Can NH Afford the Death Penalty?by: Jennifer DalerSat Mar 07, 2009 at 11:10:00 AM EST |
| ( - promoted by Dean Barker) There was an interesting AP article today, saying that the death penalty makes no sense because of the cost. Now, it makes me wonder why an ueber frugal state like New Hampshire has the death penalty. Newly re-nominated Attorney General Kelly Ayotte is pursuing two death penalty cases at the moment. This at a time when the state is cutting aid to everything and everybody: the disabled, schools, the towns. Even the court system as a whole is woefully underfunded, and has been for some time, not just during this particular crisis. |
From the article (bold mine):
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. Donald McCartin, a retired judge from California, who earned the nickname, "the hanging judge of Orange County" after sending nine prisoners to death row had a total change of opinion. "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." Here is another point of view, one Randy Steidl, wrongfully convicted of murder and first put on death row, then with the regular prison population before he was exonerated. (I won't even go into what would have been if the execution had been carried out) "If you really want to kill someone, give them life without parole," Steidl said in an even voice. He speaks of his troubled past as if it was trapped under glass or locked behind bars - visible but no longer able to torture him. So why does New Hampshire have money and resources to mount death penalty cases against two people, yet not for other pending needs? |