What does it mean .. It's going to cost me?

Observer-Reporter (Washington, Pa.) | July 14, 2002 | AP

[knarf]

I retrieved todays paper from the paper box and, is my want, took my coffee, the paper and the quiet of the early morning into my reading room (the bathroom).

One article prompted me to ask this question.

Three years ago, in the state of Californicatia, motel handyman Cary Stayner killed four women.
He was caught and given a life sentence for one of the killings.
Now, the AP article says, he is going on trial for the other three and the Fed wants the death penalty.

The article further states that it will cost taxpayers 3 million dollars.

[knarf]

How does someone who is already in prison, costing (I understand this one) X amount of dollars (30 K?), cost more by going to trial?

He's already in prison,
His life sustinence is already provided and accounted for,
The prosecuters are already on a payroll,
The judge is already on a payroll,
If a court appointed lawyer is named .. he's already on the payroll,

What's with the 'This Will Cost The Taxpayers 3 Million' stuff.

[knarf]

bump

[Wonder Warthog]

"The prosecuters are already on a payroll, The judge is already on a payroll, If a court appointed lawyer is named .. he's already on the payroll.."

You've already answered your own question. Add in all the other people necessary for a trial (court reporters, testifying police officers and other officials, bailiffs, etc., etc.) and the costs mount up quite rapidly.

[meenie]

Because you must support the investigators, lawyers, typists, clerks, judges, and other assorted stalwarts of our legal system. All this costs boo-coos of money and must be done to keep these people employed. Even though the individual has been found GUILTY, justice demands that he be found GUILTIER (?) and you must be willing to pay the bill. And you were of the opinion that welfare stopped at the local service office? How naive!

[knarf]

Except for some additional lawyers, all the others are being paid by their respective employers.

The court reporter is already taxpayer financed isn't he/she?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Let's save even more money and stop prosecuting murderers altogether.

[martin_fierro]

All in all, I'd say the state and federal court system provides a better return on your tax dollar than, say, this bunch.

[knarf]

"Let's save even more money and stop prosecuting murderers altogether."

Well, no, I don't agree with that.

I do think, however, the cost of one bullet is a lot less expensive, and much more expedient than going through the long process of finding out someone is a sick bastard.

[martin_fierro]

And BTW, please give my regards to the campus

from a former Prexie. <|:)~

[RippleFire]

You forgot the defendant's lawyers. I seem to recall that in the Randy Kraft serial murder trial in CA some years ago, two public defenders quit their public posts and founded a private law firm in order to get the $10 million or so in billings from the county taxpayers. This article which also mentions Stayner, says it was only $6 million, but you get the idea.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I do think, however, the cost of one bullet is a lot less expensive, and much more expedient than going through the long process of finding out someone is a sick bastard.

I'm still hung-up on this due process and rule of law thingy. England wants to abolish trial-by-jury. I mean Magna Carta and Bill of Rights are just so Second Millenium.

[RippleFire]

I should have said, the article mentions the Stayner case in more detail including the effects of the prosecution cost on the rural residents who will pay for it, including a victim's mother.

[Ditter]

I have a question. In CA does a life sentance mean he will be kept locked up until he dies, or does he have a chance of parole? Maybe they want to convict him of the other murders just to be sure he really stays locked up for the rest of his life.

[Ditter]

I have a question. In CA does a life sentance mean he will be kept locked up until he dies, or does he have a chance of parole? Maybe they want to convict him of the other murders just to be sure he really stays locked up for the rest of his life.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Except for some additional lawyers, all the others are being paid by their respective employers."

"Their respective employer" is US. We are the folks who foot the bill.

"The court reporter is already taxpayer financed isn't he/she?"

Sure, as are all the rest of the folks I mentioned. It still costs US (lots of) money to have the trial, and with the exponential growth of "precedents" in favor of defendants, it costs more with every trial. This is why prosecutors try for plea bargains for many situations--it is FAR less expensive than a trial, and DOES get the perp off the streets, at least for a while.

[Wonder Warthog]

"You forgot the defendant's lawyers."

Not really--the post I was responding to assumed that defense would be handled by a "court-appointed" (i.e. taxpayer financed) lawyer rather than a private attorney paid for by the defendant.

[cajun-jack]

a life sentence in california does not mean life...there are but a few states where "life" means exactly that.

[Ditter]

Thats what I thought.

[verity]

took my coffee, the paper and the quiet of the early morning into my reading room (the bathroom).

That's a strange way to enjoy a good cup of coffee!

[Kermit]

Why try him again? Why do the Feds want to try him? What's their jurisdiction? Why not carry out the sentence?