Sunday, November 18, 2007
The debate continues: Studies spark new execution debate
According to roughly a dozen recent studies, executions save lives. For each inmate put to death, the studies say, three to 18 murders are prevented.
The effect is most pronounced, according to some studies, in Texas and other states that execute condemned inmates relatively often and relatively quickly.
The studies, performed by economists in the past decade, compare the number of executions in different jurisdictions with homicide rates over time - while trying to eliminate the effects of crime rates, conviction rates, and other factors - and say that murder rates tend to fall as executions rise. One study looked at 3,054 counties over two decades.
"I personally am opposed to the death penalty," said H. Naci Mocan, an economist at Louisiana State University and an author of a study finding that each execution saves five lives. "But my research shows that there is a deterrent effect."...
I can think of at least one guy overseas who should have been executed long ago. That would have prevented him (and terrorists like him) from becoming the focus of further kidnappings and violence. You can't exchange for a dead man...well, the West can (including the Israelis), because we value life and the families of the deceased.
As for the domestic death penalty, I have no problem with it in principle, but do worry about how it works in practice. Nevertheless, the fact that this guy is still alive and giving speeches long after he received the sentence is shameful.
The British writer Terry Pratchett had this conversation beneath a gallows in one of his books:
“Do you really think all this deters crime, Mr. Trooper?” he said.
“Well, in the generality of things I’d say it’s hard to tell, given that it’s hard to find evidence of crimes not committed,” said the hangman, giving the trapdoor a final rattle. “But in the specificality, sir, I’d say it’s very efficacious.”
“Meaning what?” said Moist.
“Meaning I’ve never seen someone up here more’n once, sir. Shall we go?”
— Going Postal, Page 10