The Positive Side of a Poor Economy

Because of revenue shortfalls, states are taking another look at the prison
population and re-evaluating the type of criminal who requires incarceration.

The end result is that prison populations (except in Florida) are dropping along
with lower national crime rates. This has not happened for the last FOUR DECADES.

To read more about this, click here for a Los Angles newspaper article.

The next consideration is going to revolve around the death penalty, in my opinion.
The many needed types of appeals and habeas petitions that are required
for a death penalty inmate cost a state millions of dollars. Remember that the state
invariably pays for the inmate's legal expenses as well as those of the prosecution.

Contrast this with the cost of keeping someone incarcerated for life
without possibility of parole and any cost/benefit analysis will lead to
the life sentence.

While the death penalty may not be stamped out, those eligible for
it will probably be more narrow (terrorist, serial killers, and child rapists).

It should prove interesting to see whether the public's vengeance
will be lessened by economic realities.

Wishing all readers a healthy and Happy New Year