Costs are another argument in favor of the death penalty. The mere fact that this is a death penalty case will require a longer trial. Most defendants in a death case cannot afford an attorney. Two public defenders have been appointed for their trial. It is the taxpayers who end up paying for these defenders. Jury selection takes longer and costs more than a regular trial. A jury is expected to impose the death sentence because it lasts longer than normal. In a death penalty case, you normally have a pre-trial phase that is a little more complicated than a normal trial. During the pretrial phase, forensic evidence is presented as well as the mental and social history of the accused. The trial itself lasts at least four times longer than a normal trial. After sentencing, the defendant is entitled to a series of appeals, and again, this is done at the taxpayer's expense. Finally, for incarceration, the cost of solitary confinement and the additional need for security also incur additional costs. For a sentence of life without parole, the average cost would be about $34,200 per year for about 50 years. This, added to one trial, would run into the millions. Death penalty cases are higher early in trials because of all the appeals and the length of trials in general, but over time life without parole appears to come at a higher cost. (Spangenberg, 1989) The public seems to have always supported the death penalty. In 1986, 71% favored the death penalty and 21% opposed it. There was a gradual decline in favor, perhaps because they came to believe that putting someone to death may not be a deterrent to the crime that was committed. ..... middle of paper ......eals begin. The appeal procedure can go as far as execution. (Banner, 2009) I found that both sides had some truth in their arguments. Even though this seems to violate everything we stand for as Americans, how can we allow criminals who have decided to commit suicide to remain in prison while we pay for them to live and breathe every day? This is a debate that will continue as long as there is the death penalty. If there were a faster justice system, capable of handing down sentences more quickly without someone having to wait years on death row to be executed, perhaps more people would think about their actions before committing them. Criminals know that the system is broken and that is why they take advantage of it whenever they can. If we treated convicted criminals the way they treated their victims, I think we would have less crime everywhere..