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| Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky |
Debates are raging everywhere on the wisdom of applying the death penalty. Some folks, yours truly among them, are appalled at the level of depravity but remain extremely uncomfortable at giving the state the power take away life.
But here's what I'm struck by: In my wanderings online and among friends and colleagues I talk to face-to-face, I've noticed a much stronger feeling that the death penalty is called for among women than men — even in the company of people who normally denounce capital punishment.
What explains this? Could it be that all of Hayes' victims were female? A friend acknowledges the possible gender gap but wonders if the explanation lies less in the sex of the victims than the fact that they were mostly children. Ergo, when women assess this case, the maternal instinct takes over and it's "Off with their heads!"
I think she might be on to something. Or am I way off base?
i think she is near the mark on this one. the nature of the crimes, the mother being assaulted and left unable to protect her children is a heavy aspect of it.
ReplyDeleteChild murderers are dead the instant they hit the system. If the state doesn't get them, the inmates will.
ReplyDeleteThe anonymous comment is correct. There is an interesting and strong honor code among criminals. Child molesters and child killers are beneath the dignity of adult-on-adult murderers. This guy will be dead before his execution date.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, but don't death-row prisoners, by virtue of their isolation, enjoy greater security than run-of-the-mill inmates?
ReplyDeleteTerry:
ReplyDeleteBacking up your view, a story in Tuesday's Republican-American quotes a woman in Cheshire as saying that she used to be opposed to the death penalty but has changed her mind because of this case.
Wow, didn't see that, Steve. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteterry is probably right. i think death row inmates have high isolation from general population, so Hayes may not be at such risk. If they gave him life instead of the death penalty, that would be a whole other story. The Defense attorney was right on in saying giving him life in prison would be far greater punishment than the death penalty because he would be in with the general prisoners and probably would live long enough to endure suffering at the hands of other inmates that i can not imagine... but then, if those prison documentaries are as accurate as they are sensationalized on tv.. he'd be dead shortly after. and much more painful death than lethal injection.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Fred. Jeffrey Dahmer was spared the death penalty and was instead sentenced to 15 life terms, totaling 957 years in prison. Remember what happened to him?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2606,00.html
The story Steve is referring to in Tuesday's Waterbury Republican-American is behind a pay wall, so I can't link to it, but here is the relevant quote:
ReplyDelete"Rebecca Clift of Cheshire said she opposed the death penalty 'when I was young and more idealistic. Now I think the punishment fits the crime' She said the jury’s verdict is 'what I was hoping for