Senator Keaveny Pre-files Legislation Seeking Study of the Death Penalty

Senator Keaveny Pre-files Legislation Seeking Study of the Death Penalty

JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis, is again sponsoring legislation, Senate Bill 652, this year that would require the State Auditor to issue a one-time report on the costs of administering the death penalty in Missouri.

This is the sixth time Sen. Keaveny has filed similar legislation examining the funds used in carrying out capital punishment. The Senator has a firm belief that the people of Missouri have a right to know how much taxpayer money is spent carrying out the death penalty.

“This is the harshest punishment that we as a society can administer to a criminal. Whether you agree with the death penalty or not, it carries high ethical obligations on the part of both the criminal justice system and the government,” said Sen. Keaveny. “We need to know all the facts about the death penalty, including the costs associated with it. There has never been a study of that kind in this state — ever. Taxpayers should know exactly what it costs to sentence someone to death in Missouri, especially when we’re dealing with a budget based on limited funds.”

In 2014, Missouri carried out 10 executions and in 2015 there were six.  Since 1976, 86 people have been executed in Missouri.  For more information about the death penalty click here orwww.deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/FactSheet.pdf.

For more information on Sen. Keaveny’s sponsored legislation for the 2016 session, visit his official Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/keaveny.