1. Owen Phelps
International Political Economy
Tuomi
2/14/14
The Economics of the Death Penalty:
Writing as the Wall Street Journal.
One of the more contentious issues, the subject of the death penalty has been a topic of
great interest – and controversy – since over a third of US’ states have abolished it as a
punishment, as of 2013. What was once seen as a simple, and just way of dealing with the most
heinous of criminals (and an effective deterrent to those who would break the law), has come
under scrutiny as being outdated, barbaric, and a needless waste of money. While it may be true
that the way in which we execute criminals today is not facile – nor as cheap – as simply sealing
them in an electric chair and letting the deed be done, the death penalty should not be compared
(or judged) by such simplistic perimeters of the past.
Recent studies have demonstrated that the current state of capital punishment in the
States is ineffective and a burden on taxpayer’s dollars. A report from the Economist – which
studied the cost of capital punishment in the state of Maryland – disclosed that between 1978 and
199, the use of the death penalty had cost the state $186,000,000.1 However, in our growing zeal
to abolish erroneous convictions when the sentence is final, most of these costs incurred were
over the extensive legal process: the right for prisoners to appeal their sentence, and the repeated
use of expensive lawyers all contribute to this large bill at the end of the day.
However, this is just one of the many mounting attacks. Recently, the various European
companies that manufacture the drug used in carrying out lethal injections, have ceased
production. This recent development has lead to fears of shortages, and even resulted in a widely
regarded “botched” injection, prompting opponents of the death penalty to take it as a clear sign
that the punishment ought to be brought to an end.2 To further worsen the matter, the US is now
turning to more arcane methods of execution, which Chantal Valery of Yahoo News reports, are
now considering the use of gas chambers, or firing squad.3
As tantalizing as these arguments are, the problems with the death penalty have more to
do with the chaotic, and bogged-down process, which is merely a piece of the puzzle. As
research from the Atlantic demonstrated, that on average, the cost of an execution in California
amounts to $308 million, due to the various amenities such as housing, and healthcare provided
for prisoners while on death row.4 Even more financially exhausting is due to the endless amount
of challenges and appeals, which delay the process. In sum, California has spent $4 billion worth
1 The Economist. “Saving Lives and Money.” Accessed February 10th, 2014.
http://www.economist.com/node/13279051
2 Gary Strauss. “Ohio’s slow execution raises controversy.” Accessed February 11th, 2014.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/16/ohio-killer-executed-with-new-lethal-drug-
combo/4512651/
3 Chantal Valery. “US states mulling execution methods amid drug shortage.” Accessed February 11th,
2014. http://news.yahoo.com/us-states-mulling-execution-methods-amid-drug-shortage-020345937.html
4
Mary Fischer. “The Appeal of Death Row.” Accessed February 11th, 2014.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/11/the-appeal-of-death-row/308662/

2. of taxpayers money just executing thirteen inmates.5 As such, many states do not even bother to
debate whether or not the death penalty is morally just, or worth having, simply because it’s
inefficiency would cost the state too much.
However, costs, aside, there is a moral component within this debate, which has lead to
many questioning the impartiality of the death penalty. Critics vehemently argue that the death
penalty – like the US prison system as whole – is biased, targets minorities, and other such social
undesirables6. Furthermore, the tirade from those opposed to the death penalty, also claim that
the death penalty is inherently immoral, citing occasions where innocents were handed the death
sentence, only to be proven innocent afterwards.7 However, this reports fails to mention that
methods of deciding guilt and innocence – such as DNA testing – are more accurate than ever
before, and have lead to certain exonerations from death row.8
While the morality of the topic is certain to keep generating debate among the public
(which is currently polling at 63% in favour of the Death Penalty - the lowest in 40 years)9, there
is certainly enough evidence of inefficiency and exuberant cost to help states begin much needed
dialogue about whether or not to end capital punishment.10 Pointing to the shortage of humane
drugs to kill those on death row is a valid criticism, there also are many that claim that this
process is needlessly complicated, and expensive. However, while they are right to point this out
– there is also a strong feeling that capital punishment is a price the United States should bear in
deterring crime, and punishing the most heinous of criminals. The thought that inmates such as
Billy Joe Johnson – who admitted to having no remorse for the five people he had murdered in
cold blood – will never walk free again, is certainly a very comforting one.11
Bibliography
5
Mary Fischer. “The Appeal of Death Row.” Accessed February 11th, 2014.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/11/the-appeal-of-death-row/308662/
6 Amnesty International. “Know the Facts about Capital Punishment.” Accessed February 12th, 2014.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/death-penalty/us-death-penalty-facts
7 Lisa Maria Garza. “American Support for the Death Penalty falls to 60 Percent.” Accessed February
12th, 2014. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/30/us-usa-deathpenalty-poll-
idUSBRE99T03E20131030
8 ACLU. “DNA Testing and the Death Penalty.” Accessed February 12th, 2014.
https://www.aclu.org/capital-punishment/dna-testing-and-death-penalty
9 Lisa Maria Garza. “American Support for the Death Penalty falls to 60 Percent.” Accessed February
12th, 2014. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/30/us-usa-deathpenalty-poll-
idUSBRE99T03E20131030
10 Jeffery Jones. “US Death Penalty Support Lowest in More than 40 years.” Accessed February 12th,
2014. http://www.gallup.com/poll/165626/death-penalty-support-lowest-years.aspx
11 Mary Fischer. “The Appeal of Death Row.” Accessed February 11th, 2014.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/11/the-appeal-of-death-row/308662/

3. ACLU. “DNA Testing and the Death Penalty.” Accessed February 12th, 2014. https://
www.aclu.org/capital-punishment/dna-testing-and-death-penalty
Amnesty International. “Know the Facts about Capital Punishment.” Accessed February 12th,
2014. http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/death-penalty/us-death-penalty-facts
Chantal Valery. “US states mulling execution methods amid drug shortage.” Accessed February
11th, 2014. http://news.yahoo.com/us-states-mulling-execution-methods-amid-drug-
shortage-020345937.html
The Economist. “Saving Lives and Money.” Accessed February 10th, 2014.
http://www.economist.com/node/13279051
Gary Strauss. “Ohio’s slow execution raises controversy.” Accessed February 11th, 2014.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/16/ohio-killer-executed-with-new-
lethal-drug-combo/4512651/
Jeffery Jones. “US Death Penalty Support Lowest in More than 40 years.” Accessed February
12th, 2014. http://www.gallup.com/poll/165626/death-penalty-support-lowest-years.aspx
Lisa Maria Garza. “American Support for the Death Penalty falls to 60 Percent.” Accessed
February 12th, 2014. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/30/us-usa-deathpenalty-
poll-idUSBRE99T03E20131030
Mary Fischer. “The Appeal of Death Row.” Accessed February 11th, 2014. http://
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/11/the-appeal-of-death-row/308662/