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@DFP
I think most people are very mixed up in terms of what prison is supposed to be (regarding life sentences). I thought as modern civilised society we were totally over the idea of "punishment" and wanting to make people suffer. Because intentionally making people suffer and gaining satisfaction from it is a form of torture and sadism you know?
But I hear even the most lefty types praising prison over death penalty because "death is the easy way out" and that they should suffer rotting in a prison for many years.
Im not saying the death penalty is feasible or suitable, but that the popular arguments against it often revolve around this. Which I find very ironic. The death penalty in the situation of a very violent horrible criminal would be the 2nd most compassionate thing to do after letting them live in a comfortable stimulating prison like in Norway.
Doing what Norway does achieves the priority of keeping these "hazards to the public" out of the way. But it is understandable if a more heavily populated (more criminals) and poorer country was not willing to pay for this. And wished to opt for the death penalty instead. In a sensible system I where these powers were used in moderation and can be protected from corruption and inaccuracy I think this is highly appropriate.
The incident in Japan Recently is an example of how this can work in a fair, modern country. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21528526
For the majority of dangerous violent criminals who would still be kept in prisons even in this scenario, and all those kept in prison here.
What exactly is the ends of making it a horrible experience? To make the inmates suffer? The idea is to keep them from doing harm, or in the rare case to rehabilitate them. The former does not require making them suffer, and the latter would only be impeded by doing so.
Making prison some kind of hell, I imagine would have a horrible effect on the staff. Worse than if they had the job of executioners I think.