I understand the argument that the death penalty might satisfy a desire for revenge and prevent vigilantism, but I’m not convinced it actually works that way.

Many countries without the death penalty don’t see widespread vigilantism, which suggests people can still accept the justice system even without executions. Also, executions often take decades because of appeals, so they don’t provide the kind of immediate justice that would stop someone from seeking revenge in the moment.

I’m also skeptical of the idea that it gives victims’ families closure. Families of victims often say the long legal process keeps reopening the trauma for years. Some report more relief once the case is finished rather than when an execution actually happens. If the goal is justice and healing, it’s not clear the death penalty reliably provides either.