USA | Lawmakers Discuss the Cost of the Death Penalty

Virginia and Georgia legislators discuss financial implications, appeals process and more

Capital punishment continues to be a contentious issue in the United States, where each state has the autonomy to determine which crimes warrant the death penalty. Among the 27 states with capital punishment laws, premeditated murder and murder with aggravating circumstances are commonly deemed capital crimes.

The financial burden of capital punishment is significant, with state justice systems incurring costs approximately 40.5% higher than cases where the death penalty is not sought. In this installment of “State of Play,” a bipartisan video series created by A Starting Point and NCSL, Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D) and Georgia Rep. Bill Werkheiser (R) discuss the controversial topic.

Surovell points to the irreversible nature of wrongful executions and questions the system’s fallibility. “Our country has outgrown the death penalty,” he says. “It’s an incredibly expensive way to render justice."

Werkheiser echoes the concerns, noting the financial inefficiencies. “From a fiscal conservative standpoint, you’ve paid to house them and feed them almost their entire life, and at the very end, now you’re going to spend a million and a half dollars to end their life,” he says.

When considering which crimes warrant capital punishment, the criteria vary. Werkheiser suggests it pertains to “the most heinous crimes,” often involving children. Surovell challenges the notion, stating, “The idea that capital punishment is an appropriate sanction is rooted in really outdated concepts.”

The lengthy appeals process in capital cases often raises questions about its fairness and timeliness. Werkheiser describes it as “going through the motions,” with last-minute procedures often failing to halt executions. Surovell acknowledges the challenges, stating, “The appellate process isn’t really set up to be able to deal with evidence that somebody missed or forgot.”

➡️ Watch the full video here.

Source: ncsl.org, Staff, June 18, 2025

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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