The rule about deterrence is that for a punishment to deter a potential criminal it must be Swift, Severe and Certain. The death penalty is very severe, but is neither swift nor certain. Why do we think it deters?
by 
MrJosh
ANSWERS: 9
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Actually, it's very swift, and very certain. Very few get out of it alive, and usually it only takes moments. Eg death by hanging, lethal injection, gas chamber.
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The death penalty does not deter, it should be abolished.
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The death penalty deters because it is the highest punishment possible...it is the end...It does take forever, but is very effective when put into action
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Because no one who ever received the death penalty EVER reoffended. It's the ultimate deterrent.
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If being dead ain't a deterrent, I don't know what is! Having said that, I don't think that it's a deterrent to anyone else, I've never heard of a would be murderer who has stopped to consider what if. When someone commits murders (unless it's in a fit of rage), they never think about the consequences much less the fact that they will or can be caught. However, what the death sentence does is absolutely prevent the murderer from killing someone ever again. In the case of a serial killer or mass murderer, there's no other way to stop them because if they get out, they'll do it again. In other cases, it's excessive punishment and serves no other purpose than an eye for eye
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Capitol punishment is an archaic punishment and should be abolished.
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It does not deter. The was a time when rape was punished by 39lashes with a cat of nine tales. That was a real deterent!!
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I'd love to see someone get the electric chair or the gas chamber and not be deterred by that
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I live in the UK where our government doesnt know what justice is. A prison, detention centre and youth program schemes are just like a luxury holiday camp for our convicts, and may I add, a waste of the tax payers money!!!!!! People get let out and reoffend within months, its a vicious circle. I think we should HAVE capital punishment.
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