NY Times: Citing Cost, States Consider End to Death Penalty

[marmar]

:toast:



Citing Cost, States Consider End to Death Penalty

By IAN URBINA
Published: February 24, 2009


ANNAPOLIS, Md. — 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.

Efforts to repeal the death penalty are part of a broader trend in which states are trying to cut the costs of being tough on crime. Virginia and at least four other states, for example, are considering releasing nonviolent offenders early to reduce costs. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/us/25death.html?_r=1&hp

[Last Stand]

1. This is the best selling point to RW'ers.

They can't deny it. I costs WAAAY more than a life sentence.

And it's still not a deterrent.

[L0oniX]

2. It's about time!

In Florida it costs on average about 4 million to execute someone. I always thought it would be better to give the victims family 1 million and spend 1 million @ $30k a year to keep the criminal in prison for life and save 2 million.