Capital punishment is currently authorized in 31 states, by the federal government and the U.S. military. In recent years, New Mexico (2009), Illinois (2011), Connecticut (2012), Maryland (2013) and Nebraska (2015) have abolished the death penalty, replacing it with a sentence of life imprisonment with no possibility for parole. Meanwhile, states across the country continue to debate its fairness, reliability and cost of implementation.
NCSL – State and Capital Punishment
Problem:
Crime has been falling for the last 20-30 years and there is no proof that the death penalty deters crime. The death penalty is actually 3-4 more expensive than life in prison due to legal, administrative and court fees paid by taxpayers. Texas counties cover all of the costs associated with the prosecution and defense of capital defendants, not the Texas state government.
Solution:
Abolish the Texas death penalty
Texas Constitution
Code of Criminal Procedure
CHAPTER 48. Pardon and Parole
Article 48.01 Governor May Pardon
Code – Texas Constitution
Article – 5 Judicial Department
Section – 5a Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, Court of Appeals; Clerk of Court
Forbes – Considering The Death Penalty: Your Tax Dollars At Work
Marshall Project – Six Reasons the Death Penalty is Becoming More Expensive
To execute or not: A question of cost?
Amnesty International – Death Penalty Cost
The Guardian – Death penalty costs California more than $300m per execution
average cost of a Texas death penalty case is $ 2.3 million vs. $750,000 for life in prison
CNN – Study: States can’t afford death penalty
Washington Post – There’s still no evidence that executions deter criminals
Huffington Post – Death Penalty Isn’t A Deterrent On Murder Rate: National Research Council
LA Times – Death penalty costs California $184 million a year, study says
Slate – Why capital punishment cases are in steep decline, even in Texas.
Capital punishment in Pennsylvania: When death means life
Texas Moratorium Network – Quick Facts
PEW – Some major U.S. religious groups differ from their members on the death penalty
Houston Press – Texas Is Fighting to Save an Endangered Species: The Death Penalty
Houston Press – Texas Supreme Court Justice Questions Death Penalty
Houston Press – Texas Moves to Make Execution Drug Suppliers Secret
Houston Chronicle – Texas Senate OKs execution drug secrecy
Houston Chronicle – Hispanic evangelicals form new front in the battle against the death penalty
Politico – Why I Changed My Mind About the Death Penalty
Las Vegas Review Journal – Audit: Death penalty nearly doubles cost of Nevada murder cases
