In this year’s international execution competition, the U.S. finished fourth with 40 sanctioned killings. We only executed fewer convicted criminals than China, who took the gold, Iran (silver) and Vietnam (bronze). While most Americans might shudder at being grouped with countries with such terrible human rights records, the death penalty is still alive and well in the U.S.: 64 percent of Americans favor it, according to a recent Gallup poll. This past week, Kenneth Lee Boyd was the 1000th person executed since the Supreme Court declared the death penalty constitutional in 1976. Many opponents argue that the death penalty is an ineffective and inhumane deterrent and that our justice system is not failsafe (several condemned to death row have been cleared through DNA testing). Should we remain one of the world’s top executioners, or is the death penalty the only suitable punishment for a capital crime?

(photo: Ken Ilgunas)

Name: Alex Nasarewsky

Occupation: Student

Residence: Buffalo

Are you in favor of the death penalty? Why or why not? No. I feel like it often doesn’t prevent further crimes from happening. I don’t think there’s a long-term solution that’s going to change societal patterns and I don’t think it’s going to change the way people behave. I don’t think it’s an effective deterrent of human behavior.

Do you think capital punishment deters crime? No. We’ve had capital punishment in our justice system for many years and it has proven ineffective because we still have a rising crime rate in our country.

Do you think our nation’s prisons provide adequate rehabilitation for inmates? I feel like a lot of prisons become “revolving door” prisons where people end up coming in and coming out. It’s a cycle that repeats itself because a lot of these criminals don’t get opportunities to get jobs. And when you don’t have a good job, you might have to turn to drug dealing or some kind of illegal operation to make money.

Do you think life imprisonment is a fitting punishment for a capital crime? Yes I do. I think it gives them ample time to reflect on the crime that they committed.

(photo: Ken Ilgunas)

Name: Keith Wiggins

Occupation: Contractor

Residence: Buffalo

Are you in favor of the death penalty? Why or why not? That’s a touchy subject. I’m a Christian, so you’re not supposed to kill, but in a circumstance where someone kills, then maybe the death penalty would be the right thing. I would have to say yes at this point.

Do you think capital punishment deters crime? I think it does. Especially through the notoriety that it gets in the media. The death penalty tells the bad guys, if you do this, this right here is going to happen to you.

Do you think our nation’s prisons provide adequate rehabilitation for inmates? Yeah, to a degree, for the ones who want to change.

Do you think life imprisonment is a fitting punishment for a capital crime? For murder, no. I think it’s a waste of money. I’m saying this now, but you never know. I might have to do something to protect myself by killing.

(photo: Ken Ilgunas)

Name: Louise O’Connor

Occupation: Registered Nurse

Residence: Hamburg

Are you in favor of the death penalty? Why or why not? Not really. I believe in punishment when punishment is due, but taking another’s life in any form or fashion goes against my faith.

Do you think capital punishment deters crime? I’m not so sure. I think in the long run, probably not. I don’t know what the solution is, but I know it would not be to take a life.

Do you think our nation’s prisons provide adequate rehabilitation for inmates? I think it’s an ongoing battle. I have friends who are involved in the prison ministries and they see both sides. In some respects, some of these people in prison get more help in prison than they would if they were on the streets. On the other hand, the quality is lower than what most people would want. I’m on the fence.

Do you think life imprisonment is a fitting punishment for a capital crime? Until we come up with a better solution, if there is one, life imprisonment with rehabilitation is where I stand.