Each time I study a death penalty case in Texas, the punishment seems deserved and the process thorough. One of every three executions occurs in Texas. As a result, Texas has the system down pat, and has passed scrutiny upon scrutiny, check and recheck, both within the state and outside. Only seven types of murder currently qualify as capital crimes in Texas. First, murder of a child under six years of age because it is considered especially heinous Second, murder of a public safety officer, firefighter or correctional officer Third, murder for remuneration or hire Fourth, murder during the commission of specified felonies like kidnapping or robbery Fifth, murders during prison escapes Sixth, murder by a prisoner serving a life sentence And seventh, multiple murders.
Executions serve obvious utilitarian ends and are saved for the worst.
Robbers, for example, are encouraged to leave victims and witnesses alive. Murderers have an incentive to stop with one life taken. Some acts are bad enough to deserve the death penalty, pure and simple. Ask the victims' families. Few tears were shed when inmates killed Dahmer in prison.