support the lives of --

[peppy_man]

I wrote a short essay (one paragraph).

'The advocates of capital punishment say that it would be cost effective because the government does not have to support the lives of those who were sentenced life in prison.'

Is 'support the lives of those who were sentenced life in prison' OK?

Is there any better expression to describe the situation?

[mykwyner]

...does not have to go to the expense of housing a prisoner for the rest of his life.