Quote:I heard a really good justification for the death penalty that planted me on one side for good.

 

The purpose of "jail" is to rehabilitate, when a citizen breaks a "law" the states not spanking them or punishing them, society is removing that individual from the public to prevent further crimes against others. During the time of separation the goal is to rehabilitate or address the issues that lead to an individual breaking whatever law.

 

Some laws once broken can not be undone there is no rehabilitating these individuals so the only way to address the problem is permanent separation. Take another life unjustifiably, harming a child, committing treason, these are crimes that can only be committed by someone that beyond rehabilitation. At that point the death penalty comes into play, either you're sentencing the rest of society to pay for this individual to live in a cell until nature takes its course or you're removing this individual from society permanently.