More controversy (Anonymous)

babyaustin725

Since we're digging into deep subjects, but to avoid the controversy. 

Death penalty?

[Poll]

~Lynchie~

I voted no, but only because I think that life in prison is a much harsher penalty than the death sentence.   I think that if someone has commited a crime so horrible that the DP is being considered than they deserve to be tortured every day in a prison like setting, giving them time to think about what they have done and hopefully repent.  I see the dp as an easy out for them.

iHeartHimMore

~Lynchie~:

...I think that life in prison is a much harsher penalty than the death sentence...

I agree with this.  Except that the burden on the taxpayers is much higher when keeping someone in prison for life.  So I'm torn. 

CinemaGoddess

iHeartHimMore:

I agree with this.  Except that the burden on the taxpayers is much higher when keeping someone in prison for life.  So I'm torn. 

Actually...(courtesy of https://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty)

Washington

Report to Washington State Bar Association regarding cost

At the trial level, death penalty cases are estimated to generate roughly $470,000 in additional costs to the prosecution and defense over the cost of trying the same case as an aggravated murder without the death penalty and costs of $47,000 to $70,000 for court personnel. On direct appeal, the cost of appellate defense averages $100,000 more in death penalty cases, than in non-death penalty murder cases. Personal restraint petitions filed in death penalty cases on average cost an additional $137,000 in public defense costs.
(FINAL REPORT OF THE DEATH PENALTY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC DEFENSE, Washington State Bar Association, December 2006). (https://www.wsba.org/lawyers/groups/finalreport.pdf)

nykola

cinema_goddess:

iHeartHimMore:

I agree with this.  Except that the burden on the taxpayers is much higher when keeping someone in prison for life.  So I'm torn. 

Actually...(courtesy of https://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty)

Washington

Report to Washington State Bar Association regarding cost

At the trial level, death penalty cases are estimated to generate roughly $470,000 in additional costs to the prosecution and defense over the cost of trying the same case as an aggravated murder without the death penalty and costs of $47,000 to $70,000 for court personnel. On direct appeal, the cost of appellate defense averages $100,000 more in death penalty cases, than in non-death penalty murder cases. Personal restraint petitions filed in death penalty cases on average cost an additional $137,000 in public defense costs.
(FINAL REPORT OF THE DEATH PENALTY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC DEFENSE, Washington State Bar Association, December 2006). (https://www.wsba.org/lawyers/groups/finalreport.pdf)

I *think* (correct me if I'm wrong) maybe the cost IHHM was referring to is the cost of life in prison as in the maintenance cost on that person physically taking up space in a cell for the duration of their life. No?

CinemaGoddess

Yeah, I think you're right, nykola.  I read IHHM's post wrong.

iHeartHimMore

nykola:

I *think* (correct me if I'm wrong) maybe the cost IHHM was referring to is the cost of life in prison as in the maintenance cost on that person physically taking up space in a cell for the duration of their life. No?

Yup. ?That's what I meant. ?Though you stated if much more clearly. ?:)?

Rebekah Erler

I used to rest strongly in the pro category - mostly because if someone raped and murdered my child (for example) I would most certainly not want to extend to them the mercy they failed to show their victims.  HOWEVER - the more I read and talk to people and friends/family personally experience the justice system - the LESS I trust that innocent people aren't being sentenced to death.  Unless we have a system that can stop failing so miserably, someone's life is too high a price to pay for horrible police work and bad representation for those without enough money to hire good lawyers.  Could you imagine someone sentencing your son/father/husband/sister/mother to death and carrying that out, if they were innocent?  Horrifying.