I sometimes wonder how recent Supreme Court decisions that are seemingly non economic related affect local economies. Case in point. I live in South Louisiana where the Kennedy v Louisiana case got plenty of media air-play. In case you live in a cave, the case revolved around whether or not the execution of a child rapist was constitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately held a state may not execute a rapist for the rape of a child. (Coker v Georgia, a 1977 case, had outlawed execution for the rape of an adult woman.)
My issue is this- now that the case is decided, and other inmates won’t sit rotting on death row waiting for their multitude of appeals, habeas writs, etc. to run out, how does that compare dollar wise to putting a prisoner to death? This question could be asked for any capital crimes, (and I am not addressing the issue of capital punishment whatsoever…) but since this crime has now been declared to be a non-capital offense, it begs the question- from a tax-payer point of view, which costs more for a state?
Here’s a cost breakdown of the issue from a strictly economics viewpoint, in simple terms:
The average death penalty case costs an average of $470,000 more than non-death penalty cases, according to the Death Penalty Information center. These are costs to the prosecution and the defense, often footed almost entirely by the taxpayers. The constitution guarantees the assistance of counsel to those that cannot afford it (and let’s face it, most can’t). That means the taxpayers are ponying up for the lawyers and other court costs. This does not include additional court personnel costs of up to $70,000. An appellate defense costs upwards of another $100 grand.
OK, so assume the prisoner is convicted and sentenced to death. In addition to the cost of the case itself, is the annual cost of housing the inmate in a high security facility. The U.S. average in 2001, to house one inmate in the Federal Prison System, according to the Bureau of Justice, was nearly $23,000 per year. (As an aside, Louisiana had one of the lowest annual expenditure costs, at about $13,000.)
The website Dead Man Walking (www.deadmanwalkingupdate.org) says the average life sentence lasts 29 years. So if an inmate is sentenced to life, rather than the hassle of a capital trial, the average U.S. cost would be somewhere around $667,000, not taking inflation into account, for a life sentence. A death row inmate, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, spends an average of just over ten years on death row, with some waiting for over 20 years. That’s a cost of at least $230,000 just to house the inmate wait.
While death penalty cases make great headlines, and often seem to satisfy justice for crimes committed, these cases have the ability to totally bankrupt a small county or parish- using the simple figures above, here’s how that plays out for the average taxpayer’s pocketbook:
A death row inmate costs approximately $870,000 to try, appeal, and house, assuming he is the ‘average’ prisoner. A prisoner sentenced to life, on the other hand, costs about $667,000 in total, over $200,000 less per inmate. That’s a generous estimate- in Florida, the average cost per execution is $3.2 million dollars. The Palm Beach Post estimates that the state would save $51 million each year by doing away with the death penalty.
No matter how you feel about the death penalty itself, it is easy to see that money could better be spent in other ways than wasted on criminals- roads, child care, healthcare, education…….. definitely something to consider.
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Considering we as the USA is in debt… As harsh as this may sound, there are several options… For those that we know will never have life outside of prison gates… The USA could send them all to a country that believes in cannibalism, the USA would be providing provisions for another country…. The USA could save much needed funds via having a large hole dug and use bullets, then bulldose it over….The USA could use another alternative as they do animals for the slaughter house it is wrong for animals yet the USA still does it to animals, well then do it to the guilty if their blood is usable start replenishing the blood banks and or organ donor vacancies etc… I know this sounds very cruel, however their crimes can be considered more violent etc….I am writing this as a person whom does believe in God, I do however believe that the USA could be using that money towards education, health~care,issues that could improve the well~being and morals of our future generations, as also those generations before us that fought so very hard to obtain what we of the USA have and represent…. Use that money to provide for them and our future… Those employees that have been the guards of those inmates utilize what we have. There is towns that do not have enough officers and such. After a while our crime rate will decline via extreme amounts as people will know the consequences of their Actions, Behavior, and Conduct let them know their A, B,C’s equal D for destruction etc… I write this with good intentions, compassion and understanding. The cost of Death~Row, Life in Prison is not fair to all of us tax payers, especially those that are of a median income, attempting to care for our elders that have fought to obtain what we have today. Even state & county prisons and jails have some prisoners that are awaiting to be transported to the next level of incarceration.
The following e~mail was sent to me and I feel it has merit ….
NEW PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION
The following has been attributed to State Representative Mitchell Kaye from GA. This guy should run for President one day…
“We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.”
ARTICLE I:You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.ARTICLE II:You do not have the right to never be offended.This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone — not just you!You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.ARTICLE III:You do not have the right to be free from harm.If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.ARTICLE IV:You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoesARTICLE V:You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we’re just not interested in public health care. ARTICLE VI:You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don’t be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair…ARTICLE VII:You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don’t be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won’t have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don’t care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from! And Lastly….ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country’s history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH! f you agree with this, feel free to share it with a friend. If you choose not to, nothing tragic willbefall you… I just think it’s about time common sense is allowed to flourish. Sensible people of the United States need to peak out, because if you do not, who will?