by was executed. The mother was then mutilated and killed. The killer should not lie in some prison with three meals a day, clean sheets, cable TV, family visits and endless appeals. For justice to prevail, some killers just need to die." (Wynn) Mr. Macys personal views are very strong and should be taken under consideration whenever the laws surrounding capital punishment are to be revised or edited in any way. Guidelines should be presented to prosecutors and judges that outline the basis for crimes punishable by death. There is no proof that any innocent person has actually been executed since increased safeguards and appeals were added to the death penalty system in the 1970s. (Bean) Even if such executions have occurred, they are very rare. If improvements are needed in the system of representation, or in the use of scientific evidence such as DNA testing, then those reforms should be instituted. However, the need for reform is not a reason to abolish the death penalty. Also, many of the claims of innocence by those who have been released from death row are actually based on legal technicalities. Just because someone's conviction is overturned years later and the prosecutor decides not to retry him, does not mean he is actually innocent. If it can be shown that someone is innocent, surely a governor would grant clemency and spare the person. Hypothetical claims of innocence are usually just delaying tactics to put off the execution as long as possible. Given the thorough system of appeals through numerous state and federal courts in the United States of America, the execution of an innocent individual today is nearly impossible. Discretion has always been an essential part of our justice system. No one expects the prosecutor to pursue every possible offense or punishment, nor do we expect the same sentence to be imposed just because two crimes appear similar. Each crime is unique, both because the circumstances of each victim are ...
