RE: THE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT CONTROVERSY - PART 1: THE EFFECT OF DETERRENCE
I'd argue that life itself is a death sentence (in a way)
That's actually a good argument which can be used to argue against the deterrence effect of capital punishment. For most people a life behind bars (and maybe a large part in solitary confinement) is worse than a death penalty. So in a way, a mandatory life imprisonment without parole for all 1st degree murders can prevent crimes as much as the death penalty.
I think that prisons of the future will be places where real rehabilitation will be taking place. Most prisons of today are just places of punishment which end up making things worse for those who have a chance to be released one day (most of them return with worse crimes). I don't know if the statement ''once a killer, always a killer'' is 100% valid, I haven't read much research on the subject. But even if it is and someone needs to spend a lifetime behind bars, he should have the right to end his life if he wishes and his imprisonment conditions shouldn't add to his suffering.
Prison also tends to be a gathering of criminal minds. What better way to collaborate with others than to network while in prison. For those who have not learned life skills or changed their ways on the inside, it's unlikely they will not commit the same or similar crimes, but with the tips from other inmates.
It's no secret our prison system needs a complete overhaul, but it tends to be on the backburner to other topics in the spotlight right now.