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Execute.jpg
The execution chamber at the Washington State Penitentiary is shown as viewed from the witness gallery, in Walla Walla. Cal Coburn Brown was the last execution in Washington, in 2010, for the murder of Holly Washa in 1991. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Washington considers doing away with the death penalty

March 5, 2013 @ 8:11 pm (Updated: 8:24 am - 3/6/13 )

Instead of capital punishment, Washington could sentence those who are convicted of aggravated first degree murder to life in prison without parole.

A House committee considers a bill Wednesday to abolish the death penalty.

There are criminal justice issues and financial concerns related to this possible change in Washington law. While I'd like to read your thoughts on the ethics of the death penalty. I've looked into the financial arguments.

In terms of trying the case, a Washington State Bar Association 2007 report concluded:

"It costs significantly more to try a capital case to final verdict than to try the same case as an aggravated murder case where the penalty sought is life without possibility of parole.

At the trial level, death penalty cases are estimated to generate roughly $470,000 in additional costs to the prosecution and defense over the cost of trying the same case as an aggravated murder without the death penalty and costs of $47,000 to $70,000 for court personnel.

On direct appeal, the cost of appellate defense averages $100,000 more in death penalty cases, than in non-death penalty murder cases.

Personal restraint petitions filed in death penalty cases on average cost an additional $137,000 in public defense costs."

An organization called the Death Penalty Information Center, which opposes capital punishment, cites the most extreme example of costs.

In California, death row costs taxpayers $114 million a year beyond the cost of imprisoning convicts for life. The state has executed 13 people since 1976 for a total of about $250 million per execution.

A study from Duke University found that the death penalty costs North Carolina $2.16 million more per execution than the a non-death penalty murder case with a sentence of life imprisonment.

Other states are considering similar measures to do away with capital punishment.

Oregon's governor recently imposed a moratorium on the death penalty just weeks before a scheduled execution there.

The last execution in Washington state was nearly three years ago when Cal Coburn Brown died by lethal injection for the murder of Holly Washa.

There are currently eight people on death row in Washington.

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (56)


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  • Chrisfrommv wrote...
    I can understand
    March 5, 2013 7:41 pm
    the system in which the use of capital punishment must travel to get to final verdict. The choice wether a man, even a madman, lives or dies is something not to be taken lightly and without detailed scrutiny. However I believe it in somecases can be appropriate. I think the fiscal cost of the court process and possibly the entire process itself should be overhauled and streamlined to review costs. However, getting rid of it I don't believe would be a great idea... This is a tough one for me...
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  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @chrisfrommv
    March 6, 2013 4:56 am
    It's a tough one for me too. The arguements for the death penalty boil down to just one: It's a deterrent. Problem is that it doesn't seem to stop people from committing the kinds of murders that would get this penalty. If it were more than wishful thinking that the death penalty really is a deterrent, then I would be for it. -- I see the death penalty as more vengance than anything else. And that's not a sufficient reason to keep it. It's time to try something different (true life sentences without chance of parole).
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  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    formermariensgt.
    March 6, 2013 7:16 am
    First off thank you for your service, sacrifices and dedication so i can sleep sound at night. THANK YOU!

    I for one cannot stand the thought of paying for these low lifes. I hate the thought that there are families out there that cannot afford insurance or steady food on their tables. Yet the low life scum of the earth get all of their needs taken care of by you me and every other victim out there. Where is that fair? If they killed my wife or son or daughter all the peace i get is knowing that i am financialy footing the bill for this scum of the earth to survive. THAT IS WRONG IN MY MIND! Put them on a boat in the middle of the ocean full of pigs blood and sink it. Let the sharks sort them out.

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  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @lesssmith50
    March 6, 2013 7:54 am
    Thanks for pat on the back. I'm not against the death penalty per se - I'm just not sure it's anything more than a tool of vengance against the criminal - and as such, it's my opinion that we're supposed to be above that level morally. However, if someone killed someone from my family, I'd probably think differently....
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  • R L M 456 wrote...
    Lessmith50- I agree with your belief
    March 6, 2013 7:59 am
    Every one of us make the choice to do right or wrong

    for a convicted murderer to be given more rights, care, and medical than would be given to old grandmother who has never uttered a single transgression against anyone, is unbelieveable

    you kill--you are put to death

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  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    RLM 456
    March 6, 2013 11:19 am
    I know i sound brutal at times. But i cannot get over seeing those worthless piles of flesh just sit back and kicking it on our dime. they get better health & dental care than most of us out here does. It doesnt cost them a dime for it. The get free food, free tv. Everything they get is on us the taxpayers. I chose to be a good citizen all my life. I have bent a couple rule in my lifetime that is for sure. I am not perfect by a longshot. BUT i would never do unto others that i would not want done to me. I firmly believe that. The only time i would take someone elses life is if they brutally hurt my family memeber. Sorry but i would take pleasure in offing some scumbag if he raped my daughter, or killed my parents over a dollar or their car. I wouldnt give them the easy way out with a bullet to the head. OH NO! They will beg me to finish them and then i will still let them bleed out. Sorry but when it comes to brutal murder. I could flip that passionate switch in my brain.
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  • shark75 wrote...
    Lessmith50 wrote...
    March 6, 2013 8:24 am
    I like the pigs blood idea. BTW, FormerMarineSgt is a fraud. If you look at his views and have known anyone in the Marine Corps it'll become clear to you that he's a liberal in patriot's clothing...
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Sharky
    March 6, 2013 10:20 am
    Funny how you pigeon hole every Marine by insinuating that they all think alike.Granted military guys in todays ALL volunteer military probably have a majority that are Rightys because many of them come from poor GOP states and need to join the military to have a decent paycheck and benefits but a few Lefty are among the ranks.You can bet on it. Of course when the Draft was in place plenty of Leftys were in the ranks
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  • couchpotatoslacker wrote...
    Don't believe the hype
    March 6, 2013 9:33 am
    FormerMarineSgt is as much a former Marine as Obama is a conservative Republican.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AKAF wrote...
    It's only state approved murder...
    March 5, 2013 9:48 pm
    I'm against the death penalty and abortion. Both should be abolished. For both, it's a simple solution to eliminate a problem. The death penalty costs more than life imprisonment and there is always adoption, for a society that is turning towards other nations to adopt. Both are murder. Let us end this now. It's not punishment but a relief!
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  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    AKAF
    March 6, 2013 7:18 am
    The only reason why is the stupid appeals process. There are way too many. you should get two. Those should be held within one year of the sentancing. Then when they fail they should be eliminated from the human race the next day. Tell me that costs more then a life sentence.
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Lessmith50
    March 6, 2013 10:22 am
    Why is 2 appeals the "MAGIC" number?And why do BOTH appeals in your way of thinking need to happen in the same year?Seems you put a LOW value on the human life.Remember GOD created that killer the same way as GOD created you.Do you HATE GODs creations?
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  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    messiah101
    March 6, 2013 11:32 am
    This has nothing to do with GOD! Yea and GM makes millions of great cars every year. Yet some of those cars are just piles of dog doo when they come off the assemby line. Why? who knows, but they do. That is why there is a lemon law on the books. Sorry but god sometimes drops a lemon on society. It sure seems to happen on a daily basis.

    Why not have the appeals process done in one year? Its is possible. Not probable but possible. Why should these worthless piles get a free ride on our dime for decades? Convict them, let them appeal then KILL THEM!

    As far as putting a low value on human life. You are what you are. If they are brutal murders and rapist. CYA! Why in the world would you put any value on those types of trash? They are worthless piles of dog doo. PERIOD! Do you think all the sudden their eyes open wide and feel bad because they hacked someone to death over a stupid car or some dumb jewelry?

    Personally messiah i dont have a ton of faith in the good lord right now. I cannot fathom why such a powerful entity that is suppose to be all loving and caring and creates life. Can allow such brutallity amoung his great creations. Sorry the the Ted Bundys, Gary Ridgeways, John Wayne Gacy's and countless others that has caused so much pain and suffering. why should they get to live when they took hundreds of innocent lives. WHO MADE THEM GOD? I cannot fathom the good lord accepting those worthless piles with open arms into heaven.

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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Build more prisons
    March 5, 2013 9:51 pm
    Then use hard labor as a deterrent.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    The State....
    March 5, 2013 11:27 pm
    should not be in the Business of Execution. Let's join Canada and the 27 Nations of the EU and end this barbaric behavior. Permanent incarceration is sufficient for societal protection.
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  • cdbtx wrote...
    I'm with Ron_Spins on this
    March 6, 2013 5:23 am
    and to be honest Dori Monson had probably one of the most thought provoking comments on the death penalty.

    If you supported it - would you be willing to pull the switch... and after thinking about that.... the honest answer for me is no...

    One the other hand would I defend myself or family at any length.. the answer is yes..

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Costs aside, what good DOES a death penalty eever do?
    March 6, 2013 5:33 am
    Beyond the moral objections - most churches now oppose state murder - what happened when the state makes a mistake? DNA in recent years has absolves quite a number of men and women once slated for execution. And isn't the premise of our legal system that some guilty might go free than no innocent person be unjustly convicted?

    Even revenge is not enough, at least for me. While bringing a bit of closure, execution today is quick and painless. Quite the opposite of criminal punishment. .. And as a matter of fact, more than a few opt for quick execution rather than the possibility of life in prison. ... Life in prison is not fun - and it can be made even less so, ala Gary Ridgeway in solitary confinement 23 hours each day with few, if any, diversions.

    Life in prison, properly administered, is far more punishment than the death penalty ever can be - and much cheaper.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • froggy wrote...
    Texas doesn't seem to have any problems.
    March 6, 2013 5:38 am
    Perhaps we should study what they're doing in Texas. Plus, how many times have we seen sentences reduced after being so called "permanent". If there hadn't been "No Parole" sentences being reduced I might go for this but that isn't what happens. Sometimes there are people who are just so awful that death is the only punishment. Take Campbell as an example from many years back. He killed three, with one being a young girl, as revenge against a woman who testified against him for his rape on her. If you could read the crime scene report on that, you'd come to the conclusion that he was truly evil and only one punishment would be sufficient. Sure, deterrence should be part of the equation, but punishment is the most paramount part. I think the the victim's or the victim's survivors should actually have more input on the punishment.
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  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    I fully support the death penalty!
    March 6, 2013 5:38 am
    Why should we have to pay to support these monsters for the rest of their lives? I don't think so! Off with their heads! It's okay for them to kill but not be killed? Sounds like our politicians. Completely Hypocrisy!
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  • calapete wrote...
    nice try, but it costs less to keep them incarcerated for life
    March 6, 2013 6:29 am
    if your argument is saving the State money, you are on the wrong side.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HockeyMom wrote...
    I support it, too
    March 6, 2013 11:28 am
    I was listening to a gal on the news this morning talk about how the death of the person that killed her family member allowed them to have some closure. She could now reflect on her family member without having to also think about how the murderer of that family member was sitting there alive. I don't see that as her wanting revenge. I think of that as a person trying to have closure and asking for an appropriate punishment for the murder of her loved one.
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  • Moondoggie wrote...
    life without possibility of parole.
    March 6, 2013 5:38 am
    is harsher than the death penalty. Giving someone no chance of parole is cruel. You are doing them a favor when you put them to death.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Charles Rodman Campbell
    March 6, 2013 5:49 am
    Is a perfect example of why we need to keep the death penalty as an OPTION. There were jurors that were initially against the death penalty, but quickly changed their mind when they saw what that monster was all about. To me, it would be a mistake to take this option off the table. It is very seldom used in this state. It is often used as a way to get them to come up with more info about their actual crimes. The only way law enforcement got the info from Gary Ridgeway(who should have been executed) was to tell him that the death penalty would be removed if he came clean with his crimes.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    didn't Campbell choose not to appeal his execution?
    March 6, 2013 5:59 am
    The mistake with Campbell was ever letting him out in the first place.

    Not sure of legality (probably not, but) if we can evaluate sex offenders to keep them confined after their sentences have been fully served, why not the same for violent crime? .. Had Campbell never gotten out in the first place, 3 lives would have been saved.

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  • wsualumn wrote...
    RON PREVOST
    March 6, 2013 10:52 am
    Campbell did appeal his execution. You are thinking of the guy in Vancouver that killed the little boy. He said that he deserved to die by hanging the same way he hung his victim. Campbell had to be tied down when they carried him off to the gallows. He, in my opinion, is a classic example of why we need the death penalty as an option.
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  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    wsualumn
    March 6, 2013 11:36 am
    That was Dodd kid in vancouver. It seems like he actually had some guilt. Unlike all these other worthless piles.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Lesssmith
    March 6, 2013 11:44 am
    That's it. Wesley Allan Dodd. On of the few that showed remorse and said he deserved to die. Mike Lowry, who was against the death penalty, said to go ahead with The Cambell Execution because of his lack of remorse. He would have been too problematic in prison, which is what he was when he was in previously.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    thamks for the correstion.
    March 6, 2013 3:14 pm
    There still should be a way to keep the Campbells of this world locked up forever, though.
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