Reply #20: Agreed. [View All]

[benfranklin1776]

Nothing invented in the history of mankind has been perfect, why should one expect then that our justice system achieve perfection and only incarcerate or execute the guilty. The fact is that our justice system is grossly imperfect and the quality of justice one recieves is usually directly proportional to the amount of resources one possesses. Indeed 80 percent of all criminal defendants are represented by public defenders who do as good a job as they can under the circumstances, but the fact is that they are grossly limited by large caseload and inversely limited investigative resources from giving everyone the absolutely best representation possible, even in capital cases. I recall here in PA then Governor Ridge opposed an effort to fund training for capital defense lawyers because he didn't want the lawyers trained by the capital appeals division of the Philadelphia Public Defenders Office because they had too much success on appeal! http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20010425deathpenalty4.asp This is why life without parole is a much preferable alternative. If a mistake has occurred and the wrong person convicted, then it can be corrected. An execution can't be reversed on appeal. For those who are guilty effectively their life has been taken from them. They have no life beyond the confines of their cell and they are no further threat to society. The very real risk of execution of the innocent is avoided while society's interest in being protected and in punishing of the guilty is served. It is the best alternative.