Question

The expenditure of time, money and sparse judicial and prosecutorial resources is often justified by claims of a powerful deterrent message embodied in the ultimate punishment- the death penalty ___
In 2010, the average time between sentencing and execution in the United States averaged nearly 15 years. A much more effective deterrent would be a sentence of life imprisonment imposed close in time to the crime.

• A. A single federal death penalty case in Philadelphia was found to cost upwards of $10 million - eight times higher than the cost of trying a death-eligible case where prosecutors seek only life imprisonment.
• B. The ethics of the issue aside, it is questionable whether seeking the death penalty is ever worth the time and resources that it takes to sentence someone to death.
• C. Apart from delaying justice, the death penalty diverts resources that could be used to help the victims' families heal.
• D. But studies repeatedly suggest that there is no meaningful deterrent effect associated with the death penalty and further, any deterrent iinpact is no doubt greatly diluted by the amount of time that, inevitably passes between the time of the conduct and the punishment.
  
• E. While some victims and their families supported and some opposed the decision, any expectation that Tsarnaev will be put to death might be misplaced.

Answer 1

The correct option is D But studies repeatedly suggest that there is no meaningful deterrent effect associated with the death penalty and further, any deterrent iinpact is no doubt greatly diluted by the amount of time that, inevitably passes between the time of the conduct and the punishment.


Option D best completes the passage.