My only issue with the death penalty for sex crimes is there are often too many he said/she said cases. If a female family member were to ever suffer this horific event. I can tell you that I would be the first to want the offender dead, but how many people have you met in your life who lie out of either spite,revenge, or are just plain nasty people. (their means justify their ends) Murder is a much different crime because a person is dead and it's doubtful anyone can lie that they were killed.
I am not sure there is a simple answer to the death penalty question. It is an emotional issue that will probably be debated until the end of time.
Personally, I am for it for murder and a jury has convicted based on physical/dna evidence, as well as motive and oppurtunity. I lean that way pretty heavily when it comes to serial rappists and child molesters also.
That being said, should a 19 yr old convicted of staturory rape for dating a 17 yr old be labeled a sex offender for the rest of their lives?
If you assumed I am talking about a 19yr old male, you are making my case about how these cases are often prosecuted, remember the teachers having affrairs with students and the punishment differences between male and female teachers.
I place more trust in a jury of my peers than legislators who most likely have different life experiences than the rest of us or pass laws because someone with a check to help them afford to get re-elected can persuade them.