Death penalty costs Md. more than life term

The death penalty has cost Maryland taxpayers at least $186 million more in prosecuting and defending capital murder cases over two decades than would have been spent without the threat of execution, according ...

[Jim]

It wouldn't cost so dang much if they would carry out the sentence. Give them 1 appeal, if they are still gulty, why wait.

[YouHelpFixIt]

Personally, I think the death sentence trial should be initiated by the state or requested the prisoner any time after five years into the original sentence of life without parole. This would give both the prosecution and defense plenty of time for appeals and to prepare their death penalty arguments. It would likely also involve a different prosecutor and different defense counsel. It might also encourage better behavior in some prisoners. Some prisoners may even choose to request the death penalty (or not fight it) over life in prison.

[Papy La Blanc]

I think we need to find away to execute them faster,maybe by cuting the time people spend on death row from like 20 years to 4 years,before execution.I just can't stand the fact that if we were to get rid the death penalty,that killers would be able to live.It don't matter if their in prison,personally I could live my entire life in a cell,if it came down to the "detah penalty" and "life in prison",I would pick life in prison.But the fact killers get to live even another day longer then their victims,makes me mad.

[Jibult]

You could live your entire life in a cell, huh? Those are one of those statements that anybody can make, but only few could live.

[rld]

Jibult wrote:

You could live your entire life in a cell, huh? Those are one of those statements that anybody can make, but only few could live.

"you can live it, when thats all you know your intire life from being locked up all your life.

[Killemall]

If your guilty and their is suffient evidence to convit you of a death penalty warranted crime, you should get 12 months or less to live on this earth. Much more time than criminals give their victims.

[Badger]

I don't really see the need. If someone is sentenced to permanent incarceration without parole rather than execution, it costs less and generates the same effect. 1 less criminal off of the streets. Execution would be an act of passion by many, mainly due to the fact that when someone is murdered, loved ones wouldn't think rationally and would want "justice to be served". Killers may give their victims less time to live, but killers will live in a hostile environment with what they did. They'll stay in one spot, and will not experience life anymore. All they will have is fights, a cell, and food. They won't be on the streets anymore to repeat their crimes. I believe that's better than spending $37 million to rid the world of 1 killer in a pool of thousands than to put away 670 for a lifetime.