To execute or not: A question of cost? (AP)

By Deborah Hastings, The Associated Press

After decades of moral arguments reaching biblical proportions, after long, twisted journeys to the nation's highest court and back, the death penalty may be abandoned by several states for a reason having nothing to do with right or wrong:
Money.

Turns out, it is cheaper to imprison killers for life than to execute them, according to a series of recent surveys. Tens of millions of dollars cheaper, politicians are learning, during a tumbling recession when nearly every state faces job cuts and massive deficits.
***
"It's 10 times more expensive to kill them than to keep them alive," though most Americans believe the opposite, said Donald McCartin, a former California jurist known as "The Hanging Judge of Orange County" for sending nine men to death row.

Deep into retirement, he lost his faith in an eye for an eye and now speaks against it. What changed a mind so set on the ultimate punishment?
***
"It's a waste of time and money," said the 82-year-old, self-described right-wing Republican whose sonorous voice still commands attention. "The only thing it does is prolong the agony of the victims' families."
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more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-03-07-exepensive-to-execute_N.htm

At least some will be alive when their convictions are overturned.

Additionally, it's got to be breaking Dumbya's shriveled little heart. Bonus.

The barbarians are putting out a series of expensive, slick ads here in NM lambasting the governor and the state lege for finally overturning the death penalty last month.

I don't know what they're so upset about. There has been only one execution here since 1961. It's not as though the corrections department had to make any dramatic changes.

I find it hard to beileve that it's cheaper to let them live life sentences rather than clear the block. We need to change the system. If there is DNA linking to the crime they should be executed within a years time. Instead of having sympathy for criminals why not have sympathy for the family that now has to sit through the trial and later parole hearings. Oh they have been on their best behavior for over 10 years why not let the killer out. Bullshit. Look what's going on here in Ca with Sanda Cantu. Another child killer is on the prowel. I say when they find the bastard kill him within a years time. Fuck him. He'll get a trial. He'll probably plead not guilty. Then the parents have to put up sitting in the same room as this killer for the trial and possibly parole hearings later. We don't need to house these Cockroaches for years and years. I have no sympathy for killers. Of course each crime is different. But killing a child should be an automatic death sentence.