This change would begin addressing the inequities in the use of the death penalty, as would other legislative pro posals filed this session. Currently, the state has no life without parole option. A convict with a life sentence is eligible for parole only after 40 years in prison, but under current law, jurors aren't told that. Jurors may opt for the death penalty because of fears that parole might be granted after a decade or so and that a killer might kill again. Not all killers deserve the same sentence.
Execution is the most expensive choice.
The price is so steep that county officials, who foot the bill, are lobbying lawmakers to create a state fund to subsidize capital murder trials in rural counties. Urban Harris County, which tries the most death-penalty cases in the state, also wants a share of the money to offset its rising court costs. That's money that could be better used on crime prevention. Then there's the cost of maintaining an inmate. Yet some lawmakers are blocking bills that would create options to execution, including bills by Sen. Eddie Lucio, D Brownsville, Rep.,Domingo Garcia, D Dallas, and Rep. Elliott Naishtat D Austin.