The idea that murderers are "coddled" if we don't execute them is insane.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Yet, I hear sentiments to that effect all the time from death penalty proponents. Basically, we are paying for their room and board and healthcare and food when we should instead just flip the switch and kill them. (Never mind that numerous studies have shown the cost to execute far exceeds the cost to imprison for life).

Now, I've never been to prison and I can't say I'm planning on going any time, well, ever. But everything I've seen and read about it is horrible. It's a living hell for those people who deserve to be there, and an unbelievable living hell for who don't deserve to be there.

The food is bad, the "healthcare" is menial (basically just a means to ensure you aren't a greater health risk to the community), the guards can be rough, your fellow inmates can be rough, etc.

Just think about everything you might take for granted in your everyday life at home that you would be denied in prison. Going out to a restaurant. Driving where you would like to go. Being able to go to sleep when you want to go to sleep and wake up when you want to wake up. Wearing clothes that you want to wear. Taking a hot shower in privacy. Using the toilet in privacy. Seeing your loved ones whenever you want to see them, without any restrictions on physical contact. Watching television or using the computer whenever you want.

All of these things are not available to people in prison. And perhaps many of them deserve to be deprived of those things.

But given how rough life in prison can be, why do we insist that we need to put on a show and do an extra little "justice dance"? People who commit horrible crimes can be separated from the general public for life, and it easily fulfills whatever punishment is warranted. The death penalty just comes off as superfluous and unnecessary given the harsh realities of prison life.

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. kick

[PeteSelman]

2. Yeah, Richard Speck had such a tough time in prison.

Just about anything is available in prison if you have the means. And for predators, which what most of these rapists and killers are, prison is a paradise.

It's best to exterminate the rabid dogs. They just go on to do all same shit inside that they did outside, except no one cares about their victims in there.

[dembotoz]

3. i always thought it was a good idea to show that society was better than the murderer

some seem to disagree

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. So I'm taking you think life in prison for you would be no big deal?

Just a minor inconvenience?

[Major Nikon]

6. Richard Speck? Is that the best you can come up with?

Speck died over 20 years ago and that seems to be around the point that your knowledge of what goes on in prison stopped. Prison homicide rates plumeted after Speck's time. The vast majority of states put death row inmates in solitary and any murderers who are a threat almost always go to a supermax. The chance of being murdered in confinement is actually lower than it is on the outside.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2013/06/murder_rate_in_prison_is_it_safer_to_be_jailed_than_free.html

[XRubicon]

9. Check out the last two episodes of Frontline

Solitary Nation episode is an eye opener, doesn't look like paradise to me.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/locked-up-in-america/#solitary-nation

[NutmegYankee]

5. I generally agree

There were some folks here a few years back agreeing with Terry Nichols that he was being tortured since he was plagued by constipation. The guy, who murdered 168 people including children, stated his body was sacred and only appropriate food should be served to him. Other than that inducing episode, I think being deprived of freedom and choice for life is plenty of punishment.

[tanyev]

7. Also, it's cheaper to imprison someone for life than to seek the death penalty.

Turns out, it is cheaper to imprison killers for life than to execute them, according to a series of recent surveys. Tens of millions of dollars cheaper, politicians are learning, during a tumbling recession when nearly every state faces job cuts and massive deficits.

So an increasing number of them are considering abolishing capital punishment in favor of life imprisonment, not on principle but out of financial necessity.

Death penalty trials are more expensive for several reasons: They often require extra lawyers; there are strict experience requirements for attorneys, leading to lengthy appellate waits while capable counsel is sought for the accused; security costs are higher, as well as costs for processing evidence — DNA testing, for example, is far more expensive than simple blood analyses.

After sentencing, prices continue to rise. It costs more to house death row inmates, who are held in segregated sections, in individual cells, with guards delivering everything from daily meals to toilet paper.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29552692/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/execute-or-not-question-cost/#.U2gJDmdOXcs