No More Death Penalty in New Mexico

[Straybow]

“The additional cost of confining an inmate to death row, as compared to the maximum security prisons where those sentenced to life without possibility of parole ordinarily serve their sentences, is $90,000 per year per inmate. With California’s current death row population of 670, that accounts for $63.3 million annually.”

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty

But why?

The obvious solution: eliminate "death row" and put capital cases back in general population maximum.

[Kuciwalker]

I used to support the death penalty. Now, I just don't care. It affects so incredibly few people that we might as well just get rid of it, and it would avoid a number of diplomatic headaches.

[OzzyKP]

[SlowwHand]

For sure. If something can't be done effortlessly, just quit.

[Kuciwalker]

Why is it worth the effort?

[Jon Miller]

I am sorta in Kuci's position. Except that I also have doubts about whether it is being applied right.

Theoretically I support the DP.

JM

[SlowwHand]

It's worth the effort due to the ongoing risk that murderers present.

[Kuciwalker]

Really? Even when locked up in a maximum-security prison?

Do you have any idea how few people actually get the death penalty, how long they stay in jail before it's applied, and therefore how little "risk" is prevented by executing a tiny handful of people?

[KrazyHorse]

The only reasonable justification for the DP is deterrence. I have seen no compelling evidence that the deterrent effect is strong, nor any compelling evidence that it is weak.

[SlowwHand]

That's your opinion. As far as appeals, convicts are granted an appeal immediately, no matter what, including if they don't want it.

[Ramo]

Crime is a poorly constrained phenomena. But crime rates correlate more strongly with concentrated wealth disparities than the laxity of sentences in the criminal justice system. Human behavior is largely governed by our social context. And the context in which the decision to commit the crime is made is a ghetto, rather than a prison or death row (but cops and punishments involving social ridicule are pretty effective).

A broader welfare state is probably more effective than more prisons/capital punishment.

[SlowwHand]

Yes, sir. A broader welfare state will solve it.

[Ramo]

Yes, a larger safety net turns out to be a pretty good solution.

[Dis]

Yes, sir. A broader welfare state will solve it.

have to agree with sloww.

I'll be blunt. Poor people lack moral values for the most part. I mentioned this before. It has nothing to do with their economic status and everything to do with the culture they are raised in.

money will not eliminate ignorance.

but if we could somehow teach people to raise their kids better and lead by example, then we might be getting somewhere.

[Space05us]

I'll be blunt. Poor people lack moral values for the most part.

You are such a ****ing moron.