The UFP Death Penalty

[StarfleetCommand74656]

So I know this wa only TOS era- but I find it odd that a civilisation so dedicated to preserving lives- even enemy lives- eouldn't have outgrown corporal punishment just for disobeying orders. I know Talos IV was serious, but I dont think Mutiny warrants death. Off the subject, who's watching the TNG/TOS reruns on BBC2 Saturdays?

[JupiterPrime]

I cant remember the reason why visiting Talos IV was so grave that it merited the death penalty other than for dramatic effect, but I imagine that even highly advanced civilizations would still warrant a death penalty within their armed forces and government for high crimes such as treason - historically known to be punishalbe by death.

whether or not the specific offense of disobeying a direct order from a superior officer is a treasonable offense should be taken into its specific context....disobeying an order to report to sick bay is a little different than disobeying an order to fire on an enemy or unarmed vessel.

[Lord Borg]

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/General_Order_7

They never really say why. I suppose it was due to the power the aliens had, and how far they were willing to go. I'd imagine after meeting species like Q, and the Founders, that it would no longer be upheld.

[djlazerx]

The real reason why the death penelty was mentioned back in the original series is because the show was in its infancy and they needed a lesson or drawing a crowd idea to that episode just like all the original series episodes pretty much had a moral so to speak. Basically it was one of those things from the original series that for current star trek may be impractical but not impossible like the Kelvins actually ruling the ENTIRE ANDROMEDA GALAXY which is many times the Milky way galaxy's size. I can't think of any more highly unlikely TOS events maybe that will be a new topic.

[lifeguide]

Look while most humans would vote to get rid of or abolish the death penalty, I am afraid that at our current evolutionary period we have to have some deterrent for criminals who just do not care what they do.

The death penalty was placed on any starfleet personnel entering that system because of the power of the Talosians mind control and thier ability to manipulate reality. Pretty easy I would of thought.

I think that mutiny does warrant the death penalty if it can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt and if the situation called for it (for instance I think the crew of the Pegasus would of been given only a reprimand if they had survived), as Riker obviously got.

You have to judge each case on it's own merits.