Likewise, I believe that statutes of limitations might need to be lengthened or even eliminated so that older sex offence cases can be brought to trial.
In Florida, as in other states, death row inmates spend inordinate amounts of time awaiting their final sentence: execution. The average wait time in the Sunshine State is fourteen years; many inmates will wait even longer than to meet their final day on earth. Remaining in prison for so long is not only costly for taxpayers; it poses an emotional and psychological trauma for any potentially innocent death row inmates. One way that appeals processes can be sped up is by channeling further funds into the public defense system. Monies freed up by housing the innocently convicted in jail could be better spent on improved appeals processes. When attorneys have all the resources they need, appeals processes will be far faster and more likely to succeed. Similarly, channeling more money into better public defense and prosecution would make it more likely that older sex offence crimes can be quickly dealt with in the courts.
Another way that a balance between cost and ethics can be found is by examining the constitutionality of the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. The justice must be served to each and every citizen. Permitting long appeals cases serves the best interests of the wrongfully accused, while permitting long or unlimited statutes of limitations serves the best interests of the victims of horrific crimes.
Works Cited
Becker, Jo. "Limits to death row appeals rejected." St. Petersburg Times. 15 April 2000. http://www.sptimes.com/News/041500/State/Limits_to_death_row_a.shtml.
DNA Technology Will Stop the Clock on Statute of Limitations In Sexual Assault Cases." NYC.gov. http://home.nyc.gov/portal/index.jsp?epi_menuItemID=c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0&epi_menuID=13ecbf46556241d3daf2f1c701c789a0&epi_baseMenuID=27579af732d48f86a62fa24601c789a0&pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fhome.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2003b%2Fpr217-03.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1.
Justices refine rules for old death row appeals." CNN.com. 25 Mar 2003. http://edition.cnn.com/2003/LAW/03/25/scotus.scotus.death.penalty.ap/.
Taylor, Keeanga-Yamahtta. "Supreme Court Upholds Law That Speeds Up Death Row Appeals." New Abolitionist. May 2000. http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/newab015/sCourt.html.
