Death v. Life without parole

The death penalty is being debated again. Do we have a right to decide whose life ends and for what reason? And what of all the innocent people that have recently been released from death row, due to DNA evidence that cleared them? There is no perfect system to ascertain someone's guilt. Then you have public defenders standing up for the convicted, sometimes against high dollar lawyers. Considering most public defenders are just out of law school and learning as the go, I do not believe this is a working system. Additionally, the death penalty is not given to individuals equally. If it was, alot more people would receive it, regardless of education or economic status. As we are approaching the 1,000 execution since the death penalty was resumed, I cannot help but wonder if this could be another innocent man that will pay the ultimate price.
Finally, to make the death penalty effective, the way they are carried out needs to be changed. Now, it is all behind closed doors, with just a select few witnessing it. Back in the day, they were public and gave the public a first hand look and the consequesnces of the deed.