    5,747
    Likes Received:
    7,721
    Well, ain't that special.
     
    #13

Share This Page