In states with the death penalty , the average county obtained sentences of at least 20 years in almost 51 percent of cases in which the defendant was charged with murder and convicted of murder or voluntary manslaughter . Study : Death penalty costs can average $ $ 10 million M more per year per state than life terms . 33 state legislatures have considered repealing the death penalty 2005 . Study relied on U.S. the Justice Department data from Eleven large urban counties .
Study : Death penalty costs can average $ $ 10 million M more per year per state than life terms . 33 state legislatures have considered repealing the death penalty 2005 . Study relied on U.S. the Justice Department data from Eleven large urban counties .