On average, no. Average time spent on a life sentence:
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Average time spent on death row:
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: $900,000 - $1,500,000 (life imprisonment) vs. $450,000 - $750,000 (death row)
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.
At first glance, this might make it seem like the death sentence is cheaper, but
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. So death penalty cases start off with this huge leap in expenses that more than covers the difference.
So on average, the death penalty does not save any money at all, and is significantly more expensive. Where there are savings, it's pretty minimal. Either way, doing away with the death penalty entirely would definitely save a lot of money (because no more expensive death penalty cases). You gotta ask yourself whether what amounts to personal vengeance is worth so much disproportionate public investment from a judiciary that's supposed to be disinterested and impartial.
Should criminals convicted of capital crimes be allowed to cost the public millions of dollars per case, in addition to the violence and trauma they inflicted with their original crime?
And this is without going into literal miscarriages of justice, like that
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The death penalty costs too much and risks too much.
(Argument is based on the way the U.S. does things.)