C1: Deterrence
Before one can talk about the DP, one must look at the most controversial part of the DP: Deterrence. Before I get into raw facts I will talk about a simple thing: Deterrence theory.
Deterrence theory is pretty straight forward, it is that if you increase the penalties for something people will be less likely to do the thing with punishments. [1] It's a lovely thing isn't it? A simple and logical theory easy to grasp. The thing people fear most is death. Death, to some people, means everything ends. To others, you may go to eternal torture (Assuming we are hanging murderers that are christian). The thing people ear most is death, as this is a bigger penalty according to theory people should be hesitant to murder if the DP is in place.
---> Academic studies
This is very interesting, something I seldom thought of. When I first became pro DP I just used the philosophy above, and no research. But this firmly proves my point. Many series of academic studies show the DP deters crime [murder]. [2] Many people, the makers of this study, actually claim there is enough data and correlation to say there is an inherit deterrent effect to the DP. [2] The heritage foundation reports similar reports, from many economic professors and academic schools of thought, proving the DP deters crime and saves lives. [3] NPR shows a study saying each usage of the DP may even lead to 70 people saved! [4] Is this true? Maybe maybe not. But according to all of these statistics the DP has an inherit deterrent effect.
---> Lowe's findings
The reason I exclude Westley Lowe's findings (although he uses similar numbers) is because he is a book writer. Not making him less credible as he uses sourced information, but I wouldn't classify him in the academic findings above. Lowe finds that 3-18 murders are saved by usage of the DP. [5] He also finds historical linkages with deterrence from the DP in English occupied India. [5] He also finds when the moratorium of the DP occurred murder rates increased a significant amount. [5] He provides a nifty graph:
source 5
http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/deterrence.htm
C2: Former convicts return to crime
Certian stats actually allow people on life sentenes parole in 3 years, others never. [6] The point is they sometimes get to go free. Now, I will explain how this is a problem.
There is no info on murder (on this study), but 2% of rapists commit the crime after released, 70% of robbers commit crimes once released. [7] Life sentces also usually decay over time, and the people are let out onto parole. [8] The problem with this is they commit the same crime after they are let out! [8]
Also 5% of death row inmates killed people in jail or during the escape, or if they are let out. [9] This means speadig up execution may be ideal, and putting them on life sentences means they now can kill more people while escaping/other inmates.
__________
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deterrence_%28psychology%29
[2] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/11/AR2007061100406.html
[3] http://www.heritage.org/research/testimony/the-death-penalty-deters-crime-and-saves-lives
[4] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16468497
[5] http://www.wesleylowe.com/cp.html
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_imprisonment
[7] http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=1134
[8] http://www.wesleylowe.com/cp.html#life
[9] http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/cp09st.pdf
Before one can talk about the DP, one must look at the most controversial part of the DP: Deterrence. Before I get into raw facts I will talk about a simple thing: Deterrence theory.
Deterrence theory is pretty straight forward, it is that if you increase the penalties for something people will be less likely to do the thing with punishments. [1] It's a lovely thing isn't it? A simple and logical theory easy to grasp. The thing people fear most is death. Death, to some people, means everything ends. To others, you may go to eternal torture (Assuming we are hanging murderers that are christian). The thing people ear most is death, as this is a bigger penalty according to theory people should be hesitant to murder if the DP is in place.
---> Academic studies
This is very interesting, something I seldom thought of. When I first became pro DP I just used the philosophy above, and no research. But this firmly proves my point. Many series of academic studies show the DP deters crime [murder]. [2] Many people, the makers of this study, actually claim there is enough data and correlation to say there is an inherit deterrent effect to the DP. [2] The heritage foundation reports similar reports, from many economic professors and academic schools of thought, proving the DP deters crime and saves lives. [3] NPR shows a study saying each usage of the DP may even lead to 70 people saved! [4] Is this true? Maybe maybe not. But according to all of these statistics the DP has an inherit deterrent effect.
---> Lowe's findings
The reason I exclude Westley Lowe's findings (although he uses similar numbers) is because he is a book writer. Not making him less credible as he uses sourced information, but I wouldn't classify him in the academic findings above. Lowe finds that 3-18 murders are saved by usage of the DP. [5] He also finds historical linkages with deterrence from the DP in English occupied India. [5] He also finds when the moratorium of the DP occurred murder rates increased a significant amount. [5] He provides a nifty graph:
source 5
http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/deterrence.htm
C2: Former convicts return to crime
Certian stats actually allow people on life sentenes parole in 3 years, others never. [6] The point is they sometimes get to go free. Now, I will explain how this is a problem.
There is no info on murder (on this study), but 2% of rapists commit the crime after released, 70% of robbers commit crimes once released. [7] Life sentces also usually decay over time, and the people are let out onto parole. [8] The problem with this is they commit the same crime after they are let out! [8]
Also 5% of death row inmates killed people in jail or during the escape, or if they are let out. [9] This means speadig up execution may be ideal, and putting them on life sentences means they now can kill more people while escaping/other inmates.
__________
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deterrence_%28psychology%29
[2] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/11/AR2007061100406.html
[3] http://www.heritage.org/research/testimony/the-death-penalty-deters-crime-and-saves-lives
[4] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16468497
[5] http://www.wesleylowe.com/cp.html
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_imprisonment
[7] http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=1134
[8] http://www.wesleylowe.com/cp.html#life
[9] http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/cp09st.pdf
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