Contrary to public perception, capital punishment is very expensive.In all democratic nations, every human being is considered innocent of any alleged crime, until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a court of law. For this reason, certain safeguards must be used for capital punishment cases.
These safeguards would make trials more extensive, therefore, they would last longer, becoming very expensive to the taxpayers.The greatest costs of capital punishment cases are incurred prior to, and during the trial, not in post-conviction and appeal proceedings.
Even if all appeal proceedings were abolished, the capital punishment system would still be more expensive than a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Who would pay for it? We all would!
If Australia re-instated capital punishment - one of two things, or both, will surely need to happen.
Federal and State taxes will rise through the roof.
That means much less money for you and your family.
All community services will be drastically cut to the bone.
The first cuts would be to: education, hospitals (public and private), medicines, medicare, medical and teaching staff, mental health services, counselling/rehabilitation programs, home-help services for elderly/disabled/sick, pensions and unemployment benefits, welfare services, nursing homes/hostels, childcare services, tafe and university places, jobs, and the list goes on. All essential services and local government rates would also rise.
Australian lawyers estimate that one single capital punishment case could cost Australian taxpayers around $5.5 million. Therefore, both federal and state governments would have to consider introducing extra cuts to services and further increase hidden taxes to pay for the luxury of having human beings legally executed like dogs.
Pro-death penalty supporters calling for the re-instatement of capital punishment in Australia should first educate themselves about the mega-negative effects capital punishment will bring on the entire community, as a whole.
By ACADP 28 April 03
AUSTRALIAN COALITION AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
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