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PROS and cons of lethal injection
Capital punishment vs life imprisonment cost
History of the death penalty
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“According to DPIC”, death penalty laws are dated as far back as the 18th century. Death penalties came in the form of being beaten to death, crucifixion, burned alive, drowning and even impalement. America’s death penalty laws was greatly influenced by England. However, the death penalty in the United States is executed by the use of lethal injection which inflicts immediate death. In today’s society you can often find that most are in favor offenders receiving life without parole instead of the death penalty. In the year 2008 a study was administered by Professor Michael Radelet and Traci Lacock by the University of Colorado questioning if the death penalty acted as a deterrent to criminals. The study established that 80% of the world’s criminologist believe that the death penalty …show more content…
life without parole, the death penalty is without a doubt much more expensive than life without parole. This is because capital cases go through a long and complicated judicial process. During this process, there can not be room for any mistakes. The most important focal point is to assure that innocent men and women are not executed for any crime that they did not commit. Even with a close watch on the prosecution 's it still can’t be ensured that “the risk of executing an innocent person cannot be completely eliminated.” Life without parole is definitely cost less millions of dollars vs. the death penalty. With granting offender 's life without parole it would ensure that they 're behind bars ensuring public safety. While on the other hand the tremendous money that’s being saved can go towards programs in the communities. “According to the Sacramento Bee,” the millions of dollars saved could be spent on education, public safety programs, police officers and after-school programs amongst many other things. In California the state can save over five years $1 billion by substituting life without parole instead of the death
The death penalty is much more expensive than life without parole because the Constitution requires a long and complex judicial process for capital cases. If the death penalty was replaced with a sentence of Life Without the Possibility of Parole, which costs millions less and also ensures that the public is protected while eliminating the risk of an mistake, the money saved could be spent on programs that actually improve the communities in which we live. Scientific studies have consistently failed to demonstrate that executions deter people from committing crime anymore than long prison sentences. Moreover, states without the death penalty have much lower murder rates. The South accounts for 80% of US executions and has the highest regional murder rate (Death Penalty
Unlike popular belief, the cost of sentencing someone to death is actually more expensive than a life sentence in prison. In Washington, since the death penalty was reinstated 5 people have been put to death costing taxpayers roughly $120 million, that's roughly $24 million per case (Seattle University, 2015). A reason that people advocate strongly for the death penalty is because they believe that they should not have to pay for the costs to keep criminals fed, sheltered and imprisoned. In fact, 56% of Canadians surveyed believed that the one time cost of a lethal injection is cheaper and will allow their money to go towards something more advantageous like healthcare or education (Angus Reid). This is actually quite different from the truth, in fact is estimated that it costs $740 000 on average to put someone in prison for life. It is also estimated that it costs roughly $1.26 million to sentence someone to death (Seattle University, 2015). (There seems to be a discrepancy between how much a single case costs and how much Washington spent since the death penalty has been reinstated, but I could not find evidence to why that is). Among the reasons why the death penalty is so expensive is the fact that the time in courts is quite lengthy. Jury trials averaged 40.13 days in cases where the death penalty was being sought, but only 16.79 days
Over the past several decades, the number of prison inmates has grown exponentially. In 1980, prison population had numbers around half a million inmates. A graph of statistics gathered from the U.S. Bureau of Justice shows that between 1980 and 2010, the prison population grew almost five times, topping out at nearly 2.5 million. According to an article in The New York Times, the average time spent in jail by prisoners released in 2009 increased by 36% compared to prisoners released in 1990. Many people, such as those at Human Rights Watch, believe that the increase of these numbers has been because of tough-on-crime laws, causing prisons to be filled with non-violent offenders. This rise in crime rates, prison population, and recidivism, has led politicians as well as ordinary citizens to call for prison reform.
Why are prisoners finding it hard to live outside the prison system? After inmates are released from prison, they need to learn how to re enter back into society, but some have no family support or anywhere to go, so they commit another crime and go right back to jail, a phenomenon called recidivism. “Studies show that many offenders tend to end up back in prison when they can’t find employment or if they have strained family” (Chamberlain). Having support is great after being released but not all support is the right support but there are many other options. In fact, there are halfway houses, gate money, the power of an education, and even some ways to find their way back into society while in prison.
Statement of Intention I am writing an opinionated column piece about the prison system and the publics culture towards prisoners. I am writing to persuade the reader/s that there needs to be culture shift in the way prisoners are viewed and treated. I will do this by using persuasive language, examples/facts and emotive language. Twenty three hours in a cell, cramped living spaces, often treated unjustly and yet everyone wonders why re-offending rates all around the world are increasing each year, along with the dangerous criminals comfortably roaming the streets.
While one person lays with their wrists circumscribed to the worn leather of the gurney, another person holds two skin-piercing needles. The individual holding the needles is an inexperienced technician who obtains permission from the United States federal government to murder people. One needle is held as a precaution in case the pain is too visible to the viewers. Another dagger filled with a lethal dosage of chemicals is inserted into the vein that causes the person to stop breathing. When the cry of the heart rate monitor becomes monotone, the corrupt procedure is complete. Lying in the chair is a corpse when moments ago it was an individual who made one fatal mistake that will never get the chance to redeem (Ecenbarger). Although some people believe that the death
Capital punishment, a topic that is constantly debated, is questioned on whether or not it serves its purpose which is to deter criminals and if it is morally acceptable. It is my goal to evaluate arguments that promote or reject capital punishment and its deterrence factor. It would be beneficial comparing crime statistics for states that uphold and states that abolish capital punishment. Finally, an investigation of criminals facing the death penalty and their thoughts as well as modern prison conditions will provide insight to this debate. Capital punishment could be a great deterrent to crime or it may have no effect at all.
Many people, including some higher educated people, tend to believe that executing someone is a lot cheaper than the alternative, which is life in prison without the possibility of parole. Indeed, this thought seems like common sense. However, extensive research has been conducted that contradicts that belief. For instance, a study conducted in Maryland, in 2008, found that the state spends roughly 1.9 million dollars more per capital case, compared to non-capital cases (Warden, 2009). But how can this be some may ask. Well, the reason capital punishment costs more than life without the possibility of parole, is because death penalty cases are longer and more expensive. Because the capital punishment is an irreversible sentence, the state, or government, is required to heighten the defendant’s due process in order to decrease the chance of the defendant being innocent (DPIC). Furthermore, not only is it more expensive for the trial phase, it is also a higher price for a state to imprison death row inmates compared to other
The death penalty has been one of the most controversial topics discussed for decades. Both the sides fighting for the death penalty and the ones fighting for life in prison have many strong arguments, but one key factor is the cost. Unknown to the majority of the public, the death penalty is much more expensive than life in prison (deathpenalty.org). By eliminating the death penalty the United States could save millions every year and spend that money on more important matters.
Fixing this problem is simple, put these criminals on life without parole. Life without parole is life in prison with no way to get out. Parole is getting out early before the sentence is completed, but with the promise of good behavior. This is typically something given to an inmate who is in prison for less severe felonies and was well behaved while behind bars. So, as of now, we take these criminals and strap them to a gurnee to be filled with a somewhat effective poison to kill them.
capital punishment? With receiving life without parole the person has no chance of release by a parole board, even with good behavior. However, life sentences gives an inmate family and lawyer time to prove their innocence if they did not commit a crime. The wrongful execution of an innocent person is an injustice that can never be rectified. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty, 154 cases where men and women have been released from Death Row nationally, some only minutes away from execution. Inmates sentenced to capital punishment in recent years have had the privilege to get freedom due to the improvement of technology and how DNA evidence can prove they did not commit the crime. For example, my uncle who was sentenced to capital murder had evidence that could be tested for his DNA. During his trial evidence proved that his DNA was on none of the evidence presented but he had potential eye witness to identify him. The eye witnessed were paid friends of the other suspect involved in the crime. The witnesses later came back after his conviction and revealed they were paid and they lied about the stories. He was later executed but was never given a free chance to prove his innocence. It can be conceded that, if the maximum sentence an inmate could be given it could help free more innocent people. Supporters of the capital punishment feel it is beneficial because if a person kills someone they should be
It is evident that some offenders should be severely punished, nonetheless Life Without Parole could be used as an alternative to the Death Penalty. According to The Death Penalty Focus (2013), an organization against death penalty, in every State that carries out the death penalty, jurors have the possibility of sentencing convicted capital murderers to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This type of sentence costs less money to tax-payers and keeps violent criminals off the streets for good. Life Without Parole, unlike death penalty, gives an opportunity to criminals to have some remorse and regret their acts. There are currently over 3,300 people in California who have received this alternative sentence, which also has a more limited appeals process last approximately 3 years.
When the question of whether the cost incurred with the death penalty sentence is higher than the cost of life in prison, the answer is yes. The estimated cost for the death penalty sentence averages out to be $3.2 million and $600,000 for life in prison. Now according to James M. Reams and Charles T. Putnam, life in prison without the possibility of parole will have a much higher total cost due to medical cost associate with geriatric care, medical care for chronic health issues and “end of life” care.
The first reason why death penalty should be allowed and get more active is life sentence is costly. According to “What is the Average Cost to House Inmates in Prison”, the average cost of housing an inmate in the U.S. was $31,286 in 2012 for per year. According to the “Who, what, where and why”, the United States has roughly 2.4 million people in prisons. Therefore, the money which America pays to keep prisoners who are in prisons is about $75120000000 for per year.
If a criminal is sentenced to life in jail, then the cost of their imprisonment would be many times this. In the USA, the average cost per prisoner annually in jail is $29,000. The cost of the drugs used for the lethal injection is believed to be $86.08. This is far less than the cost of keeping a prisoner in jail, and would save the government money that could be used to try and make the community a better and safer place. Secondly, many believe that capital punishment is right because of the justice given to the victim’s family.