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Capital punishment in the United StatesFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Capital punishment in the United States, in practice, applies only foraggravated murderand more

rarely forfelony murder.[1]

Capital punishment was a penalty at common law, for many felonies, andwas enforced in all of the American colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence. Following

the American Revolutionthe Anglo-American common law was maintained in the United States,

capital punishment with it.

The methods of execution and the crimes subject to the penalty vary by jurisdiction and have varied

widely throughout time, though the most common method in recent decades has been lethal injection.

Thirty-four jurisdictions have banned it by law, others have suspended its use, and others are trying to

expand its applicability. There were 37 executions in the United States in 2008,[2] the lowest number

since 1994[3] (largely due tolethal injection litigation revolving around a now resolved constitutional

question).[4][5] There were 46 executions in 2010, 44 by lethal injection, one byelectric chair(in

Virginia), and one by firing squad (in Utah).[6] In 2010, 12 states executed 46 inmates 28 white, 13

black and 5 Hispanic prisoners; in 2009, 52 people were executed.[7]

Capital punishment has often been a contentious social issue in the United States; while historically, a

large majority of the American public has favored it in cases of murder, the extent of this support has

varied over time, and there has long been strong opposition from some sectors of the population.

While public support today is lower than it was in the 1980s and '90s (in 1994 it reached an all-time

high of 80%), it has been largely static over the past decade.[8] A 2011 Gallup poll showed 61% of

Americans favored it in cases of murder while 35% opposed it, the lowest level of support recorded by

Gallup since 1972.[9] When life in prison without paroleis listed as a poll option, the support for the

death penalty drops substantially; a 2010 Gallup poll found 49% preferring the death penalty and 46%

favoring life without parole.[10]

History

TheHuntsville Unitin Huntsville, Texas is the location of theexecution chamberof the state of Texas.

The first recorded death sentence in the British North American colonies was carried out in 1608 on

Captain George Kendall,[11]who was executed by firing squad at theJamestown colony for

allegedly spying for the Spanish government.[12]

The Espy file,[13] compiled by M. Watt Espyand John Ortiz Smykla, lists 15,269 people executed in the

United States and its predecessor colonies between 1608 and 1991. 4,661 executions occurred in the
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U.S. in the period from 1930 to 2002 with about two-thirds of the executions occurring in the first 20

years.[14] Additionally, theUnited States Armyexecuted 135 soldiers between 1916 and 1999.[15][16][17]

The largest single execution in United States history was the hanging of 38 Dakota people convicted

ofmurderand rape during the brutalDakota War of 1862. They were executed simultaneously on

December 26, 1862, in Mankato, Minnesota. A single blow from an axe cut the rope that held the large

four-sided platform, and the prisoners (except for one whose rope had broken and who had to be re-

hanged) fell to their deaths.[18]The second largest mass execution was also a hanging: the execution

of 13 African American soldiers for taking part in theHouston Riot in 1917. The largest non-military

public mass execution in one of the original thirteen colonies occurred in 1723, when 26

convicted pirateswere hanged inNewport, Rhode Islandby order of the Admiralty Court.[19]

[edit]States without capital punishment

[edit]Michigan

Historically, several states have always been without capital punishment, the earliest beingMichigan,

which has not conducted an execution since it entered the Union. (However, one federal

executionoccurred in Michigan in 1938.) Shortly after attaining statehood, Michigan abolished the

death penalty for ordinary crimes, becoming the first English-speaking government in the world to

abolish the death penalty for all crimes excepttreason.[20][21][22]In 1963, Michigan amended its

constitution to prevent later attempts at reinstatement. Every attempt throughreferendums and

voterinitiatives to reinstate the penalty since 1963 has failed, the latest being a failed attempt at a

referendum in 2004.[23]

[edit]Alaska and Hawaii

The newest two states, Alaska and Hawaii, abolished the death penalty prior to statehood. Alaska,

however, had executed eight men during the earlier territorial government (19001959) and even

earlier "Miner's Courts" had executed a number of men in the 19th century.[24]

[edit]Other states

Other states with long tenures of no death penalty include Wisconsin(with the distinction of being the

only state to perform a single state-level execution in its history, and also the first to abolish the death

penalty for all crimes),Rhode Island (although later reintroduced, it was unused and abolished

again), Maine, North Dakota, Minnesota,West Virginia, Iowa, andVermont. The District of

Columbia has also abolished the death penalty; it was last applied there in 1957. One state, Oregon,

abolished the death penalty through an overwhelming majority in a 1964 public referendum,[25] but

reinstated it in a 1984 joint death penalty/life imprisonment referendumby an even higher margin, after

a similar1978 referendumsucceeded but was not implemented due to judicial rulings.
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[edit]Recent abolition

As of March 2011, the following U.S. states have fully abolished the death penalty: Alaska, Hawaii,

Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island,

Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The District of Columbia has also abolished the death penalty;

New Mexico may yet execute two condemned inmates sentenced prior to abolition. In Illinois, where

recent abolition legislation took effect on July 1, 2011, all former death row inmates have been moved

to regular jail cells.[26]

Only three of the above states have legislatively abolished the death penalty in the so-called "modern

era of capital punishment", and only two have attained de facto abolition through their state judiciaries;

the remainder either abolished capital punishment before the moratorium was lifted, or had statutes

that were struck down and did not reinstate the death penalty.

In 2007, New Jersey became the first state to repeal the death penalty in the modern system of capital

punishment,[27] followed by New Mexicoin 2009 (though not retroactively, permitting the future

execution of two inmates on the state's death row), and Illinoisin 2011 (with the Governor commuting

the death sentences of all death row inmates).[28][29][30]However, in states with a large death

rowpopulation and regular executions, including Texas,[31][32] the death penalty remains strongly in the

landscape and is unlikely to end at any time soon.[33][34][35][36][37][38]

Four states in the modern era, Nebraska in 2008, New York and Kansas in 2004,

andMassachusetts in 1984, had their statutes ruled unconstitutional by state courts. The death rows

of New York and Massachusetts were disestablished. Of the four states, only Nebraska has performed

executions since the constitutionality of capital punishment was affirmed by the Supreme Court in

1976, the four states having done so last in 1997, 1963, 1965, and 1947, respectively. In New York

and Massachusetts, attempts to restore the death penalty were unsuccessful,[39][40] while

Kansassuccessfully appealedState v. Kleypas, the Kansas Supreme Courtdecision that declared the

state's death penalty statute unconstitutional, to theU.S. Supreme Court-- and death sentences

continue to be sought. New York had previously abolished the death penalty temporarily, in 1860.

[41] Nebraska has performed three executions since 1976, all in the 1990s; its statute has been

ineffective since February 8, 2008, when the method used, electrocution, was ruled unconstitutional by

the Nebraska Supreme Court. However, Nebraska since enacted bill providing executions by lethal

injection.

The only jurisdictions with constitutional death penalty statutes that have not performed an execution

since 1976 are New Hampshire, Kansas, and theUnited States military, although all have populated

death rows.

[edit]Puerto Rico
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nited_States#cite_note-39http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_v._Marshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_Supreme_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-NY_law_of_1860-40http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Nebraskahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska_Supreme_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_by_the_United_States_militaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=7


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The U.S. territory ofPuerto Ricohas no death penalty. Puerto Rico instituted a four-year moratorium

on the use of the death penalty in 1917. The last execution took place in 1927 and thePuerto Rican

legislatureabolished the death penalty in 1929.[42]

Puerto Rico's constitution expressly forbids capital punishment, stating "The death penalty shall not

exist", setting it apart from all US states and territories other than Michigan, which also has a

constitutional prohibition (eleven other states and the District of Columbia have abolished capital

punishment through statutory law); however, capital punishment is still applicable to offenses

committed in Puerto Rico, if they fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government, though federal

death penalty prosecutions that have occurred in Puerto Rico have generated significant controversy.

[43]

[edit]Suspension by Supreme Court

Further information:Furman v. Georgia

Executions in the US since 1960

Capital punishment was suspended in the United States from 1972 through 1976 primarily as a result

of the Supreme Court's decision inFurman v. Georgia, 408U.S.238 (1972). The lastpre-

Furman execution was that ofLuis Mongeon June 2, 1967. In this case, the court found the imposition

of the death penalty in a consolidated group of cases to be unconstitutional, on the grounds ofcruel

and unusual punishment in violation of the eighth amendment to the United States Constitution.

In Furman, theUnited States Supreme Court considered a group of consolidated cases. The lead case

involved an individual convicted under Georgia's death penalty statute, which featured a "unitary trial"procedure in which the jury was asked to return a verdict of guilt or innocence and, simultaneously,

determine whether the defendant would be punished by death or life imprisonment.

In a five-to-four decision, the Supreme Court struck down the imposition of the death penalties in each

of the consolidated cases as unconstitutional. The five justices in the majority did not produce a

common opinion or rationale for their decision, however, and agreed only on a short statement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_Assembly_of_Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_Assembly_of_Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_Assembly_of_Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_Assembly_of_Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-42http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furman_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furman_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furman_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furman_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://supreme.justia.com/us/408/238/case.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Mongehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Mongehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Mongehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconstitutionalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruel_and_unusual_punishmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruel_and_unusual_punishmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Supreme_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Supreme_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_executions.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_executions.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_Assembly_of_Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_Assembly_of_Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-42http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furman_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furman_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://supreme.justia.com/us/408/238/case.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Mongehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconstitutionalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruel_and_unusual_punishmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruel_and_unusual_punishmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Supreme_Court


5/28

announcing the result. The narrowest opinions, those ofByron WhiteandPotter Stewart, expressed

generalized concerns about the inconsistent application of the death penalty across a variety of cases

but did not exclude the possibility of a constitutional death penalty law. Stewart andWilliam O.

Douglas worried explicitly about racial discrimination in enforcement of the death penalty.Thurgood

Marshall and William J. Brennan, Jr. expressed the opinion that the death penalty was proscribed

absolutely by the Eighth Amendment as "cruel and unusual" punishment.

Though many observers expected few, if any, states to readopt the death penalty afterFurman,[citation

needed] 37 states did in fact enact new death penalty statutes which attempted to address the concerns

of White and Stewart. Some of the states responded by enacting "mandatory" death penalty statutes

which prescribed a sentence of death for anyone convicted of certain forms of murder (White had

hinted such a scheme would meet his constitutional concerns in his Furman opinion).

Other states adopted "bifurcated" trial and sentencing procedures, with various procedural limitations

on the jury's ability to pronounce a death sentence designed to limit juror discretion. The Court

clarified Furman in Woodson v. North Carolina, 428 U.S.280 (1976) and Roberts v.

Louisiana, 428U.S.325(1976), 431U.S.633( 1977), which explicitly forbade any state from

punishing a specific form of murder (such as that of a police officer) with a mandatory death penalty.

Capital Punishment Since 1976

(by jurisdiction)

Jurisdiction Executions[nb 1]Current death

row inmates[nb

2]

Texas 478 321

Virginia 109 11

Oklahoma 97 76

Florida 72 398

Missouri 68 50

Alabama 55 206

Georgia 52 103

Ohio 46 159

North Carolina 43 165
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_Whitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_Whitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potter_Stewarthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potter_Stewarthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_O._Douglashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_O._Douglashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_O._Douglashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurgood_Marshallhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurgood_Marshallhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurgood_Marshallhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Brennan,_Jr.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodson_v._North_Carolinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://supreme.justia.com/us/428/280/case.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberts_v._Louisianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberts_v._Louisianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://supreme.justia.com/us/428/325/case.htmlhttp://supreme.justia.com/us/428/325/case.htmlhttp://supreme.justia.com/us/428/325/case.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://supreme.justia.com/us/431/633/case.htmlhttp://supreme.justia.com/us/431/633/case.htmlhttp://supreme.justia.com/us/431/633/case.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref1-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref2-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref2-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Texashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Virginiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahomahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Oklahomahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floridahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Floridahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missourihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Missourihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Alabamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(U.S._state)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Ohiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_North_Carolinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_Whitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potter_Stewarthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_O._Douglashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_O._Douglashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurgood_Marshallhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurgood_Marshallhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Brennan,_Jr.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodson_v._North_Carolinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://supreme.justia.com/us/428/280/case.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberts_v._Louisianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberts_v._Louisianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://supreme.justia.com/us/428/325/case.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://supreme.justia.com/us/431/633/case.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref1-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref2-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref2-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Texashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Virginiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahomahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Oklahomahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floridahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Floridahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missourihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Missourihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Alabamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(U.S._state)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Ohiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_North_Carolina


6/28


(by jurisdiction)


row inmates[nb

2]

South Carolina 43 63

Louisiana 28 86

Arizona 28 138

Arkansas 27 43

Indiana 20 14

Mississippi 16 60

Delaware 15 20

California 13 721

Illinois 12 0[nb 3]

Nevada 12 81

Utah 7 9

Tennessee 6 87

Maryland 5 5

Washington 5 8

Nebraska 3 12

Pennsylvania 3 219

Federal govt 3 61

Montana 3 2

Kentucky 3 36
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_South_Carolinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Louisianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizonahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Arizonahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Arkansashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Indianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Mississippihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delawarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Delawarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_California#Post-Gregg_executionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinoishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Illinoishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-QuinnSignsAbolition-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Nevadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Utahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennesseehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Tennesseehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marylandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Maryland#Post-Gregg_exectionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_(state)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Washingtonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraskahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Nebraskahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Pennsylvaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_by_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Montanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentuckyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Kentuckyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_South_Carolinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Louisianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizonahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Arizonahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Arkansashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Indianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Mississippihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delawarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Delawarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_California#Post-Gregg_executionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinoishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Illinoishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-QuinnSignsAbolition-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Nevadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Utahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennesseehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Tennesseehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marylandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Maryland#Post-Gregg_exectionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_(state)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Washingtonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraskahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Nebraskahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Pennsylvaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_by_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Montanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentuckyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Kentucky


7/28


(by jurisdiction)


row inmates[nb

2]

Idaho 2 15

Oregon 2 34

Colorado 1 4

Connecticut 1 10

New Mexico 1 2[nb 4]

South Dakota 1 3

Wyoming 1 1

Kansas 0 9

New Hampshire 0 1

U.S. Military 0 6

Total[nb 5] 1,281 3,250

No current death penalty statute : Alaska, Hawaii,Illinois[nb3],Iowa, Maine,Michigan,Minnesota,New Jersey,New

Mexico[nb 4],North Dakota,Rhode Island,Vermont,West

Virginia,Wisconsin,District of Columbia,American

Samoa,Guam,Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico,

and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Statute ruled unconstitutional:Massachusetts[nb 6]andNew

York[nb 7].

Notes:

1. ^As of February 15, 2012;source

2. ^As of January 1, 2011;source

3. ^ ab"Quinn signs death penalty ban,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idahohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Idahohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Oregonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coloradohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Coloradohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticuthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Connecticuthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_New_Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref4-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakotahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_South_Dakotahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyominghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Wyominghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Kansashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_New_Hampshire#List_of_those_executedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_by_the_United_States_militaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref5-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref5-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinoishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinoishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-QuinnSignsAbolition-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-QuinnSignsAbolition-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-QuinnSignsAbolition-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michiganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michiganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesotahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesotahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesotahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jerseyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref4-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakotahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Islandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Islandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermonthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermonthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermonthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Mariana_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Mariana_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Virgin_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Virgin_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusettshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusettshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref6-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Yorkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Yorkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Yorkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Yorkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref3-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref3-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref1_43-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref1_43-0http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=8&did=186http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=8&did=186http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref2_44-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref2_44-0http://deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=9&did=188#statehttp://deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=9&did=188#statehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-QuinnSignsAbolition_45-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-QuinnSignsAbolition_45-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-QuinnSignsAbolition_45-1http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/03/quinn-signs-death-penalty-ban-commutes-15-death-row-sentences-to-life.htmlhttp://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/03/quinn-signs-death-penalty-ban-commutes-15-death-row-sentences-to-life.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idahohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Idahohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Oregonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coloradohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Coloradohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticuthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Connecticuthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_New_Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref4-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakotahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_South_Dakotahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyominghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Wyominghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Kansashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_New_Hampshire#List_of_those_executedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_by_the_United_States_militaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref5-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinoishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-QuinnSignsAbolition-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-QuinnSignsAbolition-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michiganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesotahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jerseyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref4-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakotahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Islandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermonthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Mariana_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Virgin_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusettshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref6-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Yorkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Yorkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-ref3-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref1_43-0http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=8&did=186http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref2_44-0http://deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=9&did=188#statehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-QuinnSignsAbolition_45-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-QuinnSignsAbolition_45-1http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/03/quinn-signs-death-penalty-ban-commutes-15-death-row-sentences-to-life.html


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(by jurisdiction)


row inmates[nb

2]

commutes 15 death row sentences to life".Chicago

Tribune. March 9, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2011.

4. ^ ab On March 18, 2009, New Mexico

banned the use of the death penalty, but the new law

did not affect the sentences of the two inmates

currently on death row, and the ban is not retroactive

meaning those convicted of crimes committed before

July 1, 2009 may still be sentenced to death under the

pre-existing death penalty statute.[1]

5. ^Some inmates are on death row in more

than one state, so the total may be lower than sum of

state numbers.

6. ^Massachusetts's death penalty statute was

ruled unconstitutional in 1984.sourceThe most recent

execution was in 1947. The state has no death row.

7. ^On June 24, 2004, the death penalty

statute ofNew Yorkwas declared unconstitutional.

The last person who was still on death row was re-

sentenced to life in prison without parole on October

24, 2007.sourceThe most recent execution was in

1963. The state has no death row.

This box:

view

talk

edit

[edit]Capital punishment resumed

Further information:Gregg v. Georgia
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/03/quinn-signs-death-penalty-ban-commutes-15-death-row-sentences-to-life.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribunehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribunehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribunehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref4_46-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref4_46-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref4_46-1http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/18/new-mexico-bans-death-pen_n_176666.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref5_47-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref5_47-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref6_48-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref6_48-0http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/subject/about/death.htmlhttp://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/subject/about/death.htmlhttp://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/subject/about/death.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref3_49-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref3_49-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Yorkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Yorkhttp://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/10/24/2007-10-24_wendys_massacre_killer_john_taylor_escap.htmlhttp://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/10/24/2007-10-24_wendys_massacre_killer_john_taylor_escap.htmlhttp://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/10/24/2007-10-24_wendys_massacre_killer_john_taylor_escap.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:US_executionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:US_executionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:US_executions&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_v._Georgiahttp://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/03/quinn-signs-death-penalty-ban-commutes-15-death-row-sentences-to-life.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribunehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribunehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref4_46-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref4_46-1http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/18/new-mexico-bans-death-pen_n_176666.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref5_47-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref6_48-0http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/subject/about/death.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-ref3_49-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Yorkhttp://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/10/24/2007-10-24_wendys_massacre_killer_john_taylor_escap.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:US_executionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:US_executionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:US_executions&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_v._Georgia


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In 1976, contemporaneously with Woodson and Roberts, the Court decidedGregg v.

Georgia, 428U.S.153 (1976) and upheld a procedure in which the trial of capital crimes was

bifurcated into guilt-innocence and sentencing phases. At the first proceeding, the jury decides the

defendant's guilt; if the defendant is innocent or otherwise not convicted of first-degree murder, the

death penalty will not be imposed. At the second hearing, the jury determines whether certain statutory

aggravating factors exist, and whether any mitigating factors exist, and, in many jurisdictions, weigh

the aggravating and mitigating factors in assessing the ultimate penalty either death or life in prison,

either with or without parole.

The 1977 Coker v. Georgia decision barred the death penalty forrape, and, by implication, for any

offense other than murder. The current federal kidnapping statute, however, may be exempt because

the death penalty applies if the victim expires in the perpetrator's custody, not necessarily by his hand,

thus stipulating a resulting death, which was the wording of the objection. In addition, the federal

government retains the death penalty for such non-murder offenses as treason, espionage and crimes

under military jurisdiction; there has been no challenge to these statutes as of 2007.

Executions resumed on January 17, 1977, when Gary Gilmorewent before afiring squadinUtah. But

the pace was quite halting due to use of litigation tactics which involved filing repeated writs forhabeas

corpus, which succeeded for many in delaying their actual execution for many years. Although

hundreds of individuals were sentenced to death in the U.S. during the 1970s and early 1980s, only

ten people besides Gilmore (who had waived all of his appeal rights) were actually executed prior to

1984.

The United States Supreme Court, though, has placed two major restrictions on the use of the death

penalty. First, the Supreme Court case ofAtkins v. Virginia, decided June 20, 2002,[44]held that

executions ofmentally retarded criminals are "cruel and unusual punishments" prohibited by the Eighth

Amendment. Generally, a person with an IQ below 70 is considered to be mentally retarded. Prior to

this decision, between 1984 and 2002 forty-fourmentally retardedinmates were executed.[45]

Second, in 2005 the Supreme Court's decision inRoper v. Simmons, 543U.S.551(2005), abolished

executions for persons under the age of 18 at the time of the crime.

New Mexico repealed its death penalty statute on March 17, 2009, becoming the second state (after

New Jersey) to abolish the death penalty since executions resumed in 1976 (However, the only

prisoner executed after 1976 wanted to be executed). The law, signed by GovernorBill Richardson,

took effect on July 1, 2009 and replaces the death penalty with a life sentence without the possibility of

parole. The law, though, is not retroactive inmates currently on New Mexico's Death Row and

persons convicted of capital offenses committed before this date may still be sentenced to death under

New Mexico's pre-existing death penalty statute.[46]Connecticutis considering legislation to abolish its
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://supreme.justia.com/us/428/153/case.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitigating_factorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coker_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Gilmorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Gilmorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_by_firing_squadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_by_firing_squadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_by_firing_squadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkins_v._Virginiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentally_retardedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruel_and_unusual_punishmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence_quotienthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentally_retardedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentally_retardedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roper_v._Simmonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roper_v._Simmonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roper_v._Simmonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://supreme.justia.com/us/543/551/case.htmlhttp://supreme.justia.com/us/543/551/case.htmlhttp://supreme.justia.com/us/543/551/case.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Richardsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-52http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-52http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticuthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticuthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticuthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://supreme.justia.com/us/428/153/case.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitigating_factorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coker_v._Georgiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Gilmorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_by_firing_squadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkins_v._Virginiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentally_retardedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruel_and_unusual_punishmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence_quotienthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentally_retardedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roper_v._Simmonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Reportshttp://supreme.justia.com/us/543/551/case.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Richardsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States#cite_note-52http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut


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death penalty in the current legislative session. A bill to abolish the death penalty was vetoed by

former governorM. Jodi Rell in June 2009 after it easily passed in the General Assembly.[47] Current

governorDan Malloy indicated he would sign a bill abolishing the death penalty if it was passed by the

General Assembly.[48]

Possibly in part due to expedited federal habeas corpus procedures embodied in the Antiterrorism and

Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the pace of executions has picked up. Since the death penalty

was reauthorized in 1976, 1,280 people have been executed, almost exclusively by the states, with

most occurring after 1990. Texas has accounted for over a third of modern executions[31][32] (and over

four times as many as Virginia, the state with the second-highest number); California has the greatest

number of prisoners on death row, but has held relatively few executions. See the table for executions

and death row inmates by jurisdiction.

[edit]New concerns post-Furman

In the decades since Furman, new questions have emerged about whether or not prosecutorial

arbitrariness has replaced sentencing arbitrariness. A study by Pepperdine University School of Law

published in Temple Law Review, Unpredictable Doom and Lethal Injustice: An Argument for Greater

Transparency in Death Penalty Decisions," surveyed the decision-making process among prosecutors

in various states. The authors found that prosecutors' capital punishment filing decisions remain

marked by local idiosyncrasies, suggesting they are not in keeping with the spirit of the Supreme

Courts directive. This means that the very types of unfairness that the Supreme Court sought to

eliminate may still infect capital cases. Wide prosecutorial discretion remains because of overly

broad criteria. California law, for example, has 22 special circumstances, making nearly all

premeditated murders potential capital cases. The 37 death penalty states have varying numbers and

types of death qualifiers circumstances that allow for capital charges. The number varies from a

high of 34 in California to 22 in Colorado and Delaware to 12 in Texas, Nebraska, Georgia and

Montana. The study's authors call for reform of state procedures along the lines of reforms in the

federal system, which the U.S. Department of Justice initiated with a 1995 protocol.[49]

[edit]Crimes subject to capital punishment

Crimes subject to the death penalty vary by jurisdiction. All jurisdictions that use capital punishment

designate the highest grade ofmurdera capital crime, although most jurisdictions require aggravating

circumstances. Treason against the United States, as well as treason against the states of Arkansas,

California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Washington are capital offenses.[50]

Other capital crimes include: the use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in

death, espionage,terrorism, certain violations of the Geneva Conventions that result in the death of
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Crime Convict Date State

1941

Criminal assault Rudolph WrightJanuary 11,

1962California

Concealing the birth/death of

an infantHannah Piggen 1785 Massachusetts (Middlesex County)

Conspiracy to Commit Murder Five unnamed Yuki men July 21, 1863 California[60]

Counterfeiting Thomas DavisOctober 11,

1822Alabama

Desertion Eddie SlovikJanuary 31,

1945

Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines,Franc

e(Firing squad).[61]

Espionage Ethel and Julius Rosenberg June 19, 1953 New York(Federal execution)

Forgery Unknown defendant March 6, 1840 South Carolina

Horse stealing (Grand

Larceny)Theodore Velenquez

January 30,

1852California[62]

Kidnapping Billy MonkNovember 21,

1960California

Piracy (Slave Trading) Nathaniel Gordon

February 21,

1862 New York (Federal execution)

Rape Ronald Wolfe[63] May 8, 1964 Missouri

Robbery James Coburn September 4, Alabama
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Crime Convict Date State

1964

Slave revoltCaesar, Sam, and Sanford

(slaves)

October 19,

1860Alabama

Theft Jake (slave)December 3,

1855Alabama

Train Robbery Black Jack Ketchum April 26, 1901New Mexico Territory

Treason John Conn 1862 Texas

Sodomy/buggery/bestiality Joseph RossDecember 20,

1785

Pennsylvania(Westmoreland

County)

Witchcraft Manuel[64][64] June 15, 1779 Illinois Country(present-dayIllinois)

[edit]The legal process

The legal administration of the death penalty in the United States is complex. Typically, it involves four

critical steps: (1) sentencing, (2) direct review, (3) state collateral review, and (4) federalhabeas

corpus. Recently, a narrow and final fifth level of process(5) the Section 1983challengehas

become increasingly important.[65] (Clemency orpardon, through which the GovernororPresidentof

thejurisdiction can unilaterally reduce or abrogate a death sentence, is anexecutiverather

thanjudicialprocess.[66]) The number of new death sentences handed down peaked in 1995-1996

(309). There were 104 new death sentences handed down in 2010, the lowest number since 1973

(44).[67]

[edit]Direct review

If a defendant is sentenced to death at the trial level, the case then goes into a direct review.[68] The

direct review process is a typical legalappeal. An appellate court examines the record of evidence

presented in the trial court and the law that the lower court applied and decides whether the decision

was legally sound or not.[69] Direct review of a capital sentencing hearing will result in one of three

outcomes. If the appellate court finds that no significant legal errors occurred in the capital sentencing
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hearing, the appellate court will affirm the judgment, or let the sentence stand.[68] If the appellate court

finds that significant legal errors did occur, then it will reverse the judgment, or nullify the sentence and

order a new capital sentencing hearing. [70] Lastly, if the appellate court finds that no reasonable juror

could find the defendant eligible for the death penalty, a rarity, then it will order the defendant

acquitted, or not guilty, of the crime for which he/she was given the death penalty, and order him

sentenced to the next most severe punishment for which the offense is eligible.[70] About 60% survive

the process of direct review intact. [71]

[edit]State collateral review

At times when a death sentence is affirmed on direct review, it is considered final. Yet, supplemental

methods to attack the judgment, though less familiar than a typical appeal, do remain. These

supplemental remedies are considered collateral review, that is, an avenue for upsetting judgments

that have become otherwise final.[72] Where the prisoner received his death sentence in a state-level

trial, as is usually the case, the first step in collateral review is state collateral review. (If the case is a

federal death penalty case, it proceeds immediately from direct review to federal habeas corpus.)

Although all states have some type of collateral review, the process varies widely from state to state.

[73] Generally, the purpose of these collateral proceedings is to permit the prisoner to challenge his

sentence on grounds that could not have been raised reasonably at trial or on direct review.[74] Most

often these are claims, such as ineffective assistance of counsel, which require the court to consider

new evidence outside the original trial record, something courts may not do in an ordinary appeal.

State collateral review, though an important step in that it helps define the scope of subsequent review

through federal habeas corpus, is rarely successful in and of itself. Only around 6% of death

sentences are overturned on state collateral review.[75]In 2010, the death sentences of 53 inmates

were overturned as a result of legal appeals or high court reversals.[76]

[edit]Federal habeas corpus

After a death sentence is affirmed in state collateral review, the prisoner may file for federal habeas

corpus, which is a unique type of lawsuit that can be brought in federal courts. Federal habeas corpus

is a species of collateral review, and it is the only way that state prisoners may attack a death

sentence in federal court (other than petitions forcertiorari to the United States Supreme Court after

both direct review and state collateral review). The scope of federal habeas corpus is governed by

the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, which restricted significantly its previous

scope. The purpose of federal habeas corpus is to ensure that state courts, through the process of

direct review and state collateral review, have done at least a reasonable job in protecting the

prisoner's federalconstitutional rights. Prisoners may also use federal habeas corpus suits to bring
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forth new evidence that they are innocent of the crime, though to be a valid defense at this late stage

in the process, evidence of innocence must be truly compelling.[77]

Review through federal habeas corpus is narrow in theory, but it is important in practice. According to

Eric Freedman, 21% of death penalty cases are reversed through federal habeas corpus.[75]

James Lieberman, a professor of law at Columbia Law School, stated in 1996 that his study found that

when habeas corpus petitions in death penalty cases were traced from conviction to completion of the

case that there was "a 40 percent success rate in all capital cases from 1978 to 1995."[78] Similarly, a

study by Ronald Tabek in a law review article puts the success rate in habeas corpus cases involving

death row inmates even higher, finding that between "1976 and 1991, approximately 47% of the

habeas petitions filed by death row inmates were granted." [79]The different numbers are largely

definitional, rather than substantive. Freedam's statistics looks at the percentage of all death penalty

cases reversed, while the others look only at cases not reversed prior to habeas corpus review.

A similar process is available for prisoners sentenced to death by the judgment of a federal court.[80]

[edit]Section 1983 contested

Under theAntiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, a state prisoner is ordinarily only allowed one

suit for habeas corpus in federal court. If the federal courts refuse to issue awritof habeas corpus,

anexecution date may be set. In recent times, however, prisoners have postponed execution through

a final round of federal litigation using the Civil Rights Act of 1871 codified at 42 U.S.C. 1983

which allows people

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