How much does it cost for a execution from Capitol punishment?

Answer 1

It is generally held by abolitionists that the cost of executing a prisoner is higher than life imprisonment. According to The Changing Nature of Death Penalty Debatesby Michael L. Radelet and Marian J. Borg, study carried out by the Miami Herald, showed a cost of about $3.2 million for an execution, and $600,000 for life imprisonment and the figures account for all death penalty cases, not just those that actually end in an execution. However, some retentionists still argue that those imprisoned for life will appeal just as much and feel that the cost of life without parole (LWOP) is actually much higher than the study showed. For more information you can look up articles by the above authors or for a pro-death penalty opinion you can look up Earnest van den Haag or Louis P. Pojman. Also the wikipedia page Capital Punishment Debate has some good information where the authors cited reputable Capital Punishment Scholars.

Answer 2

While the cost of a single execution may be difficult to quantify, every major study on the subject has shown that capital cases cost far more than comparable non-capital cases. Much of the increased expense is because the process of a capital case is much more lengthy and complicated than a non-capital case-it must be, because the punishment is much more severe and mistakes therefore have a much greater magnitude. The details vary by state, but estimates can be established by looking at the costs of the process.

For example, a recent study by the Urban Institute estimated that a capital case in Maryland costs about $1.9 million more than a non-capital case of a similar nature. The study also shows that of 162 capital cases, only 56 (about a third) ended with death sentences, meaning that for every three capital trials, one death sentence is achieved. This means the actual cost of a single death sentence is three times the cost of pursuing the death penalty. Of the 56 death sentences handed down, five have ended in executions, roughly one tenth the number of sentences. This means the actual cost of an execution is ten times that of the death sentence and 30 times that of the capital trial, so in Maryland, a single execution can cost the state as much as $57 million.