The issue really isn’t escaped criminals as they will either be recaptured or die in their efforts. The issue is releasing dangerous criminals back into society. My argument is to prevent that. There are ways of implementing that but the penal system and its priorities must change, including removing cost and overcrowding as an excuse by making prisoners pay their way through prison.
Again, there is NO better way to protect society against repeat offenses by a convicted criminal than to kill said criminal. If protecting society is the goal then we should be killing more criminals, not fewer.