[Shaun]

One need only look at the crime rates of states that carry the death penalty to know that it is not a deterrent.



(From: https://www.amnestyusa.org/issues/de...nd-deterrence/ )

As for life... I think for repeat and serial offences yes. I believe there is a clear difference between killing, raping or whatever once... and doing it to multiple victims. The latter is a clear sociopath and should be imprisoned for life... with the former, there is the possibility of rehabilitation (plus other factors have to be taken into account like the perpetrator's mental health, their sobriety, the level of intent (eg. panicking and shooting someone during a robbery isn't equivalent to premeditated murder)... and so on.)