If you could choose the sentence for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.....

[Jamastiene]

95. I am always of two minds on this type of topic.

I was raised pro death penalty until I had the chance to talk to a few people on DU who were against the death penalty. It took having a very unpopular stance in a high profile case a few years ago and hearing what was being said on the other side for me to realize that I really don't believe in the death penalty. Far too many people are found innocent years later through newer technologies and science.

Another belief I was raised with involves torture. Being from a military family that is right wing fucks a kid up. As I got older, I began to realize I don't think I fit politically with my family at all. Now, I know I don't. I'm almost 45 years old and my family is still telling me to just settle down with a nice man...even though they know I was raped for being gay and everything else that has happened. That is how right wing and unmoving they are on anything they believe.

So, even though I was raised pro death penalty and pro torture, and there is, at least in the back of my mind, the conditioning for being pro blood-lust, deep down in my conscience, I know it is not right.

I sure would hate to end up in one of those supermax prisons. One thing they say is that it is 23 hours a day in isolation. While I, a hermit who would rather stay home than ever go anywhere or spend time with people most of the time, might find that idea heavenly.

BUT....

I have read that they abruptly stop their antidepressants and refuse to give them those medications. That could turn into hell really quickly. So, that would NOT be something I would want anyone with depression or any other psychiatric disorder to suffer.

So, there is a catch to the supermax prisons. For loners like me, on the surface it might have once looked ok, but knowing they make you suffer through depression without your meds, that sounds like my definition of torture. That, plus no animals anywhere to be found, would be my definition of hell. I wouldn't wish that on even the most heinous villain to ever walk the Earth. Hell, even Cheney or Kissinger or Bush (pick one) do not deserve that.

So, put him in prison for life with no torture and no death penalty, but also no book deals, movie deals, interviews for TV or the internet, or chances of starting a deranged fan club. It is supposed to be at least a little bit inconvenient for them, but within reason, and not out and out torture. Life in prison without the possibility of parole with credit for time served would be enough.