In a first-of-its-kind study on the cost of Nebraska’s death penalty, a respected economist concluded that the State of Nebraska would save $14.6 million annually if voters replace the death penalty with life imprisonment.
Dr. Ernie Goss, Professor of Economics at Creighton University, revealed the findings of his study at a press conference Monday, and detailed how the costs in capital punishment are fixed and embedded in the policy by law and by the Supreme Court. In total, the report shows that keeping the death penalty costs Nebraska approximately $14.6 million annually (in 2015 dollars) above what the state’s cost for life without parole would be. Further, each additional death penalty arraignment costs the state almost $1.5 million.
Watch the press conference and read the full report on our Resources Page!