Why I Oppose the Death Penalty
My Views
First, the death penalty is applied unfairly. This is true of pretty much ALL criminal penalties, but the death penalty is final, and there is evidence that the bias against poor and minority people, especially men, may be particularly severe in death penalty cases.
Second, the evidence of its efficacy is sketchy at best. As a statistician, I can say that is almost impossible to really evaluate the efficacy of capital punishment. It's difficult for ANY punishment scheme, but especially so for one that is applied rarely and unfairly.
Third, taking life cheapens life. I recall reading (I think on Twitter) that a woman asked her kid if she (the kid) would favor the death penalty for Hitler. "No" said the child. "People shouldn't kill people". Out of the mouths of babes.
Fourth, the death penalty isn't cheap. One possible (although not, to my mind, very good) argument for death instead of lifetime incarceration is that it is cheaper. But it isn't.
Fifth, and finally, people make mistakes. Even without bias, even with every defendant getting a good defense and a fair trial, people make errors. It is better that our errors be fixable, to the extent possible. If we jail someone and find out our error we can (although we don't always do so) release the person and try to make some restitution. If a person is dead, there's nothing to do except say "We goofed".
Published by Peter Flom
I am a statistician, working with a wide variety of clients, mostly researchers in psychology, education, medicine, social sciences and other fields. I also have given talks and written articles on learning... View profile
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14 Comments
Post a CommentGreat work!
Me again, but I like the read.
I'm with you 100%, Peter, on opposing the death penalty. It's not up to humans to decide who should live or die.
This echoes my views on the death penalty completely.
It is such a flawed system. Some get a slap on the wrist after committing "true crime" while others get it socked-to-them after simply making a mistake. In some ways, I disagree with you, but in others, you are right. However, I do agree that the process of determining who is going to be put to death is extremely flawed... and who is qualified to judge such a punishment??? Very well done!
Great work, with which I completely agree.
Thoughtfully succinct... I would expect no less from you, Peter. It WOULD be cheaper IF it were administered immediately after the conviction.... no attorneys, appeals or forever years on death row. That is not a suggestion, of course, but another smidgen of strange information.
I also oppose the death penalty. Good article, Peter!
Your point of view is presented well. I have very mixed feelings about this since our justice system lacks real true justice AND what good does it do to end another life?
Excellent points, well conveyed.