Having served for ten years within the justice system, first as a jailer in county jail here in Texas, now as a Police Officer of 6 years, I feel I have a first person perspective of just how screwed up the justice system is just how dangerous people like Gomer really are.
There is rarely no such thing as "rehabilitation". Serial killers and child molesters will NEVER change, nor will they stop what they want to do by any means. If you will, think of their desires like so. We all have something that really gets us going, I love hot curvy chicks in fancy corsets. I cannot explain why I love this, but I do and no amount of imprisonment, psychotherapists, or money will change that deep rooted fantasies of mine. I'm sure many of you have a similar type of desire. Imagine that whatever desire you have is outlawed and illegal, you still could not stop those desires. I'm not implying that anyone should give empathy to those are sexually attracted to children or get off on ripping the guts out of hookers, but this will allow you to understand them to a point. Now that you "understand" their desires you realize there is no possible way of changing it and paying for them to live the rest of their lives in a cell with three meals a day and several officers keeping an eye on them is not the best course of action. The best course of action is to simply put them to death. They will never contribute to our society, they will never stop wanting what they want, they will kill or molest again if they ever escape or are freed.
The laws are designed to protect the innocent, but unfortunately the guilty too. I've arrested too many people who were guilty without any a doubt, but they walked away scott free because of some stupid technicality or small error or even political favors. Usually they are re-arrested again with the same outcome only days or weeks later. The basis is that the recidivism rate is only the tip of the iceberg. That does not count the times someone has been arrested and then let go because of some stupid legal loophole or weak minded judge. Maybe I sound like a grizzled, cynical, hardned cop, but let me tell you this country is heading straight for the crapper if this stuff isn't fixed. Most of you would be truly amazed how much stuff goes on just outside the door of your house and it seems almost nothing can be done. It truly sadens me everytime I go to that call about an 8 year old girl whose been molested for the last 3 years by her own father and know that if I so much as spell one word in the report, the defense attorney will ride me into the ground for hours on end.
You hit the nail on the head Cable, unlimited appeals are heavily burdening and taxing the system to a point where the system will crumble eventually from the stress of it.
I could go on and on and on, but I'll end my rant for now.
Whew, hope I didn't ruin ya'lls day with this rant. Sorry, I just have to let it out occasionally.