Death Penalty Persuasive Essay

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Recommended: The effect of the death penalty

Since the reestablishment of the death penalty in 1976, one hundred and thirty-eight innocent men and women, have been released from death row, some just weeks, or even days before their scheduled execution. The amount of time of time inmates spend on death row is almost equivalent to life with parole, some inmates are even dying before they can follow through with the costly execution. The US should eliminate the death penalty and sentence the convicted to life without parole. Elimination of the death penalty could save the US millions of dollars spent towards trials and executions, and save innocent people sent to be executed. Cases without the death penalty cost on average around eight-hundred thousand dollars, whereas cases with the death penalty can cost around two million dollars. Keeping up with each death row inmate costs taxpayers ninety-thousand more per year than a prisoner in general population. Death row cases will keep getting more expensive each year the longer it is in effect, and the reason why is simple. More lawyers, more time, more experts, and housing for the convicted. Felons sentenced to life awaiting trial may be placed in general population, but those sentenced to death are placed in solitary, which …show more content…

First there is the initial charge, trial, conviction, and sentencing. Then there will be appeals over the trial. And then they will challenge the trial and conviction, and then the federal courts may be asked to review the case. These challenges and reviews can occur right up the injection date. One example is Darold Stenson. He was convicted of killing his wife and business partner. He was recently in the news because his lawyers challenged the way Washington administered the lethal drug. The executioners tried for hours to find a suitable vein and eventually gave up only to appeal another execution

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