Unfortunately yes, my state (Pennsylvania) has the death penalty. I don't think it works as a means of preventing crimes. Criminals who commit death-penalty level offenses don't have any worries about it. The death penalty increases the costs of prosecuting criminals because of the appeals process. But because the appeals process is necessary (so that innocent people can have a means to free themselves) we can't reduce this cost. Therefore, life in prison is the cheaper option and it is the fairer one because it gives an innocent person a lifetime to prove their innocence.