Quote:
Originally Posted by cordoba
How does the US justice system work so slowly? He's been waiting to be tried for over a year now (and might yet be found innocent)? And you make prisoners wait decades on Death Row until you finally execute them? Seems a form of torture.
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There are a few reasons. One is that the system is overloaded. The courts are so packed with cases it can take months just to get before a judge. Another is that lawyers will sometimes ask for more time to better prepare their defense or prosecution. In the case of death row prisoners, the law requires certain legal steps to be completed before a person can actually be put to death. Those steps can take a long time especially if the prisoner continues to defend themselves. Add in other things like delays from other courts putting the execution on hold, changes in laws, new cases filed, etc and it can drag on for years.
Personally, I am opposed to the death penalty for just this reason. It costs a lot more to actually put someone to death than it does to just lock them up for life not to mention all the court resources it takes.