Yesterday’s post was my modest proposal for Governor Haslam to commute all those on death row to a sentence of life without parole instead of the death penalty. The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts contacted me today with the cost of court appointed lawyers defending those facing the death penalty.

The cost to Tennessee taxpayers for the 2011-2012 fiscal year was $1,527,383.03.

Here is what that number does not include;

  • It does not include post conviction proceedings which are handled by the Post Conviction Defender.
  • The extra incurred cost by the prosecutor’s office.
  • The cost incurred in the federal court system.

There are other various costs of the death penalty. It is just food for thought.