Abolish Death by Execution
Megan Lawrence
Dr. Chroninger
ENC 1101
December 3, 2012
Why the Death Penalty should be abolished in Florida
If what we have is not completely useless, it is far less suitable than an option that is more practical by means of cost. Here is the referencing of the death penalty by execution and why it should be abolished in the state of Florida. Currently in the state, we have two forms of a death sentence: death by prison and death by execution. Each of these death sentences have the same overall meaning, those who are sentenced will never likely exit prison alive. Death penalty by execution should be outlawed based on how it stands both on moral arguments pointing out that innocent people may and have been executed. This paper will demonstrate the economic argument that death by prison is a more cost effective option than death by execution.
The death penalty by execution is unnecessary due to the alternative option the Florida legislation has in place such that a prisoner can be sentenced with life in prison without parole. This is a better option yet, with death by life in prison without parole, death by execution is ruled as a waste of money because of the increased expense over death by life in prison (Harris). The majority of people who support death by execution state that it is the most cost effective but as we will soon learn this argument cannot be proven. At some point in our history this may have been true, but not anymore. People who are knowledgeable of the death by execution and understand the long legal process also understand the extraordinary cost of executing a single death sentence. Due to the extensive legal process involved in litigating a death by execution penalty case, the money spent in legal fees both for and against is exponentially increasing and has become more expensive than the cost of keeping the prisoner in prison for life. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, a non-profit organization serving the media and the
Dr. Chroninger
ENC 1101
December 3, 2012
Why the Death Penalty should be abolished in Florida
If what we have is not completely useless, it is far less suitable than an option that is more practical by means of cost. Here is the referencing of the death penalty by execution and why it should be abolished in the state of Florida. Currently in the state, we have two forms of a death sentence: death by prison and death by execution. Each of these death sentences have the same overall meaning, those who are sentenced will never likely exit prison alive. Death penalty by execution should be outlawed based on how it stands both on moral arguments pointing out that innocent people may and have been executed. This paper will demonstrate the economic argument that death by prison is a more cost effective option than death by execution.
The death penalty by execution is unnecessary due to the alternative option the Florida legislation has in place such that a prisoner can be sentenced with life in prison without parole. This is a better option yet, with death by life in prison without parole, death by execution is ruled as a waste of money because of the increased expense over death by life in prison (Harris). The majority of people who support death by execution state that it is the most cost effective but as we will soon learn this argument cannot be proven. At some point in our history this may have been true, but not anymore. People who are knowledgeable of the death by execution and understand the long legal process also understand the extraordinary cost of executing a single death sentence. Due to the extensive legal process involved in litigating a death by execution penalty case, the money spent in legal fees both for and against is exponentially increasing and has become more expensive than the cost of keeping the prisoner in prison for life. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, a non-profit organization serving the media and the
Cited: McAndrew, Ron. "Florida Must Abolish Flawed Death Penalty." -- OrlandoSentinel.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fadp.org/news/2009052301/>. Atkinson, Lee. "American Civil Liberties Union." American Civil Liberties Union. N.p., 30 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 Nov. 2012. <http://www.aclu.org/capital-punishment/case-against-death-penalty>. "Costs of the Death Penalty." Death Penalty Information Center. N.p., 4 Jan. 2000. Web. 22 Nov. 2012. <http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty>. Halperin, Rick. "Death Penalty News." N.p., 30 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 Nov. 2012. <http://www.mail-archive.com/deathpenalty@lists.washlaw.edu/msg10707.html>. Mills, Steve. "Executed But Possibly Innocent." Death Penalty Information Center. N.p., 18 Dec. 2000. Web. 22 Nov. 2012. <http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/executed-possibly-innocent>. Snell, Tracy. "Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)." Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). N.p., 2 Dec. 2010. Web. 22 Nov. 2012. <http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail>. Chamber 14 November 21st, 2012