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California’s death row process is costing taxpayers millions of dollars each year. With an average time between sentencing and execution of 25 years, Proposition 34 could save Californians a significant amount of time and money.

According to SafeCalifornia.org, over the average 25 years on death row, inmates spend their time working on habeas corpus appeals, finding expert witnesses, and doing anything they can to drag out the court process. California has the highest number of death row inmates in the nation according to initiative supporters. Proposition 34 will change the sentences of approximately 725 death row inmates in the state to life without parole, and end the costly court battles.

A study done by Loyola Law School Professor Paula M. Mitchell and Federal judge Arthur Alacon shows that Californians have paid around $4 billion in taxes related to the capital punishment process since it was re-instated 35 years ago. Only 13 inmates have been executed since 1972, and none since 2006. That works out to about $300 million for each inmate executed over that time. Costs are only going to go up if Proposition 34 doesn’t pass. Death row inmates are more likely to die from illness or suicide than from lethal injection.

According to current state law, death row inmates are entitled to state funded legal counsel for habeas corpus cases. Changing death sentences to life without parole would bring death row inmates to the same level of other inmates convicted of serious felonies.

Supporters of Proposition 34 say that the state would save as much as $130 million annually by abolishing capital punishment. The savings that Proposition 34 would bring dwarf the costs of housing inmates for a life sentence.

The state has been in a budget crisis for years, California needs to save as much money as possible. Proposition 34 would open valuable time for judges and lawyers, save taxpayers millions, and still ensure that convicted felons get the punishment they deserve.

 

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