And his life will end. Let’s talk Justice. There are two ways to run a Justice System. Revenge. Rehabilitation. We have chosen Revenge. We assume that the Prisons, if they are awful enough, will frighten people into obeying the law. It hasn’t worked. We argue that at least those imprisoned won’t commit more crimes. They do. But their victims are fellow criminals. We look at the Recidivism numbers and argue that we need to make it all tougher. It isn’t scaring the people like it is supposed to.
In some cases when Life without Parole is the sentence. Rehabilitation is a moot point. Like this case. The Buffalo Shooter isn’t ever getting out of Prison.
So what is Justice? The numbers suggest that sending someone to Prison is akin to making them a career criminal. They come out worse than they went in. Tennessee just made it a Felony for Homeless to camp on public property. A felony punishable by eight years in prison. They say they can’t imagine anyone actually being punished under that statute. That’s a lie. You know it. I know it. But the Politicians had to be seen doing something about the problem they got complaints about. And in a year or two someone will be prosecuted under the law.
Then someone else. And a few more. And then it will be routine.
We don’t have a Justice System. We have a club we want to wave about.
And the Death Penalty is far more cruel. To the families of the victims. Twenty years or more of endless appeals. Of hearing that the guy may get released if his appeal goes through. Of the never ending torture of wondering if some technicality will let him off. Days and weeks and months turn into years with this hanging over your head. You can’t imagine the strain it puts on families.
On the other hand. One and done. Sentenced to life without parole. Done. Any appeals are unlikely to succeed. And they have to be paid by the defendant. The convicted crook. Instead of the taxpayer. Yes. You pay for those twenty years of appeals. Both sides. Prosecution and defense. In California it cost about $108,000 a year to keep a criminal in prison. It costs at least $5 million to put him to death. At least. It can and will cost more in this case.
Twenty years. Or more. While the family grows old and dies wondering if the sentence will ever be carried out. Dreading every update.
The last time anyone saw Julie Heath alive was Oct. 3, 1993, when the 18-year-old set out to visit her boyfriend in Hot Springs, Arkansas. A week later, a hunter discovered Heath’s body, less than eight miles from where her broken-down car was found. She wore a black shirt, socks and underwear...
www.pbs.org
It doesn’t do anything anyone claims it does. It costs a lot more money. It doesn’t bring closure. It doesn’t do anything good. Because the families never move on. They never feel it is done. And when it is finally done. It is too late.
The Death Penalty is cruel. But not to the man or woman sentenced to death. To the families of the victims.