[quote=Oni Koroshi]I’m in favor of the death penalty but I never knew that the death penalty was such a financial burden on the state for such an ineffective task.
California has spent $4 billion since ’78 to execute 14 people. I think a majority of people wrongly believe that the death penalty is cheaper than keeping people in jail for life. I wish the proponents of this bill would have addressed the financial affects more.[/quote]
Oni, if this is true, then it actually cost the state $285,714,285.71 for each death row inmate who was executed in the last 35 years. Does this include the cost of his/her “solitary” cell (w/around-the-clock private or “semi-private” CDC vested-employee-guard?) and also weekly psychiatric sessions … as well as their “sometimes attorney” in another county working “diligently” on their appeal)?
Even if the expense is somewhat less than this for the duration of the life of each incarcerated DR inmate, I can see here that CA voters didn’t “do the math” before casting their votes. They cast them “emotionally” because they felt it was “the right thing to do.”
There’s nothing precluding this issue be brought back before CA voters in ~2 years with (simple) emphasis on the actual FISCAL impact to the state. I believe discussing the actual NUMBERS will sway voters to abolish it. The “death penalty” one of the biggest scam-money-pits this state has ever engaged in (and there are others).
