Wesley Clark on Crime NATO General; Democratic Candidate for President

Death penalty for heinous crimes, but apply with safeguards

A: I believe the death penalty should be available for the most heinous crimes. At the same time, I am concerned about reports of mistakes on death row, and errors and unfairness in our criminal justice system. ... If we are to carry out the ultimate penalty, it must be with the ultimate safeguards.

Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes

Which principles do you support regarding crime issues:
• Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
• Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
• Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.

Death penalty ok, but needs DNA and equal justice

A: I believe that the state has a right to impose the ultimate sanction. But the way the death penalty has been imposed in America is discriminatory. Every existing case on death row should be reevaluated if modern technologies like DNA testing are available to confirm or deny guilt. More broadly, I am concerned that justice today is less than equal, given the vast disparities in sentencing and confinement rates between various groups.

Concerned about Three Strikes & emphasis on lockup