 Rehabilitation as a response to murdering criminals is not an option because, as Van den Haag states, “no effective method to achieve it [Rehabilitation] has been found.” If a proper method of rehabilitation can be found, it would not reduce the crime rate, because rehabilitation only works after the crime has been committed.Deterrence is the only thing that can have any effect on the actual crime rate.Overall, Van den Haag directed his argument toward the fact that the death penalty only should exist to protect innocent lives.