According to the Department of Justice, the Federal Government spent $36,248,000,000 on criminal justice in 2006, while local governments spent $109,205,351,000.  That amounts to nearly $146 BILLION IN ONE YEAR!  (Please use your calculator to get the exact amount.  I want you to have the experience.)

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, EACH death row inmate costs taxpayers about $90,000 MORE than having the inmate in a maximum security prison serving life without parole. 

California is reportedly strapped for money, yet California is getting ready to resume executing inmates.  Why close schools and parks and lay off state employees when the state could close its death chamber for good and reportedly save $1 BILLION in less than 5 years with that ONE change?

Instead of planning for executions and bigger prisons, please consider financing job programs to help prevent crime.  According to the Department of Labor, the number of unemployed persons has increased from 7,675,000 in April 2008 to 13,724,000 in April 2009.   Unemployed workers are more likely to be teenagers, young adults, and African-Americans.