Call to Action
Transcript: The Death Penalty Call to Action Bridget, Kaylee, Shayna, Tanya, & Tasha Why it Matters in Montana http://aclunc. org/issues/criminal_justice/death_penalty/frequently_asked_questions_about_the_costs_of_california's_death_penalty.shtml Common Beliefs about the Death Penalty Class Opinion Survey *Join the Montana Abolition Coalition No official study of total cost to Montana for the death penalty Montana has sentenced approximately 20 people to die since it was reinstated. 3 have been executed. 2 are currently on death row. The rest have had their sentences overturned after multiple appeals and retrials. Both death row inmates in Montana have been imprisoned for over 15 years. Costs What could we do with that money? $137 Million/year Montana currently utilizes the death penalty in capitol cases, a process which, on average, costs taxpayers approximately ten times the amount it would cost for a life without parole sentence. This excess in spending could be addressed by a change in policy surrounding sentencing. The Problem 1. Unemployment 2. Education 3. Poverty 4. Federal deficit 5. Health care 6. Quality of the environment 7. Social security 8. Aging out of foster care 9. Energy resources 10. Terrorism The average cost in raising a child through age 18. $227,000 125,000,000 / 227,000 = approx. 550 children Statistics by U.S. Dept of Agriculture, 2010 Solution $11.5 Million/year Montana $125,000,000 * Educate yourself and others *However in addition to these costs, they also incur the costs associated with the multiple appeals processes and trials. *Last year for example, we set aside 1.5 million in addition to normal costs for the capitol case of one of our death row inmates. What You Can Do! Funding for post-conviction prosecution and defense attorneys cost $85,000 per inmate, per year. (Inmates sentenced to life without parole are not afforded mandatory appeals). Putting things into perspective.... Where Does All the Money Go? $125.5 Million http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty Common Beliefs about the Death Penalty Young and Newly registered voters American Government High School Students College Freshman Orientation Students Outreach to to Montana Citizens & Policymakers. 11. Discrimination 12. Crime rates 13. Military action 14. Immigration 15. Gay rights 16. Physician-assisted death 17. Corporate personhood 18. Capital punishment 19. Medical marijuana 20. Trapping That's $125,000,000 in savings towards taxpayers in one year. Target Audience Death penalty sought in Montana teacher's killing -The Associated Press, 4 days ago ______________ Social Issues Ranked in Importance *Write your legislature Educate the public about Death Penalty costs, focusing on important community players to gain support to end the death penalty and support life without parole in Montana. Projected Cost of Life Without Parole: Death row housing costs a minimum of $90,000 more per inmate per year than general prison population. “The prisons are overcrowded as is, keep the death penalty and make room for more, that's my opinion and if you don't like it, too bad” Jackie Gaulan Fitzgerald “…The death [sentence] in my opinion would be a deterrent for a lot of criminals if it were carried out as should be. Pat Conley Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/#!/theinquisitr/posts/259686507459068 Costs *Death Row inmates have the same costs associated with them as any other inmate. www.mtabolitionco.org%2FCost.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGWm-74I30V_MLANpGaWmvLEnrQRQ California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice (2011) What does the Death Penalty cost? Current Death Penalty Costs: “An eye for an eye!!! yes i believe in the death penalty...why should we have to use our tax dollars for you to sit in jail for the rest of your life!! thats dumb!” Renee Ball “Yes i do believe in it..1 because the tax payers foot the bill for inmates and 2. and eye for an eye as the bible says and 3.why should an inmate enjoy life when their victims either lost [theirs] or suffer forever” Elaine Kockler Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/#!/theinquisitr/posts/259686507459068 * www.deathpenaltyinfo.org