Colorado has become the latest state to consider abolishing the death penalty and lawmakers have added a twist to the proposed law that might make it easier to pass. The state proposes to use the money it currently spends on death penalty appeals to finance cold case investigations.Officials estimate abolishing the death penalty would save the state approximately $1 million a year.
There are currently about 1,400 unsolved murder cases in Colorado. The Colorado Bureau of Investigations cold case unit has only one staff member. The $1 million could add eight people to the unit, proponents claim.
Proponents say the death penalty is meaningless if perpetrators are never brought to trial in the first place.
1,400 Unsolved Murders
"The death penalty is not relevant without a murderer brought to trial," said Laurie Wiedeman, the older sister of 17-year-old Gay Lynn Dixon, whose 1982 slaying remains unsolved. "I would like to see the person who killed my sister put to death. But to have that person free to run around and committing other crimes?"
Opponents of the measure argue that most of the cold cases will remain unsolved while the state will be without a deterrent for the most heinous crimes. Colorado Attorney General John Suthers and all but one of the state's district attorneys oppose the bill.
"I think it's a sad situation," Suthers said. "You have hundreds of ... parents of murdered children, sitting there being led to believe that if they abolish the death penalty in Colorado their child's death will be solved. A million dollars doesn't buy you a lot of cold case investigation."
Other States Propose Bills
New Mexico abolished the death penalty earlier this year and New Jersey abolished it in 2007. Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire and Texas considered abolishing the death penalty, but bills in those states have stalled.
What do you think? Should states do away with the death penalty just to save money? Leave your comments below.
See Also:
Colorado May End Death Penalty to Save Money
What Is Your Opinion?
Discuss The Death Penalty
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Comments
I believe states should not abolish the death penalty…In fact, the death penalty should be carried out swifter, without long delays with all of the appeals the convicted uses to delay the sentence.
no it should not be abolished anywhere. if you take a life you should forfeit your life. God said “thou shall not kill.”
Let’s abolish murder and cold ruthless killers liberal Co.!
Many cases are resolved because the police can swing a deal with a killer/s to avoid the death penality-they are cowards as we well know-and the police get a sound conviction.
Take that away and that’s another tool that law enforcement no longer has.
I strongly believe in the death penalty an eye for an eye, every state should have the
death penalty in place save the taxpayers
money and fry them with power surge. Death penalty cases are useless inhuman beings taking in air and taxpayers money.
I do not think it should be abolished! I was almost 12 when Gay lynn was murdered and I still want to see her killer found and punished. She was so nice and I still remember her. I work 3 jobs I pay taxes upon taxes so use my money to punish those who so cold heartedly take the life of another.