Morality over moratorium

There have only been 19 deaths in Indiana since the death penalty was reinstated in 1977, but that is not stopping recent Norte Dame graduate Will McAuliffe in demanding a moratorium.

His organization, the Indiana Coalition Acting to Suspend Executions (InCASE) argues that the standards for sentencing criminals to the death penalty and the massive costs associated with it need to be reexamined.

The group consists of state government officials, activists, professors and lawyers who want to see a pause in the death penalty being issued. Such an effort was attempted in 2007 when Gov. Joe Kernan spearheaded a similar campaign in conjunction with an American Bar Association project, but no one seemed to notice.

One should not take the costs associated with the death sentence lightly, as they leave a heavy burden on the taxpayer. Under current Indiana law, the state must supply an inmate who is under review for the death sentence two lawyers that meet experience and training standards.

It is estimated that $624,000 is spent per prisoner on a series of appeals and in support of giving the inmate a proper defense if they are up for the death penalty.
Unfortunately for the state of Indiana, these precautions cost eight times more then simply sentencing a criminal to the second harshest sentence – life in prison without parole.

The truth is, however, that Hoosiers support the death penalty even though it is rarely actualized in the state.

We say the moral approach is the only way to ensure a true moratorium on the issue. If an organization wants to stop an unethical tradition of murder within our legislative system then they should approach it on the grounds of morality.
 
Otherwise, if the price of putting of a prisoner through this process cheapens, there is nothing to stop the continued killings by our courts.

Despite the high costs, the real reason for ending the death penalty is the moral and not the monetary price tag. InCASE would be wise to seek a moratorium on this basis.