DEATH PENALTY

[HairOfTheDog]

User that makes no sence. The case has to be prosecuted no matter what. The greatest cost is in babysitting the guilty fuckers for 18 or 20 years while they go through all kinds of appeals.
I think maybe more care should be used in making sure we have the right guy, but once it is determined we do indeed have the right guy, fry his murdering, child raping ass and be done with it

I snatched this quote from the article that follows:

The state's 714 death row prisoners cost $184 million more per year than those sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.The least expensive death penalty trial costs $1.1 million more than the most expensive life-without-parole case.

Jury selection in a capital case runs three to four weeks longer and costs $200,000 more than in life-without-parole cases.

The state pays up to $300,000 for attorneys to represent each capital inmate on appeal.

The heightened security practices mandated for death row inmates added $100,663 to the cost of incarcerating each capital prisoner last year, for a total of $72 million.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/20/...s-20110620

I think it's all well and good to say if you have a confession or irrefutable evidence, to proceed quickly with the death penalty but that type of reform hasn't occurred in California and I doubt our highly democratic state will ever push it through. JMO. I'd rather spend the money on schools.

I see your point; thanks for the numbers.

Another thing that I take into account is prison overcrowding and the cost of opening up new prisons that have to house prisoners to older ages with more care. The cost of long term care increases annually. I can see both sides.

I'd like to see lesser penalties for some non-violent crimes and somewhat reluctantly support the DP for irrefutable guilt cases. Right now, the country spends more on incarceration than education. That's messed up, I agree.