There isn’t any real way to think Atkins is still dangerous and they keep throwing really dangerous people out of prisons to make room for more dangerous people. That’s aside from the 65% of the people in prisons for “war on drugs(TM)” infractions....
We incarcerate people for two reason. The first, as you point, is to keep dangerous people away from innocent citizen whom they can harm. The other, which is frequently overlooked, is to punish those who have committed offenses against the people.
Ms. Atkins is no longer a threat to anyone, but that doesn't mean her punishment is absolved. She should spend the rest of the days in prison, thinking about what she did and hoping (or praying if she believes in God), that whatever fate awaits her on the other side, is more pleasant than the one she helped to give to so many on this side.
If they need the space, she could share her bunk or give her the needle.
> There isn’t any real way to think Atkins is still dangerous and they keep throwing really dangerous people out of prisons to make room for more dangerous people. That’s aside from the 65% of the people in prisons for “war on drugs(TM)” infractions....
But that’s really beside the point, isn’t it? She was incarcerated for life not because she was dangerous but because she was a murderess and she needed to go to gaol permanently for lifelong punishment.
Now she’s getting that lifelong punishment — good. Proof that the System works.
A more just verdict would have seen her hoist aloft by a noose around her neck and suspended therefrom until she was dead. So she’s already had the benefit of the Court’s clemency.
As to the War on Drugs — I am in favor of that. Most of the people incarcerated for the War on Drugs truly belong in gaol, so with 65% of the prison population attributable to the War on Drugs it too is proof positive that the System works.
If keeping Susan Atkins in gaol until she croaks means that there isn’t enough room for other dangerous people to be incarcerated, the real answer is to either speed up the executions or build more gaols, or both.