Should we let criminals choose life or death?

Inspired by a recent thread concerning the maniac in Canada that beheaded a bus passenger and now asks to be killed himself.

I for one do not believe in capital punishment in any way shape or form. I do not believe ANY human has the right to take another human’s life – no matter what they have done. But also because I see death as an escape – I would rather they sat in a cell for 50 years pondering the atrocities they committed.

However, locking them up and throwing away the key is a very expensive undertaking these days, and why should we – the honest and law abiding tax payers have to fund these criminals lives.

So then I got to thinking. What if we offered life sentence criminals a choice. Do the time and never be released, or ask to be killed. If it is the prisoner’s choice, then it is not capital punishment. If they choose death, then we save a whole lot of money.

So what do you think? Give them the choice?

reply to post by WatchNLearn


Well sadly enough I think prisoners should have the choice... I think keeping a younger person in a cell for life is a waste of $1,000,000 or so... Plus is not death punishment enough?

. I think prolonging a wasted life is akin to letting an animal suffer...AND I am not sadistic which is how I view it.

Funny enough,,, I am a raging liberal... Go figure?

A human has a right to decide their own fate, of course with one of the two ultimatums provided (those being death or life sentence) after there conviction. However, I guess it would seem more of a punishment to the criminal/murderer if he is denied what he wants and receives the other choice. Is that sadistic? Well, since we are not and should not be the ultimate judges of other human beings then my answer is leaning towards a yes.

Remember Escape from L.A. when people had the choice to die over going to the island (L.A. remember, was an island after several earthquakes). I think people should have the choice, but I am pro-suicide, so....

IMO, when someone becomes a ward of the state through conviction of a crime, he waives his right to choose anything until he is a free man again. He should just be thankful the state lets him keep breathing after costing taxpayers so much money.

I dont think any criminal should have a choice in anything, but in this particular case I feel he should be granted his wish. If not for the sake of justice definitely for the sake of putting him out of his misery. People are calling for him to be punished in all manner or painful ways, but to keep him alive with his mental torment would be even harsher.

Thining about your question further though, I would say it would have to be a case by case thing, but if they really WANTED to die they would be creative enough to do it themselves, even on suicide watch. Besides, if they asked to die why make another human being commit the act only to be tormented with it themselves.

reply to post by WatchNLearn


I think it should be the sole purpose of every prison system to turn a broken, screwed-up individual with past criminal behaviour and a messed-up sense of morality into a functioning member of society, who is completely understanding of what they've done and the effect it's had on their victims.

I'm not saying let them get away with their crimes - I feel the best, and possibly only "real" punishment for transgressions against fellow human beings is to make that person completely 100% aware of what they've done. The mental suffering they will go through will be more than enough of a punishment. Obviously that can be debilitating to the point of causing mental issues, so the realisation should be brought about in a controlled environment. It also makes punishing the innocent very difficult indeed, as they've not done anything wrong to torment them.

Locking people up for set periods of time is, while understandable, anachronistic. We can do better than that. We can do better for the tax payers, for the victims, for the criminals, and for society. I'd rather have all the prisoners as rational, decent, ethical and moral people, all working and paying taxes, and looking after their kids, than have them rotting in a prison while their families go to hell, further perpetuating the sorry circumstances that can turn a person into a criminal.

To sum up: the greatest punishment a wrong-doer can suffer is to know full well what they've done. You can escape prison, but you can't escape your conscience.

If they are on death row for murder, or rape of a child he should not have a choice. Did the person he killed or the child he molested have a choice?

[edit on 6-8-2008 by ben420]

reply to post by ben420


So, do you think this man should be given what he wants and be killed as he himself asks?
I know that's not specifically what the author of this thread asked, but I would like to know your answer. If it wouldn't be too much trouble.

reply to post by WatchNLearn

However, locking them up and throwing away the key is a very expensive undertaking these days, and why should we – the honest and law abiding tax payers have to fund these criminals lives.

Under the current legal system it actually costs more to execute someone these days than it will to maintain them for the rest of their natural lives. Even more so if you consider prison labor. Some jails feed their prisoners on as little as a dollar a day (per prisoner of course.) They make a lot more than that for the state pressing plates or building office furniture.

If it is the prisoner’s choice, then it is not capital punishment.

No, then it becomes state-sanctioned suicide. So then you have to kill someone else to legally be able to kill yourself. A nightmare for the insurance companies at the very least.

EDIT to add: No death penalty, no choice.


[edit on 8/7/0808 by jackinthebox]

No, I do not feel the convicted should be given any choices what-so-ever. I support capital punishment but I think the system needs to be fixed. As it stands it can take 20 years or more to execute somebody. Considering how much money gets spent on prisons and prisoners I suspect there is a lot of inefficiency there and probably some corruption as well. That all needs to be changed.

Originally posted by Langolier
No, I do not feel the convicted should be given any choices what-so-ever. I support capital punishment but I think the system needs to be fixed. As it stands it can take 20 years or more to execute somebody. Considering how much money gets spent on prisons and prisoners I suspect there is a lot of inefficiency there and probably some corruption as well. That all needs to be changed.

My sentiments, exactly. The convicted person is told his sentence. It's not a popular vote or what I feel like doing today. This is why we have laws with established punishments.

As for the death penalty, limit it to just 2 appeals, at the max, but mandate the sentence must be carried out within 1 year. Countless appeals just extends the death sentence to a long life in prison and maybe I'll die of natural causes from old age.

I wonder what was going through the mind of that guy? "Hello darkness my old friend"... Comes to mind but he actually acted upon it and for no reason at all. From what I understand they victim was sleeping?

Anyway, if it were my kin that was slaughtered like that I don't think I am "evolved" enough to just say "I am sad and angry" but its not up to me to decide his fate.

I would say grant him his wish... If I was kin I would say let me do it and thats my opinion. I would let the family decide the fate of these cases. Give them options and let them decide. If they want to get medieval on the perps let them.

I have two daughters and I would be tormented for life if one of them was a victim to some of the crap we see these people doing today with little to no punishment for decades at a time...

We need more retribution and less compassion with the scum of the earth... We have tried the compassion route for a long time and its not working.

[edit on 01/01/2008 by Perplexed]