Execute him...or let him live?

[Wagner]

Hmmm.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/15/...ion/index.html

[MrLabGuy]

Wow...That is tough.

I'm pro death penalty and believe we don't carry this punishment out enough. However, in this case I believe he should spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole.

Here is my reason...I believe the argument that this would open up the option of murder to cover up a crime of rape. That said I would give him a damp smelly cell. I would also schedule his shower routine with several men rapist who know he raped a child.

[X5Jay]

Not just death - a slow and painful death. If it were my kid I'd want to do it myself...

[dr.jay]

Kill him slowly, make an example

[rastaFarai]

my vote is yeah. It may be tough for some people to stomach. but violence of any kind against children is wrong. Especially sex offenders. I think they should all rot in prison. too many of them are repeat offenders.
No need to make an example... make a statement.

[B-Line]

I say NO... Even though I am for the death penalty.

I say NO because, as heinous a crime as rape is, and even further, statutory rape. I believe there are too many grey areas.

For example, I can't remember the name of city/state that this took place in, but there was some black teenager, a high school senior, who was sent to jail for "raping" his 16 year old, white, girlfriend, a high school sophomore.

It was clearly a racist prosecution and was eventually overturned. But I think the kid spent 5 years in jail.

Imagine if he was convicted and sentenced to death. Technically, under the law, it was, rape of a child. But clearly, these were two consenting teens. But the state that prosecuted him, was exactly the type of place, that would consider the death penalty, for a young black boy, committing "rape", against a young white girl. He could have been killed.

What about Debra LeFavre. She is a child rapist (under the legal definition.)

I would say though, under certain circumstances, like REPEAT OFFENDERS, three strikes, etc. Then it could be considered.. But I think rape is a word that is thrown around very loosely, especially in the last 20 years. So prosecuting with the potential death penalty, seems extreme, especially considering the new parameters of what is considered rape.

Of course no one wants to see 3 children get raped, but what's the thought process behind our legal system?
Isn't something to the effect of:
It's better to have 5 guilty people go free than have 1 innocent person, wrongfully imprisoned or killed?

[rastaFarai]

good point. That's where the law becomes a tool for destruction and not for justice.

So then, repeat offenders (3 strikes is too much for child rapist), get the death penalty.

Chances are slim that this black teenager is going to come out of jail (now into his 20's) and get involved with a 16 year old.

[B-Line]

Originally Posted by rastaFarai

.
So then, repeat offenders (3 strikes is too much for child rapist), get the death penalty.

While I agree that 3 strikes is too much for a child rapist, I would also argue that our society places a higher value on protecting the innocent, than prosecuting the guilty.

And while no 3 children should ever be hurt, I think there is way too much grey in the law to call it 2 strikes.

I think the death penalty should only be used in the most EXTREME of circumstances. Repeat, multi-offenders.

Think of it like this, how many rapists did we hear about, coming from the Catholic Church, in the last 10-15 years. Are we suggesting, that all of the priests who were accused of touching boys in their congregation, be executed? I've never heard anyone suggest that. So, does this issue actually cross (not racial lines, I don't think it's a race thing.) economic and social lines?

- I don't know. I wasn't a victim. But child rape is a much bigger issue than some mover how rapes his step-daughter in the garage and then has the stepdaughter admit it 1.5 years later. There is a lot of "he said, she said" issues, that makes it to complicated to just, flip the switch.


Again, it's pretty complicated.

[X5Jay]

I'm not seeing the grey area - at all. Take each case as it stands (as each and everyone is unique anyway) and impose the proper penalty. Just my opinion...

[trueX5er]

i'm generally opposed to the death penalty (except for extreme cases).

I'd rather have him sit in 23hr solitary confinement for the rest of his life with no outside contact.