I saw the essay "An evolving debate: Democracy and the death penalty" in The Economist a few days ago (2013), and since you have already read Levitt's discussion of the death penalty (Levitt & Dubner, 2006, pp. 124 - 125), you might like to have a look at it.
The point I thought most interesting, though not directly related to Levitt's discussion, is that a majority of US citizens continue to favour the death penalty, even in states where their representatives in government have abolished it. I rather like this because it shows that in a healthy democracy the government does not and should not simply do what the majority, even a large majority, want. (I think the death penalty is just, but probably better not used.)
Apart from this main focus on the nature of democracy, however, paragraph 7 does discuss issues relevant to Levitt's discussion on pages 124 - 125.
You are, of course, welcome to respond to anything that attracts your interest.
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Reference
Levitt, S. & Dubner, S. (2006). Where have all the criminals gone? In Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (p. 117 – 144). London: Penguin Books.
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