Yes, but how do you put a price on a point of principle? By “principle” I of course mean a “symbolic gesture” with little real value in deterring crime.

There are many studys/opinions on both sides.The criminals know there is the possibility of making a deal to get life instead of execution.In addition to possible deterence there is also JUSTICE and PUNISHMENT.We need to get back to BASICS,PUBLIC executions with a ROPE or a BULLET instead of a nice room where you go to sleep using outrageously expensive drugs.There are a lot of cases where there is no question that the suspect did the crime.DNA has freed many wrongly convicted people by POLITICALLY MOTIVATED PROSECUTERS.The SELFSERVING LAWYERS have made laws/language too complicated just like our tax code.