cjb comments on Abnormal Cryonics - Less Wrong

56 Post author: Will_Newsome 26 May 2010 07:43AM

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Comment author: cjb 28 May 2010 07:16:08PM 6 points [-]

It would cost less to place someone in cryonic suspension than to execute him, and in so doing we would provide a chance, however small, that a wrongful conviction could be reversed in the future.

Hm, I don't think that works -- the extra cost is from the stronger degree of evidence and exhaustive appeals process required before the inmate is killed, right? If you want to suspend the inmate before those appeals then you've curtailed their right to put together a strong defence against being killed, and if you want to suspend the inmate after those appeals then you haven't actually saved any of that money.

.. or did I miss something?

Comment author: Morendil 28 May 2010 07:48:28PM 4 points [-]

the extra cost is from the stronger degree of evidence and exhaustive appeals process required before the inmate is killed, right?

Some of it is from more expensive incarceration, but you're right. This has one detailed breakdown:

  • Extra defense costs for capital cases in trial phase $13,180,385
  • Extra payments to jurors $224,640
  • Capital post-conviction costs $7,473,556
  • Resentencing hearings $594,216
  • Prison system $169,617

However, we're assuming that with cryonics as an option the entire process would stay the same. That needn't be the case.

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