The Death Penalty and Its Consequences on Society

The Death Penalty and its Consequences on Society

If a criminal has committed a heinous enough crime to even be considered for the death penalty I do not believe the new age way of electrocution or lethal injection is the answer. While these trials are long, and often strenuous on the victim’s families. They not only have to endure that torment, but the torment of unserved justice for so many years while the criminal waits on death row. My opinion on the death penalty favors the classic firing squad. I do believe in the death sentence for heinous crimes, and I believe tax payers, as well as families of victims in some cases should not suffer while the criminal waits in a prison cell.
According to Knickerbocker (1996): Taylor was convicted of the 1988 rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl, charges that he denies. Under Utah law, those condemned to die may choose the firing squad or lethal injection. (Until 1980, the choices were between hanging and firing squad.) In only one other state - Idaho - is execution by firing squad still an option.

I support this form of execution, while there is still a span of about 10 years for any appeals, or new evidence the length of time spent on death row is lower. The cost of this execution is considerably cheaper as well, four out of five bullets supply the rifles used to carry out the sentence. I believe that if the death penalty is to remain in effect for any reason whether it be deterrence, or punishment executable by law. The firing squad should be a vital option for criminals to choose from. I also believe that giving the convicted the choice in how their sentence is carried out will haunt them during the time spent in prison waiting.
The cost of DP vs. Life in Prison w/o Parole. During my research I did discover that life in prison without parole is cheaper. However, this is because most of the death row inmates have years to serve before their sentencing can truly end. Due to the lengthy trials, and time in prison before their sentence is carried out it costs tax payers much more money to house a death row inmate.
As stated by Judge Arthur L. Alarcon (2011):
The additional cost of confining an inmate to death row, as compared to the maximum security prisons where those sentenced to life without possibility of parole ordinarily serve their sentences, is $90,000 per year per inmate. With California’s current death row population of 670, that accounts for $63.3 million annually.

I was absolutely appalled by this study. I had no idea the cost of keeping an inmate was so expensive. Looking back over what we’ve gone over so far it costs more to rehabilitate or house our criminals and taxpayers are burdened with this, than it does to house and protect our elderly. I believe it would be cheaper to implement the firing squad and only allow for a 5 year appeal process from the date of sentencing. Innocence (is everyone on Death Row guilty?) I understand the process for repeal as well as the time frame required to ensure the convicted is guilty. What I don’t understand that if there is any doubt, why they are crowding our prisons in the first place. If a criminal is convicted to either life in prison without parole, or the death penalty it should be a conviction beyond a shadow of a doubt. I believe our legal system has some loopholes in it that need to be addressed. According to the Innocence Protection Act of 2004, “The applicant has 5 years after enactment of this provision or 3 years after conviction, whichever comes later, to apply for DNA testing.” So it looks like we have some safety measures in place to keep our innocent free of death, or life in prison without parole. Life in Prison without Parole vs. Death Penalty.