Bush Ok's Execution Of Army Private

[carlie]

http://news.aol.com/article/bush-oks-execu...6350x1200327286

[Ron II]

I've read that it costs more to execute a person than to keep them in prision for life. The legal fees associated with the appeal(s) are the primary expense. See Death Penalty Info Link

FINANCIAL FACTS ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY

• The California death penalty system costs taxpayers $114 million per year beyond the costs of keeping convicts locked up for life.

Taxpayers have paid more than $250 million for each of the state’s executions. (L.A. Times, March 6, 2005)

• In Kansas, the costs of capital cases are 70% more expensive than comparable non-capital cases, including the costs of incarceration.

(Kansas Performance Audit Report, December 2003).

• In Indiana, the total costs of the death penalty exceed the complete costs of life without parole sentences by about 38%, assuming

that 20% of death sentences are overturned and reduced to life. (Indiana Criminal Law Study Commission, January 10, 2002).

• The most comprehensive study in the country found that the death penalty costs North Carolina $2.16 million per execution over the

costs of sentencing murderers to life imprisonment. The majority of those costs occur at the trial level. (Duke University, May 1993).

• Enforcing the death penalty costs Florida $51 million a year above what it would cost to punish all first-degree murderers with life in

prison without parole. Based on the 44 executions Florida had carried out since 1976, that amounts to a cost of $24 million for each

execution. (Palm Beach Post, January 4, 2000).

• In Texas, a death penalty case costs an average of $2.3 million, about three times the cost of imprisoning someone in a single cell at

the highest security level for 40 years. (Dallas Morning News, March 8, 1992).

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/FactSheet.pdf

-----------------

Ron

[carlie]

Ron,

Am I correct in understanding most of these cost are due to legal fees

because of the multiple levels of appeals allowed ?

carlie

[Ron II]

Hi Carlie,

That is my understanding. It's been that way for a long time. Some other costs are discussed below in a Kansas report.

Study Concludes Death Penalty is Costly Policy

In its review of death penalty expenses, the State of Kansas concluded that capital cases are 70% more expensive than comparable non-death penalty cases. The study counted death penalty case costs through to execution and found that the median death penalty case costs $1.26 million. Non-death penalty cases were counted through to the end of incarceration and were found to have a median cost of $740,000. For death penalty cases, the pre-trial and trial level expenses were the most expensive part, 49% of the total cost. The costs of appeals were 29% of the total expense, and the incarceration and execution costs accounted for the remaining 22%. In comparison to non-death penalty cases, the following findings were revealed:

• The investigation costs for death-sentence cases were about 3 times greater than for non-death cases.
  
• The trial costs for death cases were about 16 times greater than for non-death cases ($508,000 for death case; $32,000 for non-death case).
  
• The appeal costs for death cases were 21 times greater.
  
• The costs of carrying out (i.e. incarceration and/or execution) a death sentence were about half the costs of carrying out a non-death sentence in a comparable case.
  
• Trials involving a death sentence averaged 34 days, including jury selection; non-death trials averaged about 9 days.
  

(Performance Audit Report: Costs Incurred for Death Penalty Cases: A K-GOAL Audit of the Department of Corrections) Read DPIC's Summary of the Kansas Cost Report.

Ron

Edited July 30, 2008 by Ron II

[windy city]

Hi Carlie,

That is my understanding. It's been that way for a long time. Some other costs are discussed below in a Kansas report.

Study Concludes Death Penalty is Costly Policy

In its review of death penalty expenses, the State of Kansas concluded that capital cases are 70% more expensive than comparable non-death penalty cases. The study counted death penalty case costs through to execution and found that the median death penalty case costs $1.26 million. Non-death penalty cases were counted through to the end of incarceration and were found to have a median cost of $740,000. For death penalty cases, the pre-trial and trial level expenses were the most expensive part, 49% of the total cost. The costs of appeals were 29% of the total expense, and the incarceration and execution costs accounted for the remaining 22%. In comparison to non-death penalty cases, the following findings were revealed:

• The investigation costs for death-sentence cases were about 3 uttimes greater than for non-death cases.
  
• The trial costs for death cases were about 16 times greater than for non-death cases ($508,000 for death case; $32,000 for non-death case).
  
• The appeal costs for death cases were 21 times greater.
  
• The costs of carrying out (i.e. incarceration and/or executioget n) a death sentence were about half the costs of carrying out a non-death sentence in a comparable case.
  
• Trials involving a death sentence averaged 34 days, including jury selection; non-death trials averaged about 9 days.
  

(Performance Audit Report: Costs Incurred for Death Penalty Cases: A K-GOAL Audit of the Department of Corrections) Read DPIC's Summary of the Kansas Cost Report.

Ron

Maybe this counry should began adopting the same policies that other countries have when it comes to the death penalty. It is sad that they can put down a dog tha maybe did not do anything wrong but these ass***** that commit horrible crimes get three meals and a roof over there heads thanks to hard working tax payers. I feel that the constitution needs to be changed along with the penal system or a new world order that gets ride of the garbage in the world.

[Mcafee]

If Law Enforcement and the Government Agencies really wanted to clean up this type of criminal activities,then it should be put to a VOTE during Election Year. I am all for the Death Penalty if you take a life malicously you do not deserve any rights such as WAR Criminals do.EyE FoR An EyE.

[Conecuh]

THIS INFORMATION COMES FROM AN ORGINIZATION OPPOSED TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. The democrats will quote a study from the Brookings Institute. Republicans, The Heritage Foundation. That is because the Dem own the Brookings institute and the Rep. own the Heritage Foundation. They are designed to make them look good. That is their purpose. This organization is designed to fight against the death penalty. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/art...199&scid=15 One would expect them to slant statistics in their favor, it is their job. What they get paid to do.In China, once convicted, your taken out behind the court house and one bullet is inserted into the back of your head. The family is then charged for the cost of the bullet. But Chinese civilization has only lasted 5 thousand years, they may not know what they are doing. http://www.hadit.com/forums/uploads/emoticons/default_laugh.png' alt=':lol:'> " A young man who is not a liberal, does not have a hart. But a old man who is a liberal, does not have a head!" Ben Franklin :P I like to chase the money. Who is making money, Lawyers. Who is paying money, Tax payers (YOU). You pay.