[davebtelford]

Don't know if it's it been said above but in the film 'Pierpoint' the hangman is quoted as saying "The death penalty never achieved anything except revenge".

I think some criminals should never be released but how do you justify wrongly executing an innocent person? Perhaps our criterion for conviction - no reasonable doubt - needs to be re-examined. If there IS no doubt i.e. caught in the act or incontrovertible DNA or other evidence then maybe capital punishment could be used.

But if it is (say) only 90% certain that the person is guilty then prison would be appropriate. i.e. we think he done it but we'll put him on ice in case something turns up which shows he didn't.