How is the death penalty expensive?

Great Debates
1

I’d rather this be factual replies that can be cited, but since it’s death penalty it’ll probably end up being debated so I put it here.

In this article Susan Saradon is quoted as saying

She’s clearly an intelligent, articulate woman and I don’t dispute her comment or right to make them.

However, I’m curious how the death penalty is more expensive than a lifetime of imprisonment. Conviction requires the expense of a trial either way. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice the cost of incarceration was $37.35 a day per offender in 2002.

This cite says it’s $61.58 on death row in Texas.

It also says

and

The youngest executed listed is 24 and the oldest 66 with the average age on death row of 39.

If we suppose the person if not executed resides for the remainder of their life in prison at somewhere between $37.35 per day and $61.58. How is even a few weeks imprisonment less expensive than the cost of execution, much less 25 years or more?

2

Appeals, appeals, and more appeals.

3

Like Zagadka said, appeals, appeals and more appeals. With a state provided lawyer. So court time and costs, and attorneys fees.

Also, death row inmates are kept in separate, single person cells, segregated from the general prison population, which is more expensive in real-estate costs, facilities costs, and guard costs. I try to find a cite on actual $/inmate/year for gen. prison pop. v. death row inmate.

4

Here is a site with links to various studies and articles regarding the cost of the death penalty. Overall, these studies make the case that a case involving the death penalty is significantly more expensive (when considering all costs – incarceration and trial/court costs) than similar cases where the penalty is life without parole.

5

Thanks Shelbo!