Should the U.S. Abolish the Death Penalty?

• “Yes”

  

  “The Death Penalty Costs More”

• “Objection”

  

  “Justice Shouldn't have a Price Tag”
  

Justice Shouldn't have a Price Tag

Joshua Marquis

District Attorney, Media Commentator

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Recommend (1) Comments (3)

As someone who has tried both capital and non-capital murder cases, as well as defending similar cases, I can say from direct knowledge that the costs of capital punishment are directly related to the amount of due process given the defendant. The costs exist because we want to be very sure to guarantee that the defendant has every protection.

The only way to "save" money is to cut the defense made available to defendants charged wirth very serious crimes. I have tried murder cases where the death penalty was NOT available and the costs of the defense were similar to those in death penalty cases.

In places where the death penalty is either legally or effectively abolished the next attack comes on life without parole.

In a 2001 debate at the American Bar Association convention I debated the head of the ACLU.
http://www.justicetalking.org/viewprogram.asp?progID=196
During that debate it became clear that if and when the death penalty is off the table the next target is life without parole.

Evidence

Link

ABA Death penalty debate

Next Argument

"Yes" Amnesty

• The Death Penalty is a Denial of Human Rights
  7
• The Death Penalty Makes Too Many Mistakes
  9
• The Death Penalty Costs More
  6
• The American Public is Moving Away from the Death Penalty
  5

"No" Josh Marquis

• How Many Innocent Victims are Too Many?
  8
• The Idea that Many People on Death Row are Innocent is Nonsense
  3

"No" Criminal Justice Legal Foundation

• An Enforced Death Penalty Saves Lives Through Deterrence
  3

Most Objections

• How Many Innocent Victims are Too Many?
  8
• The Idea that Many People on Death Row are Innocent is Nonsense
  3
• The Death Penalty is a Denial of Human Rights
  7
• The American Public is Moving Away from the Death Penalty
  5
• The Death Penalty Makes Too Many Mistakes
  9
• The Death Penalty Costs More
  6
• An Enforced Death Penalty Saves Lives Through Deterrence
  3

Should We End Executions?

• Yes
• No

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