Why do death penalty convictions take so long to carry out?

1. 90

   Justin Muirposted 11 years ago

   Why do death penalty convictions take so long to carry out?
   
   I know that I'm talking about an almost extinct institution.  And I do not want to get into a huge debate about it's moral/ethical relevance.  But in the cases where people are put on death row; why does it take so long (a decade or more) for the accused to be put to death?
   
   

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2. 71

   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   I don't know and it is really irritating me. I drive up to Huntsville, Texas for my school twice a week and pass by all of the prisons. It seems like such a waste for them to be there. The mentally ill should probably be placed on death row but those who are given the death penalty just sit there knowing their end will come. It is eating up tax dollars and wasting resources.

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3. 61

   Josakposted 11 years ago

   To ensure innocent people are not executed, when someone is sentenced to death they become eligible for a variety of extra appeals and testing so as to ensure they are guilty before they are put to death, many people on death row have been found not guilty years after being there showing that this period is important and effective to some degree.

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4. 60

   up2xxiposted 11 years ago

   Josak's answer is right on the money. There have been some death row inmates recently who were actually found through DNA to not be guilty. Even if they are guilty, they deserve to have all appeals exhausted, before death is carried out. I realize that usually is years, but that is the way the system is set-up, Checks-and Balances.

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5. 68

   Bretsukiposted 11 years ago

   The death penalty carries with it the fear of executing the innocent so a rigorous and lengthy appeal system was created.
   
   Each appeal carries with it a lengthy time period to investigate and make all efforts to complete. This can mean a death row inmate can spend up to thirty years on death row waiting for an execution of the sentence.
   
   The present system is cumbersome and ties up a great deal of court time making it very expensive for the states but lucrative for the lawyers.

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6. 57

   NotPCposted 11 years ago

   It pretty much comes down to the appeal process. We want to make absolutely certain we are murdering the right person. The legal costs of executing an innocent man would be way more than the cost of court and appeals.

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7. 60

   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   With regard to the US?  Because every single appeal and possible "out" has to be explored.  And of course with the US, that take a lot f time in our court system.

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   1. 57

      NotPCposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Same Opinion! Nice! Internet high-five!

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      duffsmomposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      High five right back at ya! :-)

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