Death Penalty

Paper Summary:

This paper presents a brief synopsis of the many issues at stake with both death penalty appeals and the statute of limitations issues. Most of these issues are financial and ethical. The paper contends that death row inmates take up enormous amounts of taxpayer resources. Their appeals cases add to that amount, as most inmates require the assistance of state-funded attorneys in filing their appeals. To speed up the appeals process would minimize most costs associated with keeping inmates on death row longer than is necessary. The paper claims that, similarly, unlimited statutes of limitations for any crime uses up taxpayer resources and can be burdensome on the legal system in general. The paper examines the need to take into account the costs associated with both death penalty and sex-offender cases to come up with a reasonable and constitutional compromise.

From the Paper:

"Five years ago, the Florida State Supreme Court struck down a law that foreshortened the appeals process for death row inmates. Coming from the state with the second-highest number of executions only after Texas, the example set in the state of Florida bears attention and careful consideration by lawmakers everywhere. Regarding his state's Supreme Court's decision, Governor Jeb Bush stated, "'On behalf of victims' families and the people of this state, I remain steadfastly committed to finding ways to have all death penalty appeals resolved within five years." It sounds like mixed messages for policy makers: the Governor remains a staunch advocate of speeding up the execution process while the judiciary in his state hopes to ensure that justice has been served. Similar conflicts cloud the issue of whether or not statues of limitations should apply equally to sex offenses as to other felonies."

More papers on Death Penalty:

• Research Paper # 93369 : "Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty"
• Persuasive Essay # 142258 : "The Death Penalty Back in Canada"
• Argumentative Essay # 88589 : "Death Penalty Argument"
• Argumentative Essay # 88667 : "The Death Penalty in 21st Century America"

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