Cost

Kansas could abolish death penalty to cut costs

From the Daily Kansan. By Erin Brown The state budget crisis has forced Kansas legislators to re-evaluate state spending, leading some lawmakers to review the cost and effectiveness of the Kansas death penalty law. The Kansas legislature is reviewing Senate Bills 208 and 375, both of which would abolish the death penalty in Kansas. Senate Bill 208 was introduced and … [Read more...] about Kansas could abolish death penalty to cut costs

Salina Journal Ponders Death Versus Dollars

An editorial in the Salina Journal of January 4, 2010 discusses the fact that Kansas lawmakers will start talking about eliminating the death penalty this month, but the debate will not be based on moral perspectives. Rather, they will be about money. Editor and Publisher Tom Bell says it is sad that matters of life and death in the Kansas Legislature will boil down to dollars … [Read more...] about Salina Journal Ponders Death Versus Dollars

Cost Issue Hits Many States

* A California commission reported that the state is spending $138 million per year on a death penalty system that they described as "broken" and "close to collapse." * A study in Maryland indicated that the state had spent $37 million for each execution when all the costs of the death penalty were included. * With the average time spent on death row increasing to 12.7 … [Read more...] about Cost Issue Hits Many States

Kansas Officials Voice Concern about Cost of Death Penalty

* In her annual report on the activities of the Kansas Supreme Court, Chief Justice Kay McFarland said: "The Court also faces hearing three more death penalty appeals, which will severely strain our limited resources. So far only one such appeal has come through our Court since the reinstatement of the death penalty. This was State v. Kleypas, 272 Kan. 894, 40 P.3rd 139 … [Read more...] about Kansas Officials Voice Concern about Cost of Death Penalty