Citing Cost, States Consider Halting Death Penalty

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

When Gov. Martin O’Malley appeared before the Maryland Senate last week, he made an unconventional argument that is becoming increasingly popular in cash-strapped states: abolish the death penalty to cut costs.

Mr. O’Malley, a Democrat and a Roman Catholic who has cited religious opposition to the death penalty in the past, is now arguing that capital cases cost three times as much as homicide cases where the death penalty is not sought. “And we can’t afford that,” he said, “when there are better and cheaper ways to reduce crime.”

Lawmakers in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and New Hampshire have made the same argument in recent months as they push bills seeking to repeal the death penalty, and experts say such bills have a good chance of passing in Maryland, Montana and New Mexico.

Death penalty opponents say they still face an uphill battle, but they are pleased to have allies raising the economic argument.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/us/25death.html

[aquart]

1. Oh, what a reason.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

8. it is a pretty valid reason

a single death penalty prosecution can bankrupt both the prosecutor and public defender in alot of jurisdictions and that is before a single appeal.

[Book Lover]

2. Well, who cares why?

Just one more reason on our side as far as I'm concerned.

[2Design]

3. thank god they are going to stop killing people - maybe now they

will look for ways to reform people

[Orangepeel]

4. it's true, and if that's what convinces people, great. n/t

[rpannier]

5. Truth is stranger than fiction

Tells you a lot about a country when doing the right thing is based on 'dollars and cents'

[defendandprotect]

6. YEAH . . . Guiliani wanted to give NY the death penalty -- $80 million in costs !!!

and probably much, much more when you consider the damage the state does to us

all when it murders in our name!

[defendandprotect]

7. Let's take the next step and legalize marijuana -- $50,000 per year per prisoner--!!

Three cheers for 'WE CAN'T AFFORD IT ANY MORE!'

**************************************************

[Peace Patriot]

10. My thought exactly. This may be the up side of Great Depression II.

End of state murder.

End of the madness of the "war on drugs."

End of the "prison-industrial complex" boondoggle.

End of imprisoning people for long sentences--at $30,000-to $50,000/year--for non-violent crimes.

Amnesty for non-violent offenders (70% of the prison population!!!)

Improved conditions for violent offenders.

Get rid of all "blue laws" (decriminalize drugs, prostitution, etc.).

A police state is not just horrible for society and democracy--we can't afford it!

[Winterblues]

9. And in Alaska that has never had a Death Penalty as a state now

has a bill just introduced in the House to Establish one. Why is it Alaska, such a truly beautiful and magnificent state, is filled with such hateful people?