It has been more than eight years since someone was put to death in Washington. As we speak, however, the state Department of Corrections prepares for the scheduled March 13th execution of convicted murderer Cal Coburn Brown. We need to unite and put a stop to this before yet another person loses their life to an unjust system.
There is no denying that capital punishment is an extremely emotional issue. It affects people in a multitude of ways; even those who aren't personally affected have strong opinions on the subject. In fact, the death penalty is one of only two truly divisive issues in today's political landscape (the other being abortion). In this column, I will attempt to move past the emotionality and present some of the strongest arguments that are used in favor of the death penalty, as well as proponents' responses to them.
We as a society tend to assume that every person on death row is guilty. After all, if a jury found the criminal guilty, then they must be guilty, right? Wrong. Between 1973 and 2008, more than 130 people were exonerated in 26 different states. And since 1997, the University of Washington-based Innocence Project Northwest has uncovered evidence to reverse the convictions of 12 people in Washington alone. Even more disturbing, though, are the stories of those who were executed despite evidence of their innocence. Cameron Todd Willingham was put to death in Texas in February 2004 for murdering his three children by setting their house on fire. However, when the Chicago Tribune investigated Willingham's case in the months following his execution, they discovered that the fire was more than likely an accident. That means Willingham died for a crime he didn't commit.
The death penalty is often presented as a way to deter crime. People say that, if would-be criminals know they will be executed for committing murder, they will refrain from doing so. Yet there is no actual evidence of this. In 2000, then-U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno said this: "I have inquired for most of my adult life about studies that might show that the death penalty is a deterrent. And I have not seen any research that would substantiate that point." Perhaps most interesting to Washingtonians, though, is a 2004 study by Joanna Shepherd that looks at the supposed deterrent effect. Shepherd found that executions have deterred murder in only six states, and that Washington is not one of them. In fact Sherpherd points out that Washington is among the 13 states where the murder rate actually increased as a result of having a death penalty statute.
Finally, the cost of executing a criminal far exceeds that of life in prison. While there have been numerous arguments to the contrary, scientific studies have found that an execution is between two and five times more costly to taxpayers than sentencing the murderer to life in prison. The Death Penalty Information Center reports that capital punishment cases at the trial level in Washington State are estimated to generate roughly $470,000 in additional costs to the prosecution and defense over the cost of trying the same case without the death penalty. An additional $47,000 to $70,000 must be paid out to court personnel. The reason for these high costs? Endless appeals and additional required procedures drag the process on longer than most people care to admit. Most defendants spend 15 to 20 years on death row prior to their execution.
Proponents of the death penalty typically offer five justifications for their position. First, it is the appropriate punishment for someone who commits such a serious crime; second, rightful societal vengeance (often referred to as "an eye for an eye"); third, eliminating the possibility that the criminal will return to society; fourth, deterrence against future crimes by other criminals; and fifth, closure for the families of the victims.
What proponents don't realize is that all but one of these justifications can be rebutted. The argument has been made that life in prison is a worse fate than execution, which explains why so many convicted murderers prematurely end the appeals process. Some also say "an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind"; that perhaps the best option is to take the high road and not make murder the answer for murder. Studies have proven that capital punishment deters crime in only six states (Washington is not one of them). Finally, families of murder victims have said that closure never comes, that extending the murderer's trial only prolongs the pain. The only justification that cannot be rebutted is that the death penalty eliminates the possibility that the criminal will return to society.
If this evidence doesn't convince you that the death penalty system is flawed and should be eliminated, nothing will. If it does convince you, though, I urge you to take a stand before Cal Coburn Brown is executed by Washington State next week. Call or e-mail Governor Chris Gregoire, and tell her you won't stand by and watch an unjust system take the life of yet another man. Get involved with the Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. At the very least, talk to your friends and family about capital punishment. Opening the lines of communication is the first step to policy change.
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