capital punishment decreases crime b/c it's a deterrent can be based on religious traditions (kill em all and let god sort em out) revenge/victim's rights recently in somalia: man sentenced to death for a stabbing by stabbing by the man's son countries supporting capital punishment: industrial democracies: US, Japan, India non-dems: China mexico update: mexican interpol chief arrested for ties to drug cartels ratted out by a member of one cartel after being arrested officers can be paid up to 450K/mo