Capital Punishment Has On The State Of California - 968 Words

Judge Arthur Alarcon and Prof. Paula Mitchell of California have recently done a study on capital punishment and the cost that it has had on the state of California. Their findings may shock some, California has spent $4 billion in the past thirty years to up keep the death penalty, and the average capital trial cost $1 million more than non-capital trials (Alarcon Mitchell, 2011). Capital punishment is a legal process where the punishment for a crime is death. This is a concept that has been around for a long time. One of the earliest written documents that support capital punishment is Hammurabi’s Code with the theory of â€Å"an eye for an eye† (Mark, 2011). The topic of capital punishment has become a very controversial one in the past couple decades. Many people are against it, saying that it is a â€Å"cruel and unusual punishment† and those for it fight say what a great deterrence it can be. While capital punishment may have had a purpose in the past, in our modern society I believe it should be an obsolete practice. As stated before, capital punishment is very costly. $90,000 per year per inmate is the difference between an inmate on death row and one sentenced to life without parole (Tempest, 2005). On average California spends $250 million on each execution, these numbers start to add up and they are most certainly more than what it would be to sentence them to life without parole. The side that is for capital punishment would say that these cost are necessary to keep ourShow MoreRelatedThe Debate Of Capital Punishment1313 Words   |  6 PagesCapital Punishment Introduction The state of California has carried out 13 executions since the enactment of capital punishment in 1992 (NAACP, 2016, 10). According to the NAACP winter quarterly report, there are currently 743 prisoners on death row (NAACP, 2016, 39). Since the enactment, there has been a wide range of political debate. The largest concern is in regards to the number of wrongful convictions and its philosophical underpinnings. The citizens in California are as diverse as theirRead MoreCapital Punishment : One Of The Least Enforced Forms Of Punishments1188 Words   |  5 PagesPenalty Capital punishment is one of the least enforced forms of punishments in California. The state currently faces a large deficit and continues to hold inmates for life sentences. One hundred and fourteen dollars are spent daily on each inmate in California. That is more than what most Californians earn in a hardworking day at a minimum wage pay job. Thanks to inmate advocates, Californians spend millions on inmates verse spending on education and health for the work class. Capital punishment shouldRead MoreCapital Punishment And Its Effect On The Economy Of United States1320 Words   |  6 Pagesdeath penalty has existed in many forms and was carried out strictly to enforce the laws of society. As society grew more complex, many different factors influenced the development of the death penalty, or capital punishment as it has developed into in the United States. Because of this, controversy about whether or not to have the punishment arose, leading to much debate on the topic. The pape r will analyze and observe the Capital Punishment and its influence on the economy of United States. Before proceedingRead MoreCalifornias Death Penalty1667 Words   |  7 Pagesissue that has been a concern for decades Ââ€" Californias Death Penalty. The Death Penalty has long been a problem in California from costs, deterrence, overcrowded prisons, execution of the innocent and so on. Then if were having all these problems why should we continue using this system? The death penalty is the sentence of execution for murder and other capital crimes. Which are punishable by death? The death penalty is used only in 38 states (www.deathpenalty.org). The state of California is homeRead More Californias Death Penalty Essay1570 Words   |  7 Pagesabout an issue that has been a concern for decades – California’s Death Penalty. The Death Penalty has long been a problem in California from costs, deterrence, overcrowded prisons, execution of the innocent and so on. Then if were having all these problems why should we continue using this system? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The death penalty is the sentence of execution for murder and other capital crimes. Which are punishable by death? The death penalty is used only in 38 states (www.deathpenaltyRead MoreThe Importance Of Capital Punishment In The United States990 Words   |  4 PagesSince 1976, the United States has executed 1,465 inmates primarily through the use of the electric chair and lethal injection (Statistics, 2017). Among the 31 states who currently have death penalty laws, the State of Texas leads all other states in the number of prisoners executed (545) since 1976 (Statistics, 2017). While Texas adorns the dubious distinction of executing the most prisoners, the State of California surpasses all other states in the union with the number of inmates (744) awaitingRead MoreEssay about The High Cost of Capital Punishment855 Words   |  4 Pagesthe United States of America, police officers are unfortunately, due to the lack of funding, being laid off, prisoners a re being set free, the court systems are being bombarded with cases and the overall crime rate in this country continues to climb higher and higher despite our efforts to lower it. Since the economic crisis in 2008 resulting in our country falling into a recession, the criminal justice system has been forced to make cuts all the way to the very foundation. Many states throughoutRead MoreThe Moral, Legal, and Economical Aspects of Capital Punishment1509 Words   |  7 PagesCapital punishment has long been a topic for heated debate throughout the United States of America and the civilized world. For many politicians, the death penalty has been a key pillar to winning a state or election; and, to some extent, politics have been a key influence in America’s justice system. Many nations have outlawed capital punishment, with the United States included between 1972 and 1976. In the United States, there has been a renewed movement for this â€Å"eye for an eye† method, citi ngRead MoreDeath Penalty for Murders1634 Words   |  6 Pagessevere punishment in the United States. People who have performed heinous crimes can be sentenced to capital punishment in some states; however, this type of chastisement is rarely performed. Capital punishment has more negative aspects than it has positive. The states that have legalized the death penalty face the excessive costs associated with it, which can be damaging to their economies. In addition, there is always the chance of executing an innocent person when carrying out capital punishmentRead MoreThe Death Penalty Act Of 1851 Essay1724 Words   |  7 Pagesexecutions in Californian were authorized under the criminal practice act of 1851 and later lead capital punishment to be incorporated into the penal code on Feb. 14, 1872. Essentially, hanging was allowed to be implemented and caused executions to be publicized. In 1937, legislature allowed lethal gas which effectively replaced hanging and lead to the build ing of the only lethal gas chamber in the state of California at San Quentin. The first execution by lethal gas was conducted in 1938 and the continued