Two words for the same thing. Psychopath is passé, BTW: All the cool kids call them sociopaths right now. But that could change.
Sociopath
Psychopath
ratty:
Yes, as long as they know the difference between right and wrong.
At the state’s option, however, punishment can be supplemented with treatment. But that is not a given.
This isn’t an `either-or’ proposition: If treatment is possible, the state will probably render treatment in addition to the punitive actions. If treatment is not possible, purely punitive actions will take place. At no time will the convict be in a position to commit another crime.
Gulags are bad practice, but so is neglecting to oversee dangerous criminals.
Only if treatment is possible. Trying to `treat’ McVeigh or other politically-motivated killers isn’t fruitful, for example, because they were sane at the time of their crimes and have remained sane (at least until death). Charles Manson probably has recieved treatment, but I’ve not heard anything about it helping him, showing that we cannot cure every insane person who comes along.
What, you question the idea of parole?
To pick up on a hypothetical, what if Manson was deemed mentally fit to enter society? Obviously, it’s been a while since he last breathed free air, so it would probably benefit both him and us for him to be released under certain terms. That’s why we have parole and halfway-houses and so forth.
To air my own opinions, I think this person is a prime candidate for the death penalty. He has shown no remorse for his actions, but I think he knew the difference between right and wrong when he committed the crime. We have a low success rate with sociopaths (ref. Charles Manson, Ted Bundy), so there is little chance of him ever being fit to join society. He is a danger to himself and others, he is untreatable, and as imprisonment for life is hardly humane, the death penalty is the best option.