It's time for America to grow up and learn to let go of the antiquated idea of justice through death. Prevention should be the primary goal of the courts, but the death penalty has proven itself an unsuccessful deterrent. This drawback makes the death penalty a less than rational solution to the problem of murder. Capital punishment is viewed by many as a quixotic end to a tragic situation, giving swift finality to the conflict. In reality, the death penalty is a drawn-out process of appeal after appeal, leaving the family without closure.
Life imprisonment is a faster trial and much easier and cheaper to attain.
The cost of lawyers, judges, jurors and bailiffs is incredibly high. Their time is a valuable commodity that shouldn't be wasted on a useless death machine. When considering capital punishment, the falliability of the courts must also be taken into consideration. Several times in California history, innocent people have been executed. While DNA tests and other advanced crime-solving methods make the verdicts more accurate, the courts will make mistakes.