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Rudey,
Being a biology major in college makes me a firm believer in DNA evidence. Sure, it can sometimes be tampered with, but it is the most conclusive way to prove someone guilty or not guilty. By extensive investigation, I mean one with plenty of hard evidence, not one with eyewitnesses or anything like that, because people are much more easily swayed than scientific evidence.
No, I do not believe in executing someone who is mentally handicapped. They are incapable of understanding the law. People under 18...that's a different story. I wouldn't go around saying we should execute kids, but I also think 18 is an arbitrary age. Who's to say that the day you turn 18, you're an adult? Is someone who's 17 that much different from someone who's 18 or 19? I think the punisment should depend on the case.
I only believe in the death penalty for very brutal, premeditated crimes (for example, mass murderers, serial killers or child killers). I don't think people capable of those crimes are capable of rehabilitation. In those cases, I do not think that tax-paying, law-abiding citizens should have to support these monsters by keeping them in jail. And yes, jail is about punishment. If you do something wrong, you should be punished. Otherwise, what's the point of the justice system? Ok, you killed someone, let's send you to therapy so that maybe you can return to the outside world and live your life even though you ruined other people's lives. I think that's ridiculous.
Keep your comments coming; anything that makes people think is definitely worthwhile.
~DW
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