Executions and Death Sentences Declined in 2008

By TChris, Section Death Penalty
Posted on Thu Dec 11, 2008 at 11:31:55 AM EST
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It is difficult to be happy that only 37 inmates have been executed this year (with no new executions expected before 2009), the smallest number of executions in 14 years. The controversy over lethal injection resulted in a de facto moratorium on executions for much of the year. The number of executions may increase next year as the killing machine resumes operation.

More encouraging is that only 111 defendants were sentenced to death this year, down from 115 last year. This may be further evidence that the public (at least outside of Texas, which accounted for 26 of the 37 executions) is losing its stomach for state-sanctioned killing. [more ...]

“Revelations of mistakes, cases reversed by DNA testing, all of these things have put a dent in the whole system and caused hesitation,” [Richard Deiter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center] said. “I don’t think what is happening is a moral opposition to the death penalty yet, but there is a greater scrutiny applied to the death penalty that wasn’t there before.”

The bad economy has its upside as prosecutors and the lawmakers who fund them consider whether the cost of death penalty prosecutions is worthwhile.

Mr. Deiter also said that the economic meltdown and budget constraints were dissuading prosecutors from seeking capital trials, which usually cost millions of dollars and take decades to complete.

Those "millions of dollars" are wasted as inmates languish on death row. Death penalty states struggling to cope with budget shortfalls should put an end to death penalty prosecutions and appeals.

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Executions and Death Sentences Declined in 2008 | 3 comments (3 topical)

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Check the Texas report (none / 0) (#1)
by caramel on Thu Dec 11, 2008 at 12:21:25 PM EST

here:

http://www.tcadp.org/uploads/documents/2008annualreport.pdf

just wait for the next (none / 0) (#2)
by cpinva on Thu Dec 11, 2008 at 04:12:54 PM EST

heinous crime, with unattractive defendants, and the howls for quick adjudication, followed by an equally quick execution, will come rising forth from an overstressed populace. politicians, eager to divert attention from the complete mess they've made of the economy, will be all to happy to accomodate them.

bills will be presented, in congress and state legislatures, to reduce (even further) appeal rights. this will cut the cost of death sentences, and (briefly) soothe the heaving masses.

i guarantee it.

let's face it, aside from football, petroleum and politics, what the heck else is there to do in texas?

: Sadly (none / 0) (#3)
by CDN Ctzn on Thu Dec 11, 2008 at 09:03:23 PM EST

I think you've stumbled on to something! While my limited first hand knowledge of Texas would lead me to agree with your evaluation of the State, I think the sadder conclusion you infer is that Death = Entertainment. But hey, if it worked before (as world history proves) why not now. Just look at mobs who line up outside a penetentiary on the day of an execution. You've got to know that they would likely pay anything to witness it in person!
God Bless America or at least save us from ourselves!