Posted on 02/17/2009 9:06:21 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY
In an unexpected twist to the economic crisis, several US states are weighing whether to abolish the death penalty as the execution process proves too great a drain on dwindling resources.
Death penalty laws remain on the books of 36 of the 50 US states, and capital punishment is supported by some two-thirds of the American public.
But across the nation, states as diverse and far-flung as Montana, Kansas, New Mexico and Maryland are among those actively considering abolishing capital punishment in a bid to overcome ballooning budget shortfalls.
"It is quite unusual that we've seen this blossoming of state legislative activity this year. It's because there is a renewed inspection of the death penalty," Steve Hall, director of the anti-capital punishment group Standdown, told AFP.
Most of the states involved in the move are those which have only executed a few people -- five or less -- in the past 30 years since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976. But "state legislators across America seem to be re-examining the death penalty," he said.
The financial savings could be considerable.
Carrying out the death penalty can leave a state footing a bill that is 10 times higher than for an inmate serving life imprisonment.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Another reason for Texas to secede. You kill us in Texas, we kill you back.
We can stack them deep and off them cheap.
A kill-o-watt may go for 10¢
I doubt it cost more than a dollar to fire up ol sparky and send him to his fate
I'm in favor of using axes for executions...works for me.
Cheaper to sustain a prisoner for umpteen years or execute them? The logic us goes over my (obviously) dense head.
How about they just reform their death penalty laws so they are not spending a fortune for each execution ?!?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Here’s an issue in which the libs that run everything can partner with the Catholic church to stop the practice. Politics makes strange bedfellows....and rarely employs common sense.
When you factor in appeals after appeals and stays of executions, calls to the Gov in a twenty year time, yes, I guess it is expensive.
Maybe they should shore all that up in a year or two and then let the firing squad or lethal injection, rope etc do its work.
Bill the family of the criminal for the cost of the rope, needle, bullet, etc.
Are they going to axe the executions any other questions? What if the executions say no?
I didn't read the whole article but I believe the "cost" is the seemingly endless appeals and re-appeals due to constant legal manipulation by defense lawyers bolstered by "social justice" groups. Think Mumia Abu Jamal.
While these hypocrites are at it, why don’t the cut funding to abortion? I guess if it’s a liberal pet recipient, then no funding is cut.
stakes/ropes/anthill.............oh I don’t know, what, maybe 5, 10 bucks? oh yeah honey, add 5 more.
They forgot to say, ‘’piss on the victims.’’
Sell tickets to civic minded citizens.
Sell more expensive tickets to civic minded citizens who wish to form the firing squad. Citizens must provide their own firearms and ammo.
Of course, it's the anti-death-penalty crowd COSTING the states these funds, so for them to COMPLAIN about it is more than a bit hypocritical.
How about slipping a few hits of heron to the inmates in exchange for a hit on the guys on death row.
Total trojan horse. If they were to streamline the process, the expense could be greatly reduced.
Here's what we can do in Cal and it will save money. Spend 5 million a year to hire three judges, clerks, investigators, attorneys, and staff. Pay for all the DNA tests we need.
Expedite all of the appeals. Reduce the time it takes to execute. Reduce the population on death row, by expediting appeals and executions.
Don't build the $300,000,000 new death row.
I find it hard to believe that executions cost more than life sentences
This sounds like a liberal ploy to grant more criminal rights
First, they do away with electrocutions because it was cruel...now injections are cruel
Note that the pro-criminal crowd only gets involved in death penalty cases when it is near execution time...never during a trial. That is the time to determine guilt or innocence
Streamline the death row appeals...cut down on time for the appeals....give them DNA tests
I have got to read more carefully! At first I thought it said that states were going to save money on executions by using axes!
I sense a job opportunity!
Cheaper to sustain a prisoner for umpteen years or execute them? The logic us goes over my (obviously) dense head....”
The expense is the years and decades of legal wrangling to finally set and keep an execution date.
Never a bad idea.
“You’re human!” “Barely. I’m a lawyer.” - Blade Trinity.
The solution is not abolishing the death penalty but TORT REFORM to make it cheap, swift and sure.
Commies and crime profiteers and dirty politicians seeking felon votes (but I repeat myself) don’t want that.
Well, this is a new one. Don’t do it Texas. Stand tall.
Cost = Lawyers
Keep the maggot alive, we’re getting paid by the hour!
Horsepuckey!
Incarceration at $40,000 a year per inmate (last I heard), vs. 10 bucks for a good rope or 32 cents for a bullet.
Maybe they need to stop trying to use the 'new math'.
“I didn’t read the whole article but I believe the “cost” is the seemingly endless appeals and re-appeals due to constant legal manipulation by defense lawyers bolstered by “social justice” groups. Think Mumia Abu Jamal.”
I would think liberals would want the death penalty to continue to exist, as all the leftist lawyers make money off of the appeals process bigtime.
“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers”
My sentiments precisely, Mr. Shake-a-Spear.
...at which time said expenses cease.
This is really an indictment of the death penalty process, not of the death penalty itself. But instead of fixing the process, they want to just give it up. Geniuses, all of them.
And that’s what a lengthy appeals process gets you.
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
I agree...
OTOH, forget the backhoe; make them dig their own holes...
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