Why are some criminals sentenced to death while others are not?

Question

I don’t understand the picking and choosing. I’m against the death penalty completely. I don’t feel that any human has the right to take another human’s life, regardless of what the criminal has done.

But for the people who DO agree with the death penalty, how is it felt that certain people deserve a worse punishment than others? Millions of people have committed murder, but only some of them are sentenced to death. Why the inconsistency?

elTAHAwy · Accepted Answer

The penalty is not a punishment for the case itself it's so that this crime not committed again, imagine if someone killed another one with previous intention and this one not punished this crime can be repeated again and again and again, we came here with all these knowledge to the degree we forgot the very basic knowledge upon which the society is built

PeterLegg91 · Accepted Answer

The justice system In England is a joke, say you get 12 years for murder your out within 4 or 6 years with good behaviour

MrOracle · Answer

The death penalty is relatively rare, and generally only sought in the most extreme cases. We're talking things like kidnap & torture, or multiple murders (like a school shooter, or a home invasion where an entire family is killed), or some other extenuating circumstances.

In some cases, the suspect will even confess. Believe it or not, but some criminals are well aware that they are evil and will admit what they did and give explicit details because they WANT to be executed, because they know they are incapable of living a non-murderous life.

But most death penalty cases are those with multiple murders, with extenuating circumstances, and with a LOT of overwhelming evidence - such as being caught on video, texts or emails discussing the event in advance, or being caught red-handed holding the murder weapon. Plus, in modern times, nearly all such cases include DNA testing.

Then consider that, on average, a death row inmate will sit on death row for nearly 20 years, because every death penalty case is automatically appealed, and there are often multiple appeals, so there is a lot of time for facts to come out if there was any real question of who did it. That's really the exception, though. In the vast majority of death penalty cases, there's no dispute on who committed the crimes. Often, the defense's case is some attempt to reduce the charges by presenting mitigating circumstances - "daddy didn't love me" or whatever.

Many criminals who commit murder, or even multiple murders where the case isn't super strong, are offered plea deals where the prosecution agrees not to seek the death penalty in exchange for the suspect confessing to the crime and cooperating with the police - thus agreeing to a sentence of life in prison rather than the death penalty. As I said, actually being sentenced to death is relatively rare, and requires some very intentional, very heinous actions on the part of the criminal.

Bitter_Sweet94 · Answer

Because not all crimes carry the same level of severity and the law treats “how bad the crime is” very differently.

The death penalty is usually reserved for what the system defines as the most extreme cases
premeditated murder, mass killings, acts of terrorism, or crimes involving exceptional cruelty.

Then you add the other layers
the country’s legal standards, the evidence, the judge, the jury, the defendant’s history, and sometimes politics.

Two people can commit similar crimes but get different outcomes because their cases are not identical, different lawyers, different circumstances, different states or countries.

So it’s a mix of the crime’s gravity, the legal environment, and the specifics of each case.

It’s harsh, but that’s why not everyone gets the same sentencing.

jamesgoldman · Answer

State codes and such

I'm pro-death penalty I view it should be used for the following

All terrorists and open sympathisers thereof

All rapists and child sex abusers

All multiple killers and any convicted of murdering a child

Petermorgan343434 · Answer

I think it is more than the intent of the murder than the act itself. For example, you take a criminal who kills somebody without any rhyme or reason other than it is part of the act of them committing a crime or that they just choose to kill somebody, versus somebody who was maybe was provoked Into committing that act, ex. somebody who maybe is facing an event that a reasonable person could be expected to have cause for temporary insanity for example say so and did something that is so morally reprehensible that it would be reasonable to retaliate in that fashion, or have a temporarily blurred line of morality. The person with the temporary obstruction of immorality could reasonably be expected to serve a lesser sentence and somebody who did it other than the fact that they won could do it in two chose willingly to do so to commit an active another crime

Twodogs0525 · Answer

I just have one thing to say. I live in Wisconsin and we never have the "controversy" if someone should get death as a penalty and I couldn't be happier! What's really, I guess unique, is we've had several hardcore criminals killed behind bars by inmates, that I am fine with. Notable names are, Jeffery Dahmer, Jesse Anderson, Alton Coleman, Mike Shawhan, among many others...

sage2021 · Answer

Yeah, that never made sense to me either.
Just like life in prison doesn't actually mean they will spend the rest of their life in prison. They always get out years before their life is going to end. So why do they continue to call it life in prison?

I guess I can't answer your question since I wonder the same thing. Makes no sense to me.😕

Anonymous · Answer

It really comes down to the laws, and unfortunately laws aren’t perfect. Cases are complex, and the legal system tries to fit them into rules that can’t fully capture every nuance. That’s why laws are always getting changed or updated. It also comes down to other things like the kind of lawyers people have access to for example.

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

It's called capital punishment because, as criminals (and others) say,"They without CAPITAL recieve the PUNISHMENT." In other words, capital punishment is historically saved for the poor, especially indigent POC who commit crimes against their social betters.

Sunrising · Answer

We have judges and usually a jury to decide on a particular case, as to whether the criminal deserves the death penalty or not, based on the law of the country.

Anonymous · Answer

I’m against the death penalty because I feel life imprisonment without parole is worse. I would rather die than live 23 hours per day in a cell without freedom

lorenzomichael · Answer

I agree with you why because the judicial system is fucked up and it depends how much money you have to get away with shit and that’s just being honest

slatyb · Answer

Historically, the uneven application of the death penalty was largely due to racism.

Wiredone · Answer

It depends on the crime that they committed and how good their lawyers are

Razp_Sorbet · Answer

It depends on a lot of things, there are rules around the sentencings

Jennz6 · Answer

@flower7  Don’t you guys ever watch television “Law and Order” The Halls of Justice” is where the plea deals are made

nawtee_me · Answer

Plea bargains and if aggravated applies then the penalty is harsher.

Jerre · Answer

Depends on the State and nature of the crime. Many States do not have the death penalty.

Paige90 · Answer

Better attorney

DrPepper12 · Answer

Racism, publicity, egotistical & climber DAs, resources at trial, venue, judge selection, political winds oh and evidence.

Northstar84 · Answer

The death penalty is usually a state punishment, each state has laws governing its use. The federal government rarely uses the death penalty.

exitseven · Answer

some have better lawyers than others.

Anonymous · Answer

Because some criminals are men and some are women.

beenherebefore · Answer

I guess it depends on the severity of the crime.

jahaims · Answer

It's subjective and up to the judge and local laws

HДLILБΞУ · Answer

America's games..

Why are some criminals sentenced to death while others are not?

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