OK, LOTS of misinformation here, lets set a few records straight. I have been working for AZ DOC for 6 years,am currently a Correctional Sergeant, and have worked medium custody,(SO), close custody, (GP and SO), Supermax, and Death Row. I have been there, done that.
Let's get started.
The only snag in this system is a potential weak kneed politician who will grant a pardon after so many years.
Tell that to Eastlacks' victims, after he escaped, and killed three more people. Tell that to the people in Florence, Casa Grande, Coolidge and Queen Creek, after a double murderer escaped from a private prison two days ago. He still is at large, someone convicted of two violent homicides. Tell them the only snag is politicians letting them out early. But tell them from a distance, safer that way. The death penalty works well in it's intended role - state sanctioned execution. The ultimate penalty for the ultimate crime. Removal from society without ever the possabilty of committing more heinous crimes in the future. And they do - they have nothing to lose.
in New Mexico, where they sleep on cots, in tents, no A/C, TV, gym equipment, and the food is similar to C-rats?
Sherrif Joe Arpios' tent city in Maricopa County, AZ, pink boxers, cold food, no coffee, etc. Works OK.
I am volunteering to work in the prison, hence my application to the sheriff's dept.
Welcome, friend, go in with an open mind and fast reflexes.
A) Average robbery where victim shot & killed. Suspect apprehended via investigation has stolen gun that matches the murder weapon, has a watch matching the description of the victim's missing watch and we have one of his fingerprints on the plastic ID window of the victim's wallet. But when charged with the murder, he gasps "I didn't do it! Fred pulled the trigger!" Further he claims Fred stashed the gun in his garage without his knowing it. So... who gets capital punishment?
Whoever a jury of his peers determines to be the guilty party. I have lost count of the number of lawbreakers who claim, "That isn't mine!" I didn't do it!"
B) Man is enraged about his wife's infidelity and lies in wait for her to meet her clandestine lover. He confronts them, shoots both to death. He is captured at the scene almost immediately. Death penalty case? Yes or no?
Yes, Murder One.
C) Ex-Felon climbs into a child's bedroom and kidnaps her in the wee hours of the night. He takes her to the hills, strangles her to death while raping her. After capture, he confesses, locates the body for authorites and says he did her a "favor". Death penalty case? Yes or No?
Yes. Remorse after the fact means nothing. I know many inmates who could win Academy Awards for thier acting abilities.
I could go on answering all of them but realize one HUGE fact - it's not up to you. It's up to the jury, the judges YOU retain in office, and the politicians YOU elect.
The argument for life in prison is a fairly strong one, chief points being the thought that life in prison is a fate worse than death (which is arguable), and the "moral high ground" of not killing, even through the impersonal offices of the justice system.
Nope, life in prison defeats the basic purposes OF prison, that to punish or rehabilitate. Punishment without the possability of reformation is torture. rehabilitating with no possability of release is wasted time, money, and energy. Keeping inmates behind bars for life means YOU have to pay for thier food/water/federal court mandated items, (cableTV, law libraries, etc, all mandated by liberal judges), health care, and always, always, the possability they may escape to kill again. Remember, THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.
I dont know that I join with the notion of beyond any doubt, but the standard of proof to impose the death penalty should be elevated...
Absolutely, DNA testing IS making it easier to prove innocence or guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. I agree there should be a mandatory retrial in any capital punishment case, humans may make mistakes, and evidence MUST be clear. But once the same judgment is rendered three times, carry it out. That afternoon.
Some people just deserve to not be living. While imprisonment for life sounds all good, it actually causes bigger problems. Problems like overcrowding in our already stretched thin prison system. More lifers mean less room for other felons, who in turn get let out earlier to make room form more lifers. Some felons that shouldn't be back on the street for years are out early. This enrages the victims of these felons as it seems they got off easy. How is that fair to law abiding citizens?
Very true, with some caveats. AZ requires 85% sentance served, 100% in violent offenses. Also we have life in prison, which has parole, and Natural Life, which is plain speak for thou shalt die behind bars.
My Department is many thousands of inmates over crowded. You, the taxpayer, have a hard choice to make - how much more of your hard earned dough are you willing to fork over to build bigger, better prisons, staff them, and maintain them? It's your money, choose your elected officials wisely.
Yea, that free cable, internet, gym, air conditioning, no work, free healthcare, education, etc... HAS GOT TO BE HELL!!!!
The following applies to AZ only - cable TV is paid for through profits from the inmate store. No internent available to any inmate, no gym available to any inmate, no A/C,(swamp coolers), we mandate 85% of our inmates MUST work at one job or another, visits to the Health Unit cost $3 each copay, (sounds great until you realize they earn between $.10 and $.45 an hour), educationis freem due to many many federal lawsuits. Cable TV is mnadatory through federal lawsuit. There ya go.
Overcrowding is coming from minor drug possession cases.
Check the sentancing papers- minor drug posession cases often go to treatment, probation, etc. Other drug offenders usually have about 6 other charges with the drug offense. I looked. I have found ONE inmate who really shouldn't be here. He has a darn good chance to win his appeal, and I wish him best of luck.
I will leave this at what I have so far. Capital Punishment works in it's most basic role - stopping that particular killer from killing ever again, because it is a fact that many killers will kill again, given the opportunity. Some of my co-workers have died because people with "the moral high ground" decided it was unfair to the little darlin's to use capital punishment, so during thier life imprisonment, they decided to take a few of us with them. It has happened, it will happen again, yet we are crazy enough to take our oaths seriously, and continue to keep the tender babies locked up, where they cannot hurt you or your loved ones.
Sleep well America, your military, police, and correctional staff are all working to let you sleep safely tonight.