Rawnoc...
Good find on the effect of capital punishment on the crime rate. One fact is indisputable - the rate of recidivism is zero, which in itself reduces the crime rate.
The justice system in such cases needs to be overhauled, that much is clear. One thing needed in the appeals process is to concentrate our focus more on the facts of the case (is the person really guilty or not?) and less on the technicalities of the case. By doing so, we could speed up the process tremendously while doing everything we can to insure that only the guilty are executed.
Another needed change, in my opinion, is to take a more Biblical perspective on who receives capital punishment and who gets imprisonment. Biblically, capital punishment should be pursued only in cases where there is no real question as to guilt or innocence. Scripture says there must be at least 2 witnesses, and that would preclude capital punishment in cases based on circumstantial evidence. Because of advances in forensic science, I would include such evidence (DNA, for example) as equivalent to that of a witness.
Finally, we should strive to eliminate all bias from the justice system, not just in capital punishment cases. Race, color, or financial status have no place in a system that claims to be "blind" to such things. I have no idea how to accomplish that goal in fact, though.
mlsoft
