New Jersey Bans Death Penalty

Per an A.P. report by Tom Hester, Jr., New Jersey has banned the death penalty. Good decision IMO. I look at the death penalty first from the economic perspective. If you don't agree, check out the Fact Sheet from the Death Penalty Information Center.

In particular, many states, the cost of executing an inmate are millions over what it would cost to keep the inmates incarcerated for a life sentence without parole. Just a thought. To add to it, the death penalty does not serve as a deterrent to violent crime.

It's time we look at how we are spending tax money. We have approximately 800,000+ children who are served by foster care programs across the country. In my work with the juvenile court, there are many instances where poor families who are working with DFCS to get their children back cannot get assistance with the very things that are required of them to get their children back because the department has run out of funding. Children who have siblings who are placed in different homes cannot see each other because of funding problems.

As an example, California has spent approximately $250 Million per execution, of tax money that could have gone to its foster care program. It costs California $114 million MORE to execute an inmate than to incarcerate for life without parole.

I just don't see how the economics of it work.