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Death Penalty Too Costly
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/ 14- Details
- Parent Category: Advanced News Lessons
- Category: Culture Lessons
- Written by Chris Cotter
The United States remains one of the few first-world nations which pursues the death penalty for particularly heinous crimes. For years and years, advocates have stated that the threat of death serves as an effective deterrent. Opponents have argued the opposite, believing that eye-for-an-eye justice just isn't effective. It's barbaric, they further claim. And what's more, opponents have feared the possibility of executing an innocent person, which remains a very real risk. They point to DNA evidence, which has exonerated more than 200 inmates previously sentenced to death in the US, for example. Sloppy investigating is also a problem. Nevertheless, many states may soon do away with the controversial policy of state-sanctioned executions simply because of the price.
States have begun to examine all sorts of measures in an attempt to limit rising deficits and layoffs. Inmates sentenced to death row have and use the opportunity to appeal the decision. This bogs down courts and costs taxpayers money. It can take an average of ten to twenty years before the actual execution, and in some states a great deal longer. That translates to roughly $4 million per inmate, a frighteningly high figure in the current economic climate.
Life in prison without any chance for parole costs ten times less than an execution. That's a lot of money even in more prosperous economic times. But politicians are picking apart budgets and slashing costs to make ends meet, and that may mean finance rather than improved morals have finally tipped the decision to end executions in the US.
Preview some of the lesson material:
Warm Up: Do you agree or disagree? Why?
- The death penalty reduces the number of serious crimes.
- Executions should be shown on TV. This will reduce the number of serious crimes.
- All criminals should be executed.
- Only barbaric countries with poor laws have the death penalty.
- The death penalty costs a lot of money.
Fragments: Remember how the fragments were used, and complete the sentence from today's article.
- For years and years, advocates have stated that...
- Opponents have argued the opposite, believing that...
- States have begun to examine all sorts of measures in...
- That translates to roughly $4 million per inmate, a frighteningly...
- Life in prison without any chance for...
post-Comprehension: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your answers!
- Can you think of three reasons why supporters think the death penalty works?
- What are your opinions on each of the reasons in the previous question? Please explain.
- Can you think of three reasons why opponents think the death penalty doesn't work?
- What are your opinions on each of the reasons in the previous question? Please explain.
- Does your country have the death penalty? Why/not?
Google Search: Type "death penalty" into Google. Look at the websites, and/or read additional articles on this topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings.
