The Pros And Cons Of The Death Penalty

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From the beginning of the foundation of America, men have tried to figure out the correct way to deal with law-opposing criminals. From crucifixion and slavery, to death by firing squad and life sentences, the world has utilized different forms of discipline. The death penalty has formed into the most questionable form of punishment, drawing the most attention from the public eye. The United States government uses this sanction to punish criminals for committing the most heinous crimes and offenses. The crimes that obtain the death penalty mostly consist of murder which include murder during a kidnapping, murder for hire, drug-related drive by shooting, and genocide. However, the crimes can also consist of other capital offenses, such as espionage, treason, and death resulting from aircraft hijacking. The United States of America is …show more content…
In his testimony to the Nebraska Legislature, Dieter states, “ In 1988, the Sacramento Bee found that the death penalty cost California $90 million annually beyond the ordinary expenses of the justice system, of which $78 million was incurred at the trial level. But the costs have increased sharply since then. As noted above, the costs now are estimated at $137 million per year” (Dieter 5). Over the last couple of decades, the cost of using the death penalty as a form of punishment in California has grown by the millions and is continuing to increase yearly. This is also true for numerous other states that still utilize the death penalty. The price is becoming too staggering for states to keep operating. The state must spend massive amounts of money on expenses such as trials, attorneys, and the process of enacting the final blow on the criminal receiving the punishment.It can take years to go through all the trials, and with more time comes more funds. With towering prices and other contributing factors, the usage of the death penalty is