The Fiscally Conservative Case Against Capital Punishment

[one...two...tree 2,762]

For proponents of the death penalty, the usual arguments tend not to be effective. Fears about inadvertently executing the innocent, philosophical objections to the government killing American citizens, evidence that capital punishment doesn't actually deter crime ... the typical points don't seem to connect. Perhaps it's time to try a new direction: the death penalty is just too expensive. (via John Cole)

At 678, California has the nation's largest death row population, yet the state has not executed anyone in four years.

But it spends more than $130 million a year on its capital punishment system -- housing and prosecuting inmates and coping with an appellate system that has kept some convicted killers waiting for an execution date since the late 1970s.

This is according to a new report that concludes that states are wasting millions on an inefficient death penalty system, diverting scarce funds from other anti-crime and law enforcement programs.

"Thirty-five states still retain the death penalty, but fewer and fewer executions are taking place every year," said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. "But the overall death row population has remained relatively steady. At a time of budget shortfalls nationwide, the death penalty is turning into an expensive form of life without parole."

The right cares about fiscal responsibility, right?

The same report asked 500 police chiefs from across the country about their priorities for reducing violent crime. The death penalty ranked last.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'm against the death penalty for this reason. I'm not morally opposed to it.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm against the death penalty for this reason. I'm not morally opposed to it.

So you're morally comfortable with the government (remember John Galt) putting some number of innocent people to death?

[Ban Hammer 14,665]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=72588

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Wrongful convictions do happen, after all. And the death penalty is not reversible, nor can a dead man be compensated or seek redress.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=72588

I am sure they do.

Hanging criminals by the balls, cutting them out and feeding them to wild pigs on HBO would likely deter some crime too. So what?

[Ban Hammer 14,665]

Wrongful convictions do happen, after all. And the death penalty is not reversible, nor can a dead man be compensated or seek redress.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=72588

I am sure they do.

Hanging criminals by the balls, cutting them out and feeding them to wild pigs on HBO would likely deter some crime too. So what?

hbo has specials like that?

[Danno 1,228]

Capital punishment aside..... it's a Special-moment when a lefty like Steven is interested in whats "fiscally prudent".

However if more than ten lives on average are saved for every offed-con..... (as Charles's link indicates) it might indeed be fiscally wiser to kill ... those who have killed in the worst ways.

Wonder why t6hey chose California to make this case of "is it fiscally sound".

Texas has more experience and might be an example in "steam lining" the process.

Has anyone seen what the national "for-or-against", stats are capital punishment lately?

[mawilson 2,133]

Or they could just fix the system and execute the convicts promptly.

It boggles the mind that capital punishment is more expensive than keeping someone in prison until they die.

Not that I'm for capital punishment, just saying it's a stupid reason to be against it.

[Peikko 1,575]

I agree, but then Steven often likes his reasoning stupid which I find rather unfathomable.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Capital punishment aside..... it's a Special-moment when a lefty like Steven is interested in whats "fiscally prudent".

The only one's that have shown any fiscally prudent behavior over the past three decades where the lefties, my friend. The GOP is the party of borrow and spend - not what I'd call fiscally prudent.