The death penalty is institutionalised vengeance. Vengeance is not the aim of Justice. Justice is sought to avoid vengeance.In the eyes of a victim or his or her family and friends, no punishment is strong enough.
They want and may deserve that vengeance, but the role of Justice is to remove the burden of retribution from those who are hurt and to ensure above all that the right culprit gets a punishment in relation with the crime committed.
The task is incredibly hard, and the inconsistencies in what constitute fair punishment for a crime are plenty. That should only drive us get better and more just. There is no absolute in justice, but I think that more reliance on objectivity, scientific proof and compassion can only help toward ensuring fairness.
The biggest crime of all is not to release someone who is guilty, but to convict someone who is innocent.
