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.
