The Death Penalty - California

[Ayatollahgondola]

I'd like to know how you all feel about the death penalty in California,

I will be uploading a few documents on Public Document Distributors in relation to California's death penalty, and hope to obtain your honest opinions now, and maybe later as the information is publicized. For now, here's one to start us off:

Attached below is a few documents from the file of a convict in 1924 who was condemned and executed by the state for murder. These documents are a list of press and other people to be notified, an invitation to witness the execution, a letter authenticating the execution was done, the death certificate shortly after, and the instruction for filling it out properly

Hanging was the method at that time, as you'll see in the box marked cause of death. I'll tell you what my research has turned up, and that is that California has hung around a thousand in the state pen, at least from the records, and that's quite a few neck stretchings. The question is: Was it meant to punish, deter, or avenge? And did it accomplish any of those?

[tim55]

I'm for it. I think it serves as a deterent. As well as a savings of taxpayers money, if it could be done with a limit on appeals. Plus there is one intangible.........Satisfaction.

[Jeanfromfillmore]

I'm for the death penalty. Why should society have to pay (it costs big $$$$) to house, feed, clothe, provide medical, educate, legal services and all the other costs associated with keeping them in prison for life. The death penalty is specially appropriate for those where there is no question as to their guilt simply because they did it in front of a camera or caught in the act.

[Ayatollahgondola]

These links are to documents I've started to upload from the files of the Warden and San Quentin during the years 1893 through 1944. Seems California had a pretty active gallows early on, executing hundreds of convicts during that period. Hanging was the prescribed treatment, and appeals were very short, and often denied. The time frame between judgement of the court and time of death was around two years on average. Seems the sheriff and court would deliver a prisoner to the warden, and the warden would deliver a corpse two years later. Anyway, I'll be uploading more documents over the next month as I obtain them, but here is the first batch:

http://publicdocumentdistributors.co...2&d=1284782169


http://publicdocumentdistributors.co...3&d=1284783369

Here is a death warrant from the 1920's, written by hand as many were at the time:

J Hendrix by the way....hope he wasn't a geeetar player

http://publicdocumentdistributors.co...1&d=1284780849

And here is a copy of the report from another convict whose cause of death was officially designated "fracture of the neck".

http://saveourstate.info/attachment....1&d=1284708165

[Twoller]

For those who endorse the death penalty, what crimes do you think should warrant a death penalty?

[ilbegone]

I believe that the death penalty is more humane than a life sentence.

And, as in a life sentence, there will a be a percentage of those who were convicted yet are innocent of the crime they were charged with.

In addition to Jean's belief concerning costs and such, there will be fewer criminals running criminal empires from solitary confinement.

I believe that an inmate who murders another inmate should be swiftly executed as well as those who engage in coded communication with the outside or engages in criminal enterprise while behind bars, anyone who rapes another inmate, racial violence - as well as corrections officers who conspire with convicts concerning everything from aiding criminal organizations, smuggling drugs into prison, sex with prisoners, or uses inmates to "educate" or punish other inmates.

There will be much fewer problems concerning incarceration and recidivism, and significantly less misconduct by corrections officers.

[Ayatollahgondola]

Originally Posted by Twoller

For those who endorse the death penalty, what crimes do you think should warrant a death penalty?

I'm going to withhold comment on one section of offenders for now, but definately premeditated murder for lust or financial gain, as well as murder for profit. Then, murder for passion, as that should not be given an "out" as it has been in the past. Someone acts in a fit of rage, that should be a deterrent. What other deterrent is there?