Restructuring the California Death Penalty

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The state of California is currently suffering from a state deficit so great it would seem wise to restructure the death penalty as it stands now rather than cut education programs and jobs. California is a state which supports capital punishment; it is also a state that very rarely executes it death row inmates. In the last several years, California’s public educations system has taken on enormous budget cuts due to the state revenue crisis. As political leaders gather in the senate and review the gravity of the state’s situation, political leaders should examine how restructuring the death penalty and implementing life without parole would be beneficial for the state and those residing within the state itself. Utilizing the death penalty for the more serious offenders, such as serial killers, and implementing life without the possibility of parole, would allow the state to focus on improving educational resource, maintain job security, increase law enforcement on the streets, and rehabilitative programs for criminals. As California continues to struggle meeting budget deadlines, politicians focus on budget cuts affecting education, health care, social programs, and pensions. Part of balancing the state budget requires politicians to review all programs which are state funded; this includes analyzing the costs of “incarcerating people who pose no threat to public safety” (ACLU of Northern California). If California lawmakers come together and re-evaluate the correction system as a whole, state funding can be re-allocated back into our education programs, health care, social programs and others. As it stands now California’s Correction budget will exceed state universities funding in the next five years (SFGATE.com Article Coll... ... middle of paper ... ... Legislative Analysts Office. (2008-2009). Retrieved September 26, 2011, from LAO Web Site: http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/LAOMenus/Sections/crim_justice/6_cj_inmatecost.aspx?catid=3 Martinez, K. (2009, June 5). WSWS.ORG. Retrieved September 26, 2011, from World Socialist Web Site: http://www.wsws.org SFGATE.com Article Collections. (2007, May 21). Retrieved September 26, 2011 , from SFGATE Web Site: http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-05-21/news/17245259_1_california-s-prison-budget-higher-education-incarcerating-inmates The California Report. (2010, September 22). Retrieved September 8, 2011, from California Report Website: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201009220850/b Williams, C. J. (2011, June 20). L.A. Times. Retrieved September 21, 2011, from La Times Web Site: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-adv-death-penalty-costs-20110620,0,3505671.story

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