Legal News

Can life sentences really save the budget?

By Richard Binder

A new argument has been taken up by death penalty opponents: we can't afford it.

According to abolitionists, by commuting all 682 death row inmates' sentences to life without the possibility of parole, the state could save up to $1 billion over the next five years.  Death penalty foes are obviously hoping this will be a compelling tack to take in light of the state's budget crisis. Adding fuel to the fire are some influential law-and-order advocates who have concluded that deficiencies in the legal and corrections systems are beyond repair.

Among those calling for commutation on economic grounds are former California Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp and former corrections chief Jeanne Woodford.

Nevertheless, a study earlier this year by the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation suggested that the savings from commuting death sentences may be elusive, and that prosecutors may have a harder time getting plea bargains in murder cases if the possibility of death is off the table.

Full story at LATimes.com.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on June 30, 2009 (boomark / email).