Why does death penalty cost so much money?

Question

i heard that giving a death penalty for an inmate can cost up to millions.
but why does it cost that much money?

Answer 1

Capital cases cost more from the start because case law mandates that a defendant facing a possible death sentence is entitled to two attorneys rather than just one. Most capital defendants are indigent which means this cost is absorbed by the state. Capital defendants are entitled also to representation by relevant experts in their cases (investigators, mitigation specialists, psychologists, etc.) all paid for at state expense. Capital trials usually last longer than non capital trials. Additionally, and probably more important with respect to driving costs up, there is the appeals process. This is put into place to try to avoid executing an innocent person, but appellate attorneys cost even more than trial attorneys because of their specific expertise. Finally, the costs of supervision on high security death row while appeals proceed outweighs the costs of supervision in general population.

BTW, since indigent attorneys are paid for by the state, their charges are LIMITED by the state as well. They do NOT charge for every stamp, piece of paper, etc. In my state for example, indigent capital trial counsel recieves $85/hour, not exorbitant at all.

Answer 2

Because of the amount of work that is involved in taking the case all the way to the supreme court to try to get a stay of execution. (These are called appeals) It can sometimes take up to ten years to exhaust all appeals. Most of the prisoners on death row do not have the funds to fight in court, and so we the taxpayers foot the bill. Attorney charge big bucks -- they charge for every stamp, every piece of paper, and every minute they talk about the case no matter to whom that might be. You add this all up, plus the cost of housing, feeding and keeping a prisoner for ten years, plus the cost of the actual death and burial and it can add up quickly. It not only costs a bundle of money for the death penalty, it costs a bundle of money to keep a prisoner in jail for a life term. Either way we the taxpayers foot the bill.

Answer 3

The process is intended to minimize the chances of innocent persons being executed. Thus, many apeals are allowed and it drags on for years. 'Death row' also requires more security, since the inmates are often very unpopular with the general population and/or are suicide risks and/or have nothing much to lose if they feel thier apeals aren't going to work. So keeping them imprisoned until thier executed is very expensive. Court isn't cheap, either, so the long series of apeals is very costly.

It's not really that it costs millions to execute one inmate - it's that it costs hundreds of millions to avoid executing one innocent person.

Answer 4

Again, the law isn't equal everywhere, depending where you are, the laws are applied in this case. That the death penalty cost so much money, I don't see a reason for that, politics will be politics all the time.

Answer 5

Mostly because of the legal process. The best explanation for this that I have seen is at www.deathpenaltyfocus.org

Click on facts and then on costs. This is a very good resource.

Answer 6

Becaus most state don't follow up and actually use it, like they do in Texas, and they keep the prisoner on Death Row which costs the tax payer tons of $$$$!

Answer 7

i think its gouda