Judge Sheila Murphy (retired) of Cook County, Illinois, recently testified before the Committee on Criminal Law of the Chicago Bar Association, noting her concerns about the costs of the death penalty. “We’re in just terrible economic times,” Judge Murphy said. “The state of Illinois is in deep trouble, and we should not be squandering money on the death penalty when there’s such great need – not just with victims but with the elderly, with children, for health care, and for education.” Judge Murphy cited studies that have shown the cost of sentencing someone to death was much more than a sentence of life in prison without parole due to the costs of prosecution, appeals, and legal defense. In addition, the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois are paying the extra costs of multi-million dollar payouts for wrongful death sentences, such as the $7.5 million payment to exonerated death row inmate Madison Hobley.

The Criminal Law Committee unanimously recommended abolishing the death penalty in Illinois, in part because of the increased costs of capital punishment over life in prison and the risks of executing an innocent person.

(B. Roberts, “Death Penalty’s Expensive, Lawyers Recommend Ending It,” WBBM News, January 14, 2009). See New Voices and Costs.