The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, is the punishment of execution imposed on someone who has committed a capital crime. Capital crimes include murder, treason, genocide, and many other serious crimes (Did 1 of 3). More than 1,000 people were executed in the United States between 1977 and 2009. 32 states allow the death penalty and 17 do not; The last state to ban the death penalty is Maryland. The death penalty raises many controversial issues such as cost, religion, deterrence, the possibility of executing an innocent person, and the cruelty of the punishment. The death penalty is cruel and the need for retaliation is unjust, therefore it is unacceptable and should not be used. Many say that cost is no reason to end the death penalty and that, regardless of the high price, it is necessary. Some undoubtedly argue that over time, life without parole cases cost more than death penalty cases (Top 2 of 4). Indeed, these prisoners must be paid to be taken care of for many years while those sentenced to death spend less time in prison. A multitude of studies have indicated that death penalty cases cost more than life without parole cases, but "Justice for All estimates that LWOP cases will cost between $1.2 million and $3.6 million in more than equivalent death penalty cases.” The manner in which the person is executed is one of the main factors explaining the enormous cost of the death penalty. There are other less costly methods of execution, such as hanging and then reusing the rope or firing squad using voluntary weapons (does 2 of 5). It has also been said that if the stages of execution are handled correctly and efficiently, the cost of execution is less than nursing a murderer for life. Middle of paper ......n Post, June 11, 2007. Web. December 4, 2013. “The Case Against the Death Penalty.” Aclu.org. American Civil Liberties Union, December 11, 2012. Web. December 9, 2013. “The innocent and the death penalty.” Innocenceproject.org/. Innocence Project, nd Web. December 7, 2013. “Top 10 Pros and Cons.” ProCon.org. Np, April 13, 2009. Web. December 3, 2013. .Williams, Carol J. “The death penalty costs California $184 million a year, study finds.” » Latimes.com. Los Angeles Times, June 20, 2011. web. November 18. 2013. .