We have been working on our capital punishment documentary and have finished a first cut. We have a few more interviews to add (DA & a former newspaper editor) and will have it finished next week.

As a former reporter, murder trials were interesting and emotional. Reporters see the evidence and meet the family of the victims.

We begin our video talking about the Dugas/Burnett murder trial, which (as a young reporter) took a lot of my time. I received a subpeona to testify at the change of venue hearing and had to wait in the Jefferson County courthouse two days before testifying. I met everyone involved in one of the biggest murder trials in Texas history. Two families from Winnie, including a three year-old were shot execution-style.

EagleVision For Jan. 9, 2015 

From Death Penalty Focus:

The death penalty is much more expensive than life without parole because the Constitution requires a long and complex judicial process for capital cases. This process is needed in order to ensure that innocent men and woman are not executed for crimes they did not commit, and even with these protections the risk of executing an innocent person can not be completely eliminated.

If the death penalty was replaced with a sentence of Life Without the Possibility of Parole*, which costs millions less and also ensures that the public is protected while eliminating the risk of an irreversible mistake, the money saved could be spent on programs that actually improve the communities in which we live. The millions of dollars in savings could be spent on: education, roads, police officers and public safety programs, after-school programs, drug and alcohol treatment, child abuse prevention programs, mental health services, and services for crime victims and their families. 

Death Penalty Focus is incorrect. 

Jacobson, you know not what you are talking about. Please provide information that refutes this. 

http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Audit/Full/BE2014/Costs%20of%20Death%20Penalty,%20LA14-25,%20Full.pdf


Here is a study from Nevada 

Edwin H. Sutherland, PhD, late President of the American Sociological Society, and Donald R. Cressey, PhD, late Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in the 1974 revised edition of their book titled Criminology, wrote:

"It is not cheaper to keep a criminal confined, because most of the time he will appeal just as much causing as many costs as a convict under death sentence. Being alive and having nothing better to do, he will spend his time in prison conceiving of ever-new habeas corpus petitions, which being unlimited, in effect cannot be rejected as res judicata. The cost is higher."


Dudley Sharp, Death Penalty Resources Director of Justice For All (JFA), in an Oct. 1, 1997 Justice for All presentation titled "Death Penalty and Sentencing Information," wrote:

"Many opponents present, as fact, that the cost of the death penalty is so expensive (at least $2 million per case?), that we must choose life without parole ('LWOP') at a cost of $1 million for 50 years. Predictably, these pronouncements may be entirely false. JFA estimates that LWOP cases will cost $1.2 million - $3.6 million more than equivalent death penalty cases.

There is no question that the up front costs of the death penalty are significantly higher than for equivalent LWOP cases. There also appears to be no question that, over time, equivalent LWOP cases are much more expensive... than death penalty cases. Opponents ludicrously claim that the death penalty costs, over time, 3-10 times more than LWOP."


Gary D. Beatty, JD, a Florida Assistant State Attorney, in his Dec. 1, 1997 article, "The Next Time Someone Says the Death Penalty Costs More Than Life in Prison, Show Them This Article," available at www.fed-soc.org, stated:

"If the multiple layers of appeal are pursued in an ethical, and fiscally responsible manner, execution is less costly than warehousing a murderer for life."


Yes, I know what I'm talking about. 

At least JL's reports are super current! 

LOL, I saw that. :) 

Of course, most of us know that JL lives sometime back in the 19th century. 

At least JL's reports are super current!

Where are John's reports?

My reports are just fine because the truth doesn't change. 

Oh, I know JL!

The "truth" in 1253 is the same as it is now in 2015!! 

The "truth" in 1253 is the same as it is now in 2015!!

LOL, so now I see your problem. You think that the United States was in existence in 1253. 

Death Penalty Focus is incorrect.


Typical Lynch type response. "You're wrong" but offers no backup to his worthless claim. By the way what DPF assertains is the same as what ad infinitum assertain. 

1974 revised edition of their book titled Criminology, wrote:



LOL! Only 40 years ago. LOL! LOL! 

The United States has been in existence for 6,000 years. And we are god's chosen people. He blesses us the most. Duh. 

Or we could just hang everyone that does any crime that's a felony, that would save a lot of money too. 

"You're wrong" but offers no backup to his worthless claim.

Apparently you don't read very well.

Also, you never give any backup for what is really worthless information - the stuff you post. 

jacobson --- 1 days ago - quote - hide comments

Death Penalty Focus is incorrect.

Says the expert on Death Penalty Focus groups. pffft 

I'm actually a bit taken back by the title of this thread. The last thing I would ever be proud of is to say the death penalty is my states tradition. This is like being proud to be a heathen. It is sad these young kids are being taught that killing someone because they killed someone is ok. 

It is sad these young kids are being taught that killing someone because they killed someone is ok.

It is okay.

"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." 

Yes, I am aware of the many versus of the bible where violence and death are encouraged and celebrated. One reason I want nothing to do with your God. 

Yes, I am aware of the many versus of the bible where violence and death are encouraged and celebrated.

There are no verses where death is celebrated. However, God does call for JUSTICE to be done. Are you against justice?

Whether you like it or not, He's your God too. Everyone is and will be accountable to Him, regardless of what you believe. 

Wicked - Since Texas has killed more criminals than any other state, the title is appropriate. It's stating a fact, not promoting or being proud of the death sentence.

I watched the video and there were people on both sides of the issue. The principal was pretty level headed. 

The last thing I would ever be proud of is to say the death penalty is my states tradition.

Me too. Sad but true.
The last thing I would ever be proud of is to say the death penalty is my states tradition. 

Kill them all! 

It is sad these young kids are being taught that killing someone because they killed someone is ok.?

The sheer stupidity of this statement is only rivaled by its attempt at moral equivallancy.

To follow your logoc:
Why to we steal (fine) people who steal to teach stealing is wrong?
Why do we kidnap (incarcerate) people who kidnap to teach kidnapping is wrong? 

How exactly is incarceration kidnapping? You might want to research the deffinition. 

Kidnap? Huh? Your statement has no logic. Not only is wrong to kill, it is extremely expensive. I would rather see these people locked in a dark cell. No window, no contact with any one. No visitations, no mail. Nothing. That person should sit for the rest of their life and think about what they did. Three members of my family were gunned down in 1988. I understand the emotion as a family member. The guy who murdered them was put on death row and then removed from death row. I'm ok with that. He now has a lot of time to think about it. 

I'm more for an eye for an eye. If you kill some one by sodomizing them with a pitch fork, you die by the same method. 

Not only is wrong to kill

Not all killing is wrong. The premeditated killing by an individual is, not when punishment is carried out by the government.

it is extremely expensive.

Not as expensive as keeping them alive for decades. 

It is much more expensive to keep them on death row due to the process. 

Wicked - you have my sympathy and my admiration.