1. Do child sex offenders "deserve" death in an abstract sense?
Some do, some don't. "Child sex offender" is really a pretty broad category.
2. Is it good public policy to execute child sex offenders?
No. It's not. I don't think capital punishment is every a good idea. The system makes too many mistakes. Did you know that two of the people convicted of horrific (and outlandish) abuse on flimsy to nonexistent evidence during the satanic panic were only freed about a month ago? That was a terrible miscarriage of justice, but at least they're still alive.
Another reason this in particular is a terrible idea is that child sexual abuse frequently happens within families. Most people, even many victims I suspect, would have extreme difficulty turning in a family member knowing that they might be executed. I mean, it's already under-reported, but this could only make it worse.
Death penalty for child sexual abuse?
← View full post
There are really two questions here.
1. Do child sex offenders "deserve" death in an abstract sense?
Some do, some don't. "Child sex offender" is really a pretty broad category.
2. Is it good public policy to execute child sex offenders?
No. It's not. I don't think capital punishment is every a good idea. The system makes too many mistakes. Did you know that two of the people convicted of horrific (and outlandish) abuse on flimsy to nonexistent evidence during the satanic panic were only freed about a month ago? That was a terrible miscarriage of justice, but at least they're still alive.
Another reason this in particular is a terrible idea is that child sexual abuse frequently happens within families. Most people, even many victims I suspect, would have extreme difficulty turning in a family member knowing that they might be executed. I mean, it's already under-reported, but this could only make it worse.