Friday, June 18, 2010

Ima Gonna Tell You Why

I do not agree with the death penalty.

And it's not because I'm a bleeding heart liberal - which I kinda am - or because I abhor violence.

It's because it's expensive.

Really really expensive.

A friend posted an entry on her blog today about the execution by firing squad of Ronnie Lee Gardner with the comment that "if you're going to do it...do it".

And certainly I do not disagree with her statement.

However, Utah didn't exactly do it in a particularly timely manner and that's really my issue.

25 years Gardner sat on death row before his execution.

Do you know what that translates to in dollars and cents/sense?

Certainly it depends upon which state the accused is standing trial and subsequently housed. But the figures range anywhere from $300,000 to $740,000 MORE just for the initial trial than if the death penalty were not sought.

As for housing? It costs anywhere from $90,000 to $175,000 MORE than the typical average of $40,000 per YEAR to house a death row inmate.

In the state of Maryland it costs the state more than 37 million dollars to try and house a death row inmate until his execution.

So, if we can assume that Ronnie Lee Gardner's trial cost $500,000 and his subsequent appeals and motions cost an additional $500,000 (these are conservative but, I think, reasonable estimates) and then it cost the state $172,500 (the average of $90,000 and $175,000 + $40,000 for an average maximum security prisoner) PER YEAR to house him for 25 years...

We're looking at a total estimated cost of nearly 5 and 1/2 MILLION dollars. Whereas he could have been tried and housed for just over $2 million for twice that long.

Just another reason why I shake my head in disbelief when a Republican tells me he's fiscally conservative and yet supports the death penalty.

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