Rape sentence reverberates across India

[Rev. Rye]

Here's the thing that really surprised me:

People here had waited for this day for nine long months, since December 16, when the woman, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student, went to see "The Life of Pi" with a male friend.

Of course, I think it's mainly because I'm 23, and (adjusted for time differences between Delhi and Chicago,) I had gone to the theatre to see the same exact film less than 12 hours earlier. Fortunately, since Skokie isn't that violent a place, I survived intact. Still, the coincidence is kind of spooky to me.

As to the questions in the OP:

Has justice been delivered?
Really, what little support remains in me for the death penalty has little to do with justice, and more to do with getting these people off the planet. For instance, Ian Brady is basically the UK's equivalent to Charlie Manson, right down to getting a permanent stay of execution due to their nation's recent abolition of the death penalty. He's been fighting for his right to kill himself for over a decade. Is there really any reason it's better for him to keep on living?

Does India need such harsh punishment?
Just FYI, the four defendants did kill the victim, so, I doubt it's that harsh in comparison with ours.

Will it be enough deterrent for the next guys who think of doing this?
The death penalty is not a good deterrent. That's been demonstrated time and again. It wasn't a deterrent in the old days when people stuck the heads of the condemned on a spike and placed them in the town square. How well do you think it'll deter now?

[John V]

Does India need such harsh punishment?

Whiskey tango...

OK, what in your opinion is appropriate punishment for raping and killing a woman?

[pocaracas]

Does India need such harsh punishment?

Whiskey tango...

OK, what in your opinion is appropriate punishment for raping and killing a woman?

There's a reason why the death penalty has been abolished in most of the western world.... if only you knew it...

[John V]

There's a reason why the death penalty has been abolished in most of the western world.... if only you knew it...

Ah, the post-a-funny-picture-to-dodge-the-question ploy.

Care to give a straight answer? Or don't you really know? It's OK if you don't.

[pocaracas]

There's a reason why the death penalty has been abolished in most of the western world.... if only you knew it...

Ah, the post-a-funny-picture-to-dodge-the-question ploy.

Care to give a straight answer? Or don't you really know? It's OK if you don't.

Ah, the I-don't-know-so-I'll-ask-if-you-know ploy

Here, educate yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_pun...and_debate

Just a few ideas that come from that link and memory:

• Human rights
  
• Wrongful execution
  
• Retribution
  
• The existence of a deterrence effect is disputed.
  
• Recent studies show that executing a criminal costs more than life imprisonment does
  

---

As to the questions in the OP:

Has justice been delivered?
Really, what little support remains in me for the death penalty has little to do with justice, and more to do with getting these people off the planet. For instance, Ian Brady is basically the UK's equivalent to Charlie Manson, right down to getting a permanent stay of execution due to their nation's recent abolition of the death penalty. He's been fighting for his right to kill himself for over a decade. Is there really any reason it's better for him to keep on living?

Some studies claim that it's more expensive to carry out the death penalty than to keep the person imprisoned for life... But that's where the prisoners have to be treated like royalty.... in India, I guess a bullet is less expensive.

Does India need such harsh punishment?
Just FYI, the four defendants did kill the victim, so, I doubt it's that harsh in comparison with ours.

Can the court be sure that those who have been convicted are the ones who really carried out the deed?

Will it be enough deterrent for the next guys who think of doing this?
The death penalty is not a good deterrent. That's been demonstrated time and again. It wasn't a deterrent in the old days when people stuck the heads of the condemned on a spike and placed them in the town square. How well do you think it'll deter now?

If it doesn't work as a deterrent for such future crimes, then why use it? Would life imprisonment suffice? Perhaps with some quality solitary time.. measured in years...?

[Rev. Rye]

Some studies claim that it's more expensive to carry out the death penalty than to keep the person imprisoned for life... But that's where the prisoners have to be treated like royalty.... in India, I guess a bullet is less expensive.

They're actually hanging them. And, I think the big part of the reason executions cost so much is the appeals process, which can easily last for more than a decade.

Can the court be sure that those who have been convicted are the ones who really carried out the deed?

I've found no evidence that they ever denied carrying it out; even in the trial, their lawyer insisted that the victims were to blame for doing everything from failing to defend themselves to using public transport. But at no point have I ever seen any of them claiming they didn't do it.

If it doesn't work as a deterrent for such future crimes, then why use it? Would life imprisonment suffice? Perhaps with some quality solitary time.. measured in years...?

Usually, I'd agree, but the case of Ian Brady changed my mind. Ian Brady and Myra Hindley were arrested for the murder of three children in 1963, and were sentenced to life in prison just after the abolition of the death penalty. He's been fighting for his right to kill himself since 1999, and yet he's still alive. Is there any good reason that he should stay alive?

I have my own personal idea for an alternative to the death penalty, wherein lifers in prison petition for the right to end their lives. In essence, my plan is to replace the traditional death penalty with a Dignitas-style model. Granted, not many are likely to follow through and apply, but I think it's the best middle ground in the debate on capital punishment.

[Brian37]

Maybe they'll start to get a grip on their gang rape problem over there.

Many states have the death penalty in America, but that hasn't stopped murder.

Education and economics. Revenge is not corrective. You have to set conditions long term in thinking and economic conditions to change things. All locking people up does is make them more dangerous when you let them out.

The death penalty is revenge, not containment.

[Angrboda]

Usuallyr, I'd agree, but the case of Ian Brady changed my mind. Ian Brady and Myra Hindley were arrested for the murder of three children in 1963, and were sentenced to life in prison just after the abolition of the death penalty. He's been fighting for his right to kill himself since 1999, and yet he's still alive. Is there any good reason that he should stay alive?

I have my own personal idea for an alternative to the death penalty, wherein lifers in prison petition for the right to end their lives. In essence, my plan is to replace the traditional death penalty with a Dignitas-style model. Granted, not many are likely to follow through and apply, but I think it's the best middle ground in the debate on capital punishment.

This leads to ethical quandaries which my poor little dinosaur brain is unable to dredge from memory at the moment. It sounds superficially appealing, but in practice it would lead to ethical issues which are basicallly irresolvaable.

[pocaracas]

Usuallyr, I'd agree, but the case of Ian Brady changed my mind. Ian Brady and Myra Hindley were arrested for the murder of three children in 1963, and were sentenced to life in prison just after the abolition of the death penalty. He's been fighting for his right to kill himself since 1999, and yet he's still alive. Is there any good reason that he should stay alive?

I have my own personal idea for an alternative to the death penalty, wherein lifers in prison petition for the right to end their lives. In essence, my plan is to replace the traditional death penalty with a Dignitas-style model. Granted, not many are likely to follow through and apply, but I think it's the best middle ground in the debate on capital punishment.

This leads to ethical quandaries which my poor little dinosaur brain is unable to dredge from memory at the moment. It sounds superficially appealing, but in practice it would lead to ethical issues which are basicallly irresolvaable.

Maybe one of such quandaries has to do with not being able to tell if the person making such request is in control of its senses, or is acting in full conscience.

[John V]

Here, educate yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_pun...and_debate

Just a few ideas that come from that link and memory:

• Human rights
  
• Wrongful execution
  
• Retribution
  
• The existence of a deterrence effect is disputed.
  
• Recent studies show that executing a criminal costs more than life imprisonment does
  

Again, the question wasn't what's wrong with the death penalty - I asked what you think an appropriate sentence is? Life in prison? 20 years? 10? 5?