Smart on Crime: Reconsidering the Death Penalty in a Time of Economic Crisis

Source: Richard C. Diete, Death Penalty Information Center, October 2009

From the press release:
A report released today by the Death Penalty Information Center concludes that states are wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on the death penalty, draining state budgets during the economic crisis and diverting funds from more effective anti-violence programs. A nationwide poll of police chiefs conducted by RT Strategies, released with the report, found that they ranked the death penalty last among their priorities for crime-fighting, do not believe the death penalty deters murder, and rate it as the least efficient use of limited taxpayer dollars.
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Executive Summary