Decision time finally awaits Jodi Arias

Editorial by Ashley Heil

Jodi Arias’ previous jury was unable to agree if she should be sentenced to a lifetime behind bars or if she should be given the death sentence for the gruesome way she murdered Travis Alexander in 2008.

Under the Arizona law this means a new jury will be chosen and then the case will continue to move forward but this process could take months before the final decision is reached.  Therefore, the time and money invested in it would be counterproductive for the state of Arizona as well as potentially end her opportunity to help others the way she has from behind bars.

This case continues to be prolonged because the prosecutors have nothing to lose.   According to worldnew.com the case has cost Arizona taxpayers more than $1.7 million so far.   The Arizona Department of Corrections reported it costs $24,805 per year to keep a house a prisoner.  This means that $1.7 million would cover the Mrs. Aria’s prison related costs for 80 more years if she lived that long.

Why should Jodi Arias fate be determined by someone other than herself? Who has the right to decide who should live and die in this world? Especially since most murders throughout the USA are automatically sentenced to life in prison bypassing the death penalty. Since 1976 the Death penalty Information Center recorded that only 34 people have been executed in the state of Arizona where Arias is on trial.

The only reason Jodi Arias’ case is different than all other murder cases is because it was considered cruel, heinous, and depraved which under the Arizona court of law calls for the death sentence to be an option. At the beginning of the trail Mrs. Arias was found lying multiple times about the death and her presence and told the police in 2008, “If I killed Travis I would beg for the death penalty.”

On the 21st of May 2013 Jodi pleaded for the death sentence stating that death was the ultimate escape and then she would finally be free. According to the USA Today on May 24th Arias states, “Though I meant it, I lacked perspective, to me life in prison was the most unappealing outcome….but as I stand here now, I cannot in good conscience ask you to sentence me to death because of them,” she said as she pointed to her family.

Other than for financial reasons there are many benefits to seeing her live. Since going to jail she has been selling t-shirts to raise money for domestically abused patients and she would like to offer classes to help the victims. She also has donated hair to Locks of Love and will continue to do so throughout her time behind bars. Finally she wants to be able to teach other inmates Spanish and make herself useful to the community. Today Arias wishes she had not met Alexander because then she would be free to live her life as a future wife and mother.