The Business of Death

In 2005, there were at least 2,148 executions in 22 countries around the world. China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States were responsible for 94 percent of these known executions. The following countries executed defendants in 2005 (most figures are only of confirmed executions):

Most Executions in 2005
1. CHINA (At least 1,770 Executions)
2. IRAN (At least 94)
3. SAUDI ARABIA (At least 86)
4. UNITED STATES (60)



Chicago Tribune:
EXECUTED TEXAS MAN WAS LIKELY INNOCENT

Posted: June 23, 2006

A Chicago Tribune investigation set for release this weekend will reveal groundbreaking evidence that Texas may have executed an innocent man in 1989. The defendant, Carlos DeLuna, was executed for the fatal stabbing of Texas convenience store clerk Wanda Lopez in 1983. New evidence uncovered by reporters Maurice Possley and Steve Mills casts doubt on DeLuna’s guilt and points towards another man, Carlos Hernandez, who had a record of similar crimes and repeatedly confessed to the murder. This would be the fourth investigation in the past 2 years pointing to the execution of a probably innocent man. Similar questions have been raised in the cases of Cameron Todd Willingham and Ruben Cantu in Texas, and Larry Griffin in Missouri.

All of the above was pulled from the
Death Penalty Information Center.

What I find particularly mind-boggling is the public's awareness of the possibility of innocents on death row and that not all are lucky enough to be released on DNA evidence or other proof. Check out these Gallop Poll numbers from May and you'll see just how odd public opinion can be:

"In your opinion, is the death penalty imposed too often, about the right amount, or not often enough?"

Too Often: 21%
About Right: 25%
Not Enough: 51%
Unsure: 3%

"Generally speaking, do you believe the death penalty is applied fairly or unfairly in this country today?"

Fairly: 60%
Unfairly: 35%
Unsure: 4%

"How often do you think that a person has been executed under the death penalty who was, in fact, innocent of the crime he or she was charged with? Do you think this has happened in the past five years, or not?"

Has Happened 63%
Has Not 27%
Unsure 10%

konagod has to ask: how can these idiots believe the dealth penalty is applied fairly and then believe someone innocent was executed? Almost as perplexing to me is this next poll number. And the only one I am in agreement with -- it clearly does not deter murder, so why the hell are we doing this?

"Do you feel that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to the commitment of murder -- that it lowers the murder rate -- or not?"

Does Deter 34%
Does Not 64%
Unsure 2%

The following information regarding the actual cost of executions is from
Death Penalty Focus. If this alone shouldn't nudge us to abandon the neanderthal practice, then I have well & truly lost hope for America.

2005 Los Angeles Times Study Finds California Spends $250 Million per Execution
Key Points

The California death penalty system costs taxpayers more than $114 million a year beyond the cost of simply keeping the convicts locked up for life. (This figure does not take into account additional court costs for post-conviction hearings in state and federal courts, estimated to exceed several million dollars.)

With 11 executions spread over 27 years, on a per execution basis, California and federal taxpayers have paid more than $250 million for each execution.

It costs approximately $90,000 more a year to house an inmate on death row, than in the general prison population or $57.5 million annually.

The Attorney General devotes about 15% of his budget, or $11 million annually to death penalty cases.

The California Supreme Court spends $11.8 million on appointed counsel for death row inmates.

The Office of the State Public Defender and the Habeas Corpus Resource Center spend a total of $22.3 million on defense for indigent defendants facing death.

The federal court system spends approximately $12 million on defending death row inmates in federal court.