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Death penalty does not work in reducing crime

CRIME -- TRIBUNE EDITORIAL 28 SEPT. ‘17

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Re: Society must co-operate in defeating crime.

The Tribune, Editorial, September 28, 2017.

IT was rewarding to read this thoughtful editorial.

Especially since it contained several sensible suggestions for combatting crime, which were presented without the usual hysterical, knee-jerk calls for enforcing the death penalty. In fact, the death penalty wasn’t even mentioned --- just a few down-to-earth suggestions that might be helpful in reducing our crime in the long run.

One of the death penalty’s understandably feel-good attractions is that there is a very low rate of recidivism.

This cannot be denied.

However, an aspect that is frequently misunderstood, &/or conveniently overlooked, is that it has been shown in many diverse places that, generally speaking, the death penalty simply does not work well in reducing crime.

Therefore, we cannot expect crime to improve very much overall by enforcing the death penalty.

We must concentrate heavily on less sensational suggestions for defeating crime, much like those presented in the well-written editorial. Thank you.

KEN W KNOWLES, MD

Nassau,

October 3, 2017.

Comments

ConcernedCitizen242BHS 6 years, 6 months ago

Solution for reducing crime & deterring criminal activity:

1) Create a new maximum security, Bahamas led and designed prison on one of our more isolated islands 2) Begin upskilling & training the current resources of able bodied Bahamian men held within the existing prisons to be able to work as skilled, building construction labour on the new prison site 3) Create new job opportunities for boatmen or aircrafts to be able to bring supplies to and from the new prison facilities

...

We really need to look at more effective and humane ways of preventing persons from wanting to stray off the straight and narrow path. And ideally we need to foster a better society based on togetherness where there are contributing members who believe in playing an active role role in our much better tomorrow.

Rise up Bahamaland!

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sealice 6 years, 6 months ago

OF COURSE IT DOESN'T WORK THEY DON'T USE IT?? MORE ACTION LESS TALK

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sheeprunner12 6 years, 6 months ago

Smart comment ......... maybe Dr. Ken wants to use the death needle

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drken 6 years, 6 months ago

Needles? Of course not. Stone them to death! Ken

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birdiestrachan 6 years, 6 months ago

The PM said "pop the scumbag necks" No games agrees and so does the FNM minister of the gospel. It is a done deal. they are in charge so necks will be popped.

I do not believe in it. but I am not in charge.

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Dawes 6 years, 6 months ago

The idea that crime will stop if we enforce the death penalty is farcical. How will the death penalty act as a deterrence if we can't even find the people who committed the crime? Or do people think that the criminals will just give themselves up if we enforce the death penalty?

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sheeprunner12 6 years, 6 months ago

We need to first find a way to get murder cases from start to finish in less than four and a half years ....... Fast track the 1000 murder cases over every other case and get it off the backlog table.

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Sickened 6 years, 6 months ago

I say build a new prison in Andros and then nuke the current one with it's occupants. Anyone convicted of murder, attempted murder, rape, armed robbery or assault with a deadly weapon has a right to appeal within 3 months. If found guilty again then they are hung within 72 hours. No need to keep this type of scum around for long. It is not about deterring criminals, it is about punishing the bad!

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