We all have heard the argument that it is cheaper to lethally inject someone that has been found guilty of a capitol offense instead of sentencing the accused to life in prison. Although most people believe that sentencing an inmate to death on a capital case is cheaper than life in prison for tax payers in the particular state where the inmate is being held, however research continues to state that this isn’t always the case. Therefore, sending the guilty party to prison for life is a better alternative to sentencing the defendant to death row, surprisingly.
The number of man hours that need to be done in a case where the prosecution is campaigning for the death penalty are extremely greater when compared with other cases where the death penalty was not an option. Not only for the prosecution but also for the defense team. The Report of the Judicial Council Committee stated that 40.13 were the total number of days on average that were spent in court when the prosecution pushed for the death penalty. Whereas for the cases were the prosecution were not seeking the death penalty they only spent 16.79 days in court on average. …show more content…
Comparing this to the trial costs where the death penalty wasn’t on the table is astronomically different. On cases that didn’t push for the death penalty verdict the representation only cost $98,936 on average, which is significantly lower. In 2008 the California Commission for the Fair Administration of Justice done a study that resulted in finding that the cost for the judicial system that uses the death row system costs tax payers $137 million dollars annually. Whereas it would only cost tax payers 11.5 million per year using a system that does not include the death penalty. Obviously that number is significantly lower than the
The number of man hours that need to be done in a case where the prosecution is campaigning for the death penalty are extremely greater when compared with other cases where the death penalty was not an option. Not only for the prosecution but also for the defense team. The Report of the Judicial Council Committee stated that 40.13 were the total number of days on average that were spent in court when the prosecution pushed for the death penalty. Whereas for the cases were the prosecution were not seeking the death penalty they only spent 16.79 days in court on average. …show more content…
Comparing this to the trial costs where the death penalty wasn’t on the table is astronomically different. On cases that didn’t push for the death penalty verdict the representation only cost $98,936 on average, which is significantly lower. In 2008 the California Commission for the Fair Administration of Justice done a study that resulted in finding that the cost for the judicial system that uses the death row system costs tax payers $137 million dollars annually. Whereas it would only cost tax payers 11.5 million per year using a system that does not include the death penalty. Obviously that number is significantly lower than the