Though I respect Berenice Weeks' authority on the subject of the death penalty (as she is a native Brazilian), I do not think that her guarantee is enough reason to establish the death penalty in Brazil ("Death penalty helps U.S. justice system," Nov 30).

It has been shown that the death penalty is not a deterrent for crime, either domestically or abroad. Many states that do not employ the death penalty have lower murder rates than states that do employ it.

Additionally, countries like Canada that do not have the death penalty have lower murder rates than the U.S. As far as her comments regarding taxpayers' burden: It is costlier to sentence someone to death than to keep them in prison for life. This is due to the costly appeal process.

Hopefully Weeks will research the subject further in the future before offering her guarantee.