These stats seem to indicate the DP is higher in cost upfront, but not in the long run.
Cost of Life Without Parole: Cases
1. $34,200/year (1) for 50 years (2), at
a 2% (3) annual cost increase, plus
$75,000 (4) for trial & appeals = $3.01 million
2. Same, except 3% (3) = $4.04 million
3. Same, except 4% (3) = $5.53 million
Cost of Death Penalty Cases
1.$60,000/year (1) for 6 years (5), at
a 2% (3) annual cost increase, plus
$1.5 million (4) for trial & appeals = $1.88 million
2.Same, except 3% (3) = $1.89 million
3.Same, except 4% (3) = $1.91 million
There is no question that the up front costs of the death penalty are
significantly higher than for equivalent LWOP cases. There also appears to
be no question that, over time, equivalent LWOP cases are much more
expensive - from $1.2 to $3.6 million - than death penalty cases. Opponents
ludicrously claim that the death penalty costs, over time, 3-10 times more
than LWOP.
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.p...c7d58059efe0a1
Either way the abduction, rape, and murder of a child is particularly appalling. I cant even imagine how the parents feel. I eventually left my work as a paramedic because of the death of a child. I suppose there's nothing worse than seeing an innocent child pass, unless that child is your own.