re: #669 Obdicut

We’re never going to execute enough people to actually impact the murder rate significantly. And that’s not actually the meaning of ‘deterrent’. A deterrent, in criminologists parlance, is something that makes someone not commit a crime because of the consequences.

Obdi - right.
I’m actually perfectly aware of the definition of “deterrent”.

I don’t care if the threat of punishment deters a person from committing a crime.

All I care about is that criminals, particularly those responsible for heinous crimes (murder, rape, child molestation, etc), are off the street and unable to continue. And for society, THAT’S the benefit of incarceration. Not punishment, though that also serves a purpose for justice. But strictly that dangerous people aren’t allowed to roam around and continue to be a danger to the rest of us.