Death Penalty

[wonderwoman]

I was just wondering... how do those of you that work in prisons feel when a death sentence is carried out in your prison and you don't believe in the death penalty? I would think that it would really hit on personal values almost to the point of having to leave the system???

[FlaLaw]

I worked in a State Prison in Florida and I escorted the first woman excuted here in about 30 years to her execution. I don't have a problem with the death penalty because the people through the legislators of the State have determined that some crimes are so bad that the offender should be put to death. But a question that would test morality would be if an inmate you knew, incarcerated for traffic offences (4th dui no crash or habitual traffic offender both felonies) were attempting to escape would you shoot as legally required? every person that works in a state prison needs to say they would shoot the escapee. Shooting, possibly killing a person incarcerated for driving is an awesome thought but is absolutely possible.

[wonderwoman]

Wow! Interesting FlaLaw.... Do you know if that is the same direction given to all the US prisons or is it different State by State?

[king310]

Originally posted by wonderwoman:
Wow! Interesting FlaLaw.... Do you know if that is the same direction given to all the US prisons or is it different State by State?

Don't know of any states that don't have a law on fleeing Felon's where the response is to use force including deadly force.

In response to you wonderwomen if you work the streets or in the prisons I think you would have a little different view of the death penalty. you have to ask yourself everyday if you are willing to take another life in the line of duty? It is a moral issue that only you can answer yourself.
We here about the horrable crimes that some people commit, but the public or the jury does not get all the detailed facts about the crime. As PEACE OFFICERS we get all the horror of the crime first hand. We always wonder who could commit such a offense against thier fellow man.

This topic can be debated from many different views, but it still come down to your moral issue.

[wonderwoman]

King310
Thanks for your input!
I do work in the LE business, in Canada we don't have the death penalty. In more detail my concern has never been for the cop killer or correctional officer killer. But I would be concerned if I had to kill a DUI because he was attempting to escape!!

[Tackleberry]

Wonderwoman,

You bring up an intresting topic. First off I try not to get caught up with a person's charges. In PA., a Correctional Officer may use deadly force or any force he deems reasonable to stop an escape from a Correctional Institution or from lawful custody regardless of the charges and regardless if the person is a pre-trial detainee or convicted inmate. I have taken an oath to protect the citizens and if I must shoot to stop an escape I will do so regardless of the person's charges. I may not have an intention on killing that person just stopping him from escaping if that's what it takes. I don't know how it works in Canada and would be intrested to know if you have the same policies in place for escaping inmates. As for the death penalty I think lethal injection is far too painless for these scumbags that have to be put to death. Now if they do all executions by hanging or the electric chair I would be all for it. And don't get me wrong I am pro death penalty. I just think the easy way out is well just too easy. I would much rather let a scumbag sit and rot in segregation for the rest of his life then just putting them to sleep. This is excluding cop killers and those who are on death row which regulary assault correctional staff as these scumbags are far too dangerous for us to give them the chance of life in prison and possibly taking one of us out. They should be put to death in any manner including lethal injection just to get rid of them. I think for 90% of those unless lethal injection is gone we should let them rot!


Tac

[Don]

Tac,

I have to strongly disagree with you on this one. While I am pro death penalty, I believe that the idea is to protect society rather than to exact retribution.

That is not ours to do, but should be left to a "higher power." While I am not an overly religious person, I do believe that it is not our place to go any farther than the "protection of society."

I have made several arrests where I would have felt perfectly comfortable with the permanent solution if I had been given the set of circumstances where it was necessary. However I am glad that it never had to happen.

I have also made arrests where at the time I REALLY wanted an excuse. However, again, now that I look back on it, I am glad it never happened.

I disagree with

[JKT]

[quote]Originally posted by Don:
[b].....I disagree with