164 of them said they witnessed at least one execution before the committed their crime. They committed the crime even though they had seen an execution before and that didn't scare them. New York lowered crime rates by putting more police officers on the street, not by longer jail terms or death penalty. This was effective because if one thinks about it, if one was to rob a store, first he would look around about see if any police officers were around, and if he sees one ridding around the block and another patrolling the streets, he would think twice about it. Of course, hiring more police officers will cost a lot of money, but that will only be temporary.
Criminals held in prison for long sentences means money now and money later, too.
Also, the availability of handguns plays a major role in murder rates. Another thought is slavery should be used as a punishment for crimes. If all the miserable moments of a slave's life were put together it would be more painful then any kind of punishment. In 1995 Hart Research Associated Poll asked law enforcement officers what they thought would help the deteration of crime. There is some evidence, however that the death penalty is effective in the deteration of crime.