There are lots of countries who have capital punishment. They still have large numbers of horrific crimes being committed, often at rates exceeding those in the UK. It is clear that even the threat of a death penalty is no deterrent to criminals worldwide. Why then bother to have the penalty since it deters no one and makes no member of society safer?
I understand the issue of cost, therefore the prison service should be reformed to be as cheap and safe as possible and to maintain the physical and mental well being of inmates so their cost to society is as low as practically possible. Prison is about neither punishment nor revenge. It's simply a way of removing from society those who can't follow the rules. It is nothing more or less.
Those who are incarcerated should be encouraged to work 45 hours per week to offset the cost of keeping them in the first place. They should be allowed to expand and improve and maintain their facilities, howsoever that is financed or performed is open to debate. Having large populations of people confined but with fudge all else to do all day but take drugs is never going to end well.
ah, but you're young and idealistic.
I am not.
Convicted repeat child molester? Through the trapdoor.
Killing someone during an aggravated robbery? Down the hatch.
Knowingly dragging a policeman to his death, so as to continue a career of petty crime? Prove it was done knowingly, and what right to life should they have? Ask how their community would wish to respond if it were the other way round?
In fact, when I first mooted the TV reality show, I suggested there'd be a queue of folk willing to pay for the chance to pull the lever.
We live in a badly overcrowded island, in a badly overcrowded world. Our own society has monumental problems with respect for the rule of law and it's not getting better. I am waaaay too old and grumpy to be bothered talking nice to em now.