ND Death Penalty Legislation

If I remember correctly, didn't it get tossed with like all the other states' death penalties when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional?  We just never reinstated it.

The biggest arguments against it are the cost in money and resources to ensure the accused "rights" are not violated and/or you execute the wrong person.


FWIW, I support the death penalty.  I am quite disappointed in the system though when I hear of people sitting on death row who are later found innocent.  That tells me that we as a country have something wrong within the judicial system.

Anyone know the actual break even point between the death penalty and life in prison? How many years would they have to live in prison before you actually save money. I know it costs a boat load of cash to put someone to death (multiple appeals, death row, associated costs, method, etc) that the public picks up both sides of the bill. Is it ever cheaper with our current system to put someone to death (if they don't fight it)? Like Allen said, we expend a lot of resources to try not to execute an innocent person.

FWIW, I am pro death penalty for violent offenders mainly for the fact I don't know of one case they became a repeat offender after the sentence was carried out.

There should be no appeal process if DNA  has proven guilt.  no appeals he/she did it do it.  There is no cure for child molestors or pedifilia those people should be the first in line.  .You hear about a person who spent the last 20 some yrs and is found innocent via DNA. then the procuting attorney should be taken to the cleaners fo the persons lost income. maybe then the attorney will make sure without a doubt the charges will stick.

If the supreme court said the death penelty is illegal then why did mcvey get put to death. why do they do it in SC, Texas.   I think it is a state choice not a federal choice. and a lot of it is if it is a federal or state crime.  ND does needte death penelty and they need to crack down on the judges that impose a light sentence.  any repeat offended weather booze,drugs,or whatever the maximum is given. 

The state also needs to make whoever is getting child support accountable for the support money given to the kids. monthly food,clothes heat ,

The death penalty needs to be enforced when the home is invaded, when the victim and/or their family is first attacked, when a threat to life and limb has been demonstrated, and well before any "Official" type person shows up on the scene.  JMHO!

I THINK I READ SOME TIME BACK THAT IT WAS CHEAPER TO HOUSE AND FEED A PRISONER FOR LIFE THAN THE DEATH PENALTY,DON'T QUOT ME ,JUST THOUGHT I READ IT SOMEPLACE.

marksman Said:
If the supreme court said the death penelty is illegal then why did mcvey get put to death. why do they do it in SC, Texas.  

This will apparently come as a shock to you but it isn't the first time the Supreme Court has overturned an earlier decision of theirs. 

I support the death penalty. With that said, I do not beleive it effects much of anything actually. Look at the states that have it, has not deterred murders much IMO. Far too many appeals and they seem to drag them out as long as possible anyway.

We really need some legal revisions if you ask me. Appeals should be limited and the time frames need to be shortened. There is no reason someone should be sitting in jail for 1-2 years waiting for a trial. Nor should the appeals process take upwards of 20 years.

As difficult as it is to prove someone guilty of 1st degree murder, I would like to see the death sentence carried out immediately following the trial in which guilt is proven. Repeat pedophiles should be euthanized also.

My feelings on the death penalty are mixed.  I used to strongly support it, however, I participated and listened at length to the topic a few years back.  Let me paint a scenerio for you:

Your sitting in your office right now typing on fishingbuddy and suddenly a SWAT team breaks down your door, slams you on the ground and hauls you off to the clink.  You find out you are being charged with first degree murder and are on your way to a trial.  You have hardly a dime in your pocket because times are rough so you are going to have to rely on the court appointed defense attorney.  The prosecutor is light years ahead of your attorney and you just happen to be in a state where they have the dealth penalty and this ends up being your sentence.  Fast forward many years and several failed appeals and you find yourself sitting on dealth row and you barder for a few contraband garbage bags so you can make a rope to hang yourself because you just can do it anymore.  Something tells you to give it one more shot.  Fast forward to your last appeal and, low and behold, your defense atorney get them to admit a videotape for evidence that was previously thrown out and put on a shelve to collect dust.  That videotape just happens to have proof without a doubt that you did not commit the crime (video of someone else) and you are aquitted and walk out of jail 20 years older than when you walked in.  I listened to this gentleman talk about his life experiences in it was moving to say the least.  As I said before I am up in the air....someone who displays such disregard as to take a life I believe has forfeited to right to their own life....however, where do you draw the line.  This guy was supposably guilty without a doubt.  With our judicial system containing probably equal as many of shady individuals as not, how can we be confident that everytime they toss that switch that it was the right thing to do.  Just food for thought...I am no tree hugger...someone who breaks into my house and endagers my family is definitely going to find out what I have fastened to the back of my nightstand and I would expect everyine else to do the same.

marksman Said:
There should be no appeal process if DNA  has proven guilt.  no appeals he/she did it do it.  There is no cure for child molestors or pedifilia those people should be the first in line.  .You hear about a person who spent the last 20 some yrs and is found innocent via DNA. then the procuting attorney should be taken to the cleaners fo the persons lost income. maybe then the attorney will make sure without a doubt the charges will stick.

If the supreme court said the death penelty is illegal then why did mcvey get put to death. why do they do it in SC, Texas.   I think it is a state choice not a federal choice. and a lot of it is if it is a federal or state crime.  ND does needte death penelty and they need to crack down on the judges that impose a light sentence.  any repeat offended weather booze,drugs,or whatever the maximum is given. 

The state also needs to make whoever is getting child support accountable for the support money given to the kids. monthly food,clothes heat ,

Ever think somebody could plant your DNA at a murder scene?  

cynical Said:

marksman Said:
There should be no appeal process if DNA  has proven guilt.  no appeals he/she did it do it.  There is no cure for child molestors or pedifilia those people should be the first in line.  .You hear about a person who spent the last 20 some yrs and is found innocent via DNA. then the procuting attorney should be taken to the cleaners fo the persons lost income. maybe then the attorney will make sure without a doubt the charges will stick.

If the supreme court said the death penelty is illegal then why did mcvey get put to death. why do they do it in SC, Texas.   I think it is a state choice not a federal choice. and a lot of it is if it is a federal or state crime.  ND does needte death penelty and they need to crack down on the judges that impose a light sentence.  any repeat offended weather booze,drugs,or whatever the maximum is given. 

The state also needs to make whoever is getting child support accountable for the support money given to the kids. monthly food,clothes heat ,

Ever think somebody could plant your DNA at a murder scene?  

so a guy stole your gloves and you have 4 witness saying you never were in the are and gas slips to prove when and where.  That isn't the dna the crime sence they look for.  under fingernails, hair,

marksman Said:

cynical Said:

marksman Said:
There should be no appeal process if DNA  has proven guilt.  no appeals he/she did it do it.  There is no cure for child molestors or pedifilia those people should be the first in line.  .You hear about a person who spent the last 20 some yrs and is found innocent via DNA. then the procuting attorney should be taken to the cleaners fo the persons lost income. maybe then the attorney will make sure without a doubt the charges will stick.

If the supreme court said the death penelty is illegal then why did mcvey get put to death. why do they do it in SC, Texas.   I think it is a state choice not a federal choice. and a lot of it is if it is a federal or state crime.  ND does needte death penelty and they need to crack down on the judges that impose a light sentence.  any repeat offended weather booze,drugs,or whatever the maximum is given. 

The state also needs to make whoever is getting child support accountable for the support money given to the kids. monthly food,clothes heat ,

Ever think somebody could plant your DNA at a murder scene?  

so a guy stole your gloves and you have 4 witness saying you never were in the are and gas slips to prove when and where.  That isn't the dna the crime sence they look for.  under fingernails, hair,

yeah,  but there are an infinite number of possible scenarios.
Personally I think I'd rather die than spend the rest of my life in prison.  I'm not sure  how people can say the death penalty is less humane than being behind bars for the rest of your life.

My feelings are quite mixed on the topic. The death penalty is supposed to be a deterrent from violent crime yet, studies have shown that it has little to no effect as a detterent. There really has been only one thing in recent history that has slowed violent crime in America but that is neither here nor there...

Should violent offenders be punished in ways directly proportional to their crimes? Absolutely.

But then you get cases like this: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/19/justice/diguglielmo-new-york-deli-killing/index.html?npt=NP1

NY state has the death penealty and if this man had been found guilty of all charges, he may have just gotten it too. I feel that he was wrongly convicted. Many feel that he was wrongly convicted. So he could have been put to death but I think they would have executed an innocent man.

But now lets discuss the folks that are currently housed in the super max prison in Colorado. Is it more reasonable to suggest hat these folks should be put to death in a timely manner in order to ensure they can never do what they did again? Or influence someone else to do it? I just don't know.

Not sure exactly how I feel about the death penalty. It's pretty hard to unexecute people that were innocent.

Im with Bringing, but for those of you who are or claim to be religious, Im not sure how you could be for the death penalty considering the 10 commandments are pretty clear on thou shall not kill. It doesn't say thou shall not kill unless someone is an a hole. And they are called the 10 commandments not the 10 suggestions. Just something that doesn't add up to me when talking with people who claim to be religious and are for the death penalty (or abortion for that matter).

If a person were to read a book called Freakonomics, you would come to the conclusion that the only thing which has lowered the crime rate in the U.S. is abortion.  Prison time, death penalties, none of them have been shown to significantly decrease crime.  Nor has gun control.

Meelosh Said:
 There really has been only one thing in recent history that has slowed violent crime in America but that is neither here nor there...

You said it. Not me...

If you can't prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, then it should be life in prison.  If you can prove it DNA, credible eye witness, pictures, and such then death.  I feel it should be applied to rape, child molesters, and murder or attempted murder.  First offenders get it not 3 strikes and your out.  Why do people after having 2 strikes kill their victims?  No witnesses to give them their 3rd strike.
If they are 100% sure and convicted, when the gavel falls take them out and hang them.  We worry too much about the criminal and not enough about the victims.  The victims are gone and no one to speak for them.
You can't fix evil and you can't change stupid.  Pretty simple but true!
Bring back an eye for an eye.  Our society is getting too soft!

Marbleyes Said:

Im with Bringing, but for those of you who are or claim to be religious, Im not sure how you could be for the death penalty considering the 10 commandments are pretty clear on thou shall not kill. It doesn't say thou shall not kill unless someone is an a hole. And they are called the 10 commandments not the 10 suggestions. Just something that doesn't add up to me when talking with people who claim to be religious and are for the death penalty (or abortion for that matter).

Leviticus  24:21  whoever kills a man must be put to death.

the 10 commandments say thou shall not kill  these people did kill so according to the above quote  get'r done

Meelosh Said:
You said it. Not me...

I was curious if we had similar reading habits.  Apparently we do.