One of the most controversial topics involving the American criminal justice system has to be capital punishment. Today, 32 of the 50 states allow the death penalty. Many individuals question its morality and cost, and many defend it with claims of revenge and peace for the families of victims. Three major points against the death penalty are the facts that our country pays millions of dollars for capital punishment, the system does not deter crime, and people have been wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death row. After weighing the facts, it is clear that the death penalty is wrong, and should be abolished once and for all.
The cost of capital punishment is far more than that of any other sanction for murder, such as life in prison with no chance of parole. …show more content…
If, instead of the death penalty, the offender receives a life sentence without the chance of parole, the state would have already paid for the lengthy, elaborate trial, and they also would need to pay for the offender’s housing for the rest of his or her life. Even if the defendant were convicted and sentenced to death, there would be several appeals made. While waiting, the criminal would be kept on death row, which ultimately costs more than housing in general population, due to the need for solitary cells and more guards. Inmates typically sit on death row for more than ten years, awaiting release or execution. According to one study, the average cost for a federal capital punishment case between 1989 and 1997 was $269,139. From 1997 to 2004, the average cost skyrocketed to $620,932. Another study estimates that by 2030, capital punishment will likely cost nine billion dollars. Regardless of the final conviction, the amount of money spent on each death penalty case on attorneys, jury selections, death row guards, and housing of the inmate, is
The cost of capital punishment is far more than that of any other sanction for murder, such as life in prison with no chance of parole. …show more content…
If, instead of the death penalty, the offender receives a life sentence without the chance of parole, the state would have already paid for the lengthy, elaborate trial, and they also would need to pay for the offender’s housing for the rest of his or her life. Even if the defendant were convicted and sentenced to death, there would be several appeals made. While waiting, the criminal would be kept on death row, which ultimately costs more than housing in general population, due to the need for solitary cells and more guards. Inmates typically sit on death row for more than ten years, awaiting release or execution. According to one study, the average cost for a federal capital punishment case between 1989 and 1997 was $269,139. From 1997 to 2004, the average cost skyrocketed to $620,932. Another study estimates that by 2030, capital punishment will likely cost nine billion dollars. Regardless of the final conviction, the amount of money spent on each death penalty case on attorneys, jury selections, death row guards, and housing of the inmate, is