I happened to be reading the Torah (also known to many as the “Old Testament” of the Bible) and came across the prescribed punishments for crimes such as murder. I don’t subscribe to the principle that the Bible is divine guidance, Nevertheless, Deuteronomy defines the death penalty as an essential punishment for various crimes.
Interestingly, I came across a Washington Times article that discusses the results from twelve different studies about the deterrence value of the death penalty. The studies, conducted over the last ten years, conclude that executions can save the lives of innocent people.
This appears to be a case where the practical and theological foundations are in agreement.