This renewed approval reflects traditional reasons for supporting the death penalty: deterrence and retribution. Some who support capital punishment do so because they judge that the threat of death will prevent people from committing crimes. Others judge that some crimes are so horrible that the only appropriate punishment is death. So far, there is no solid evidence that the death penalty serves as a deterrent. "According to the 2000 American Catholic newsletter, page 15, some countries that have eliminated the death penalty have had decreasing rates of violent crime, and some death penalty states have had increasing rates of homicide." I recognize the strong need for society to protect itself against violent criminals. I understand imprisonment of criminals will be necessary most times, but should not dehumanize the convicts. Significant changes in the prison system are necessary to make it truly conducive to reform and Rehabilitate convicts. On the other hand are the victims and their families of these violent crimes. Our society should not flinch from contemplating the suffering that violent crime brings to so many when it destroys lives, shatters families and crushes the hope of the innocent. Care for victims must be given in practical ways, such as financial assistance, pastoral care, medical and psychological treatment. I do not advocate prison forgiveness for violent people and then release to the streets. My Opposition of the death penalty in no way undermines this support. Nor does it imply my willingness to let crimes go unpunished. I know that there are people who should be separated in a humanely secured manner from the community for the protection of all.
"In the 2000 American Catholic newsletter, page 15, it was also reported that 38 states have death penalty statutes." In 1994 the U.S. government enacted an anti crime law that increased the number of crimes subject to the federal death penalty from two to more than sixty.
