Parade.com/deathpenalty – At Parade.com/deathpenalty Parade Magazine readers vote on whether states should abolish the death penalty because the cost is high.
Parade.com/deathpenalty opens the question of whether the cost of the death penalty is so high that simply based on economics, states may go to life without parole to save money.
Some states have recently debated whether to repeal the death penalty including New Mexico and New Jersey. Studies indicate that New Jersey saves $1.3 million in incarceration costs because death row inmates must have special housing and security, not to mention the money spend on their prosecution and often, their legal defense and appeals.
Here are the results so far:
Parade.com/deathpenalty also states that North Carolina could save $11 million per year by commuting 169 death row prisoner’s sentences to life without parole.
Kent Scheidegger wit hte Criminal Justice Legal Foundation said, “But is that an argument for its repeal or an argument to make it less costly? People value justice for its own sake, aside from issues of deterrence and economics.”A topic that many feel very strongly about is broached here, and your opinion counts at www.Parade.com/deathpenalty.
Is the death penalty just an expensive form of life imprisonment since only 52 executions were carried out it 2009 while 3279 prisoners were on death row?
Your opinion matters at Parade.com/deathpenalty.
Tags: capital punishment, death penalty, parade magazine, parade-com-deathpenalty, www-parade-com-deathpenalty
January 31st, 2010 at 1:59 pm
To Whom it May Concern,
If we start letting people get away with murder because it is to costly what is to stop us from letting everyone get away with other crimes, simply, because we can’t aford it?
There is a reason why we have laws set in place and the price we pay for those that break them. In my opinion we will step back as a society if we start putting our justice system on the bottom line so to speak.
We should look for other ways to make our system become more cost effective instead. I am sure there are devices that could be implanted in prisoners so they would be able to be watched more closely electronically than having to build cement prisioners from escaping. This is just one method it is humane as we do it all the time to our animals to identify them if they are lost. So no one could use that as a reason not to go ahead with something like that.
Why not build huge screens such has a computer screen much like projection tvs are? That would cut down on guards sitting down and watching small screens. The gurads could be over head with the machine guns and watching the compound at the same time? The technology is there we just have to think outside of the box in order to use it.
January 31st, 2010 at 4:27 pm
How do you put a price on keeping us safe?
We do not need justice ie. “an eye for an eye ” what we ned is a safe inviorment for ourselfs and our children.
If it costs too much under the present syestem lets change the system not the results.
Many churches and groups have rules, If you break those rules or laws you are out, not so with our present legal syestem we alow people to chose which laws they want to obey and ignore the others. “I want to kill someone, I know it is against the rules but I do want to take advantage of some of the other rules, like having the right to having my conviction and my sentence apealed and the right to be incarsrated in a peanal syestem that feeds me, enertains me, keeps me warmand protects me from the other members of our sociaty who pay all of my rights.
One answer to the problem could be ” follow the rules or you are out !” You are not able to pick and chose which rules you want to follow or take advantage of.
Death sentence, one appeal within one year death or freedom you have no other rights.
January 31st, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Our death penalty system is a joke. Do dna tests on everyone in prison,test it against all evidence. If that result shows the individual to be guilty, then they should be given a like kind sentence. If they stabbed someone to death, then they should
be entitled to the same treatment, shot, clubbed, poisoned, etc.
Robots could easily be built to carry out the sentence. To hell with painless death for these bastards. Were they concerned about the feelings of the person they killed? HELL NO ! Your
ballot will not let me cast a vote.
January 31st, 2010 at 6:49 pm
I do not understand WHY a death row inmate requires special housing or security. They should be locked up just like a lifer – what is the difference – please explain?
January 31st, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Imagine every person that commits a crime that’s punishable by death, is now given a life sentence. How much money will it then cost the taxpayer in legal fees to keep that person in prison until they die of natural causes or another inmate ends their life? The ACLU or some unscupulous attorneys will milk this for all it’s worth and if you think the costs of housing a death row inmate is expensive now, and it’s the money that you’re concerned about, God save us if those perpetrators are allowed to live any longer by laws precribed in states with the death pentaly and take money that could be well spent on better things such as the law abiding homeless people and their children who have nothing to eat and no roof over their heads and a host of many others in need. By the way, I tried to vote ‘no’ on whether states should abolish the death penalty a few hours after our newspaper was delivered but, your survey would not take my vote.Which leads me to believe that only the incarcerated were allowed to vote. Good day.
January 31st, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Imagine every person that commits a crime that’s punishable by death, is now given a life sentence. How much money will it then cost the taxpayer in legal fees to keep that person in prison until they die of natural causes or another inmate ends their life? The ACLU or some unscupulous attorneys will milk this for all it’s worth and if you think the costs of housing a death row inmate is expensive now, and it’s the money that you’re concerned about, God save us if those perpetrators are allowed to live any longer than laws prescribed in states with the death penalty and take money that could be well spent on better things such as the law abiding homeless people and their children who have nothing to eat and no roof over their heads and a host of many others in need. By the way, I tried to vote ‘no’ on whether states should abolish the death penalty a few hours after our newspaper was delivered but, your survey would not take my vote.Which leads me to believe that only the incarcerated were allowed to vote. Good day.
January 31st, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Life imprisonment should be abolished. Criminals should be sentenced to a specific term or executed.. No life sentences.
I resent criminaals who have committed henious crimes being able to live out their natural lives at taxpayer expense. It costs about $55,000 a year to keep a man in prison. As a nation, we can’t afford it.
iF A CITIZEN COMMITS A SECOND FELONY HE SHOULD GET THE DEATH SENTENCE.
January 31st, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Your voting buttons don’t work.
January 31st, 2010 at 9:26 pm
We should abolish the death penalty. Not because of the cost but because we do kill innocent people on occasion
The other reason: The state or any person should not kill another. That should be left to GOD.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:28 pm
To Whom It May Concern,
The Good Ole U.S.A. is to lenient and easy on Crime Offenders. Everything nowaday is Kissy-Kissy, Slap on Wrist, etc. No way is Society going to change when there Ass is Kissed for all the Wrong they do. The Same Old-Same Old. ” Ain’t nothing going to happen Man!”
We need to go back to the Wild, Wild West where instantly those persons looking for Justice found the nearest Tree, invited the town to come and watch and then strung the offender up and let him hang by the neck from an available Branch. Offenders would then think twice before they acted and did wrong in today’s Society.
If money is the Bottom Line nowadays, this would save a whole heck of a lot Bread, so to speak.
Until all the Pussy Cats calling the shots are gone, nothing is ever going to change for the better.
Instant elimination is the Best Answer. We can then see some Real Justice, Money Problems Eliminated, and Real Peace on Earth.
To many people are afraid to speak up because I know there are a lot of believers in this Route!
Sorry if I upset anyone, but this is how I feel!
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:27 am
I think the death penalty would work better if the criminals were executed after one appeal. The use of DNA testing is an accurate way of proving guilt, as is confessing to the crime. The reason death prnalty is so expensive is the criminals are put on death row and left for 10 or 15 years. Then comes execution date and the lawyers give all kinds of reasons to get postponements. If the person was a victim of child abuse, that does not give him or her an excuse to kill someone, as an example. If the needle is inhumane , give them a choice of hanging or electricution. The victims did not have a choice.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:39 pm
THE DEATH PENALTY IS JUSTIFIED and should be inforced in all 50 states. We now have DNA testing, and although I would be horrified if an innocent person were executed, there are truly EVIL people who when convicted through DNA testing of a capitol offense, SHOULD be executed.
When the DNA testing has been thorougly established, the courts should cut back on the lenght of appeals. IF ALL IS KNOWN WITHOUT DOUBT, let the execution proceed.
We need to streamline the Death Row expenses to make executions less costly than life in prison, and then execute all of the CONVICTED WITHOUT DOUBT prisoners.
If the Churches of the land do not want executions, transfer the burden of life in prison costs to the union of Churches opposed to the death sentence — let THEM put their money where their mouth is!!!!!!!!
In order to save money, let’s house prisoners in old prisons — don’t demolish them, scrub ‘em and paint ‘em up using prisoner laborers and house them in the re-hab 100 year old fortress prisons. I don’t care if they don’t have AC in the summer — why should I ? — since I can barely afford to use AC in one room of my house.
In warmer climes, follow the lead of the sherriff of Mariposa Co. in NM and house prisoners in tents surrounded by barbed wire….
Also, healthy young prisoners should be made to work — have more dairy and vegetable farms to grow their own food….Put them to work in our cities and parks like a modern day CCC corps t0 pick up trash and clean and construct.
Prisoners who work hard and dilegently should get reduced sentences.. Killers who are to be executed or given life terms should be allowed to consider donating their organs in return for a payment to their families or charity of choice. This for a prisoner who does not want to spend the rest of his life in prison. Perhaps this would be a way to attone for his or her taking a life….this would of course set off a huge debate on the morality of suicide by organ donation….
BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY and make it cheaper to enforce…..We should not keep evil alive — especially because of the expense…
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:43 pm
PS your voting buttons don’t work — please fix them so we can get a feel on what the country is thinking on this issue….
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Hey, other people are trying to vote without success
FIX IT PLEASE !!!!
February 4th, 2010 at 6:10 am
No way in hell should we discontinue the death penalty. It’s all the ridiculous appeals we need to discontinue. My 17 year old son was heinously murdered. Why should my tax dollars have to house, feed, & take care of the people that committed this crime? My son didn’t have a choice, they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. One is 22 years old…..he could live out a very long life in prison & just how much is that going to cost? I agree with the robot comment above, they should be taken out EXACTLY the way they CHOSE to kill their victim. Our justice system is only expensive because we have allowed it to become that way. I’ve gone through this ‘legal system’ for five years now & it truly sickens me! Victims & victim’s families deserve more rights than the defendants. We DIDN’T do anything wrong! Stop wasting our money & execute them!!!!! Oh yeah, your buttons do not allow us to vote. So, why is that graph so lopsided? Who did you allow to vote to get it that way & then stop the buttons? Very interesting……works just like the justice system from what I’ve seen. EXECUTE THE KILLERS & FAST & HARD!!!! I think I’ve made my point. May my son always rest in peace.
February 4th, 2010 at 6:26 am
My son wasn’t given a choice to live out his life. He was murdered at the age of 17. His killers should be killed in exactly the same torturous 24 hours as they CHOSE to kill him! No if, ands, or buts about it. It should be painless to them. We shouldn’t waste our money keeping them warm or cool throughout the year, feeding them, etc. They were not respectful of life & deserve NO respect or easy treatment. It only costs so much because we allow defense attorneys to find a million reasons to delay the trial then to do all these ridiculous appeals. If people spent just half the time really thinking about the crime committed, what the victim endured, how scared were they, how much the victim’s family goes through, figuring out how to live a ‘normal’ life after such a tragedy, I promise you, this nonsense would stop! We are wasting our money on EVIL people. While they are awaiting their execution, which should not take 10-15 years, they should be forced to work in the prison & every dime they earn should be sent to the victim’s family for funeral expenses, the many hours of counseling we go through trying to cope. But that never ends, cuz our justice system then allows them another reason to delay. I’m sick of it. No visitation for them, no letters, etc. Put a stop to it. Real justice would save a ton of money because these murderers would be put to death within a year. Once you’re sentenced, carry it out. My son certainly did not get an appeal! Victims have no voice. Why should murderers???? Unlock your buttons so the NO’s can vote too. We deserve to voice our opinions. Bless you Taylor, I miss & love you son!
February 4th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
YOUR BOTTONS WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO VOTE. YOU ALL MUST BE A REPUBLICAN !
I have to agree with Mr. Heintzelman and would add, two to four weeks is enough food, water, and cots for the CONVICTED criminals to spunge off the public.
I’ll garantee their victims didn’t have that much time.
Someone might like Charled Manson smiling at them, as he does each yime he comes up for parole, I think it’s a descrace. I’m also fearful some jerks at the parole hearing will say you’ve paid for your crimes, you are discharged.
The bleeding harts are being heard from in great numbers.
I would like to hear from the deceased victoms.
February 6th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Yes we need the death penalty for others crimes not just murder . People who are in and out of jail they are a wasted grain of sand on the beach we need to clean up our human garbage in this country ! The death penalty should also apply to people who prey on CHILDREN who commit rape on our little girls, men who hurt our little boys! These children are now in a life time of pain and lost childhood now to live fear ! This crime should be called what it is RAPE not child molestation if you rape an adult it’s rape THE DEATH PENALTY FOR PREDATORS DEATH!!!!!!
February 6th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Yes we need the death penalty for others crimes not just murder . People who are in and out of jail they are a wasted grain of sand on the beach we need to clean up our human garbage in this country ! The death penalty should also apply to people who prey on CHILDREN who commit rape on our little girls, men who hurt our little boys! These children are now in a life time of pain and lost childhood now to live fear ! This crime should be called what it is RAPE not child molestation if you rape an adult it’s rape !!!SAVE OUR CHILDREN
February 7th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
The threat of the death penalty helps protect prison employees. A lifer has nothing to lose by killing another inmate or an employee. Knowing he can be put to death is a deterrent to in prison violence.
February 10th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
The deathpenalty should be carried out, within 5 yrs. that should save the bottom line. Other wise it means nothing .
February 10th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
The deathpenalty should be carried out, within 5 yrs. that should help the bottom line. Other wise it means nothing .
February 13th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
the dealth penalty should be carried out swiftly.one appeal only.the inmate should be given a choice either dealth by hanging or the firing squad.if he or she can’t decide within thirty days then the state decides.the whole process should take a year max.
February 13th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
it cost about 50k or more to house an inmate,so the death penalty should be carried out swiftly one year max no exceptions you take a life your life will be taken.other violent crimes such as rape and other sexual predators a case by case basis.rape found guilty castration.
February 13th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
it cost about 50k or more per year to house an inmate,so the death penalty should be carried out swiftly one year max no exceptions you take a life your life will be taken.other violent crimes such as rape and other sexual predators a case by case basis.rape found guilty castration.