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Death penalty sentences plunge to historic lows in 2011

By Liz Goodwin | The Lookout – Thu, Dec 15, 2011

Troy Davis (Georgia Dept of Corrections/AP)For the first time in decades, fewer than 100 people were sentenced to death in America this year.

Seventy-eight people were handed the death sentence in courts in 2011--the lowest number since the Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1978, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Death sentences have been declining since 1998, the advocacy group says, when around 300 people per year were sentenced to death. Executions have also been declining: Forty-three people were put to death this year--a 50 percent decline from 10 years ago, when 85 were executed.

A majority of Americans say they support the death penalty in public opinion polls, but that margin of support has eroded over the past 20 years from 80 percent to about 60 percent now.

This year, Illinois abolished the death penalty entirely, and Oregon's governor John Kitzhaber announced a moratorium on executions while he's in office. The execution of Troy Davis, a Georgia inmate who maintained his innocence, rallied death penalty opponents who said the punishment needs to be abolished. About 3,200 people are on death row in America, with more than 700 of them in California. Thirty-four states use the punishment.

Death penalty opinion poll (Gallup)
Scott Burns, executive director of the National District Attorneys Association, told NPR that death sentences may be falling because prosecutors are turning to life without parole sentences instead--an option that didn't exist 30 years ago. "Victims and prosecutors and others have unfortunately have come to learn that the death sentence really means 25 years of appeals and habeas and more appeals, and the penalty is seldom imposed," Burns told NPR. Violent crime has also dropped sharply over the past two decades.

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257 comments

Robert S • Indianapolis, United States • 5 mths ago
A 21 year old man and his 7 year old niece were murdered in central Indiana this week, both shot execution style in the back of the head. Public executions for murderes need to be brought back.
kerrick • Fairfield, United States • 5 mths ago
if you truly want to know why they do this its because you cant charge the tax payer for a dead person so they let them live to make money off you !
- BigE 5 mths ago
  well although on paper it SOUNDS good..... it is a bit flawed..... they could and WOULD make plenty off the criminals that are let go early and often because of lack of space/funding if they actually followed through with executions and freed up some space
Donkey Pooh Dooh • 5 mths ago
Make it easier for life long criminals to receive the death penalty. 3 strikes your dead. Working tax payers shouldnt be burdened with housing these low lifes.
IB • Frankfurt, Germany • 5 mths ago
Murderers should be put to death. Molesters should be castrated.
- imfoxygirl 5 mths ago
  Fry them both!
KODIAK57 • Ithaca, United States • 5 mths ago
WHY, WHY, WHY aren't we frying these dirtbags?
- Boomer 5 mths ago
  Because they FRIED some innocent ones, Kodiak. They're no longer rushing to fry them. Them want to make sure they're frying the RIGHT guy. Do you have a problem with that?
- Todd 5 mths ago
  Boomer... name one, just one innocent person that was executed in the US justice system...
- jukeN 5 mths ago
  because your're a dirt bag and frying u would be a waste of energy.
More

Reply
GLW • Danville, United States • 5 mths ago
To those that say the death penalty is not a deterrent to crime...I agree. Why? Because it isn't given often enough, it takes far too long to administer, and it doesn’t get enough publicity when it does occur. Today, crime certainly does pay. The odds are fairly good that a criminal won’t get arrested. If they do, the odds are good that they won’t be charged. If they are the odds are they will never end up in court. If they do, the odds are good that they will plea bargain out of it. If they don’t, the odds are fairly good that they will not be convicted. If they are, the odds are that they will receive a light sentence, if not just probation. If they are sent to jail, they won’t be there for more an a fraction of their sentence. How many times have you read about a 19 year old convicted felon being arrested for another crime? What the hell is he doing out of jail? In my state armed robbery is not a felony unless the stolen property is valued at more than $500#$%$
- DanceDiva 5 mths ago
  This is true. In order to have rules, we must have punishment. To have punishment we must have a fear of some sort. We are lacking in that fear-our legal system is not always respected the way it should be. By making everything so civilized we are ultimately hurting ourselves? Too harsh of laws and you have a rioting country. Too slack you have a society like you described. We need to find a balance...you know?
Midwesterner • 5 mths ago
Sure they should be preserved behind bars. So what if they escape and unlease a heinous bloodbath on some innocents. What are the chances that it would be myself or someone I know?
chris j • Dayton, United States • 5 mths ago
isnt the story, the cost of not using capitol punishment hits record highs?
JeanL • Bakersfield, United States • 5 mths ago
I don't understand why a death PENALTY has to be painless. A bullet to the head makes it "over." Last time I had a tooth extracted, the Dr. said, "Count backward from 100." At 98 it was over. No pain. nothing. When I came to... another story. Once you're out, THERE IS NO PAIN.
Dan • Los Angeles, United States • 5 mths ago
Thumbs up for keeping the death penalty, thumbs down for having the death penalty not go away :P
- DanceDiva 5 mths ago
  this is serious stuff...
- Dan 5 mths ago
  I work at a hospital and see death all the time...I guess I'm immune to the seriousness
Rut • Las Vegas, United States • 5 mths ago
Capitol punishment is expensive, slow and political. It does nothing but spend huge amounts taxpayer money, drag out legal proceedings for decades, and give politicians something to thump about. It is a giant FAIL. However since vengeance is way more Christian than justice, this stupidity will continue.
spike • 5 mths ago
#$%$ now we spe\nd more mooney to keep them alive
j B • 5 mths ago
Capitol punishment is expensive, slow and political. It does nothing but spend huge amounts taxpayer money, drag out legal proceedings for decades, and give politicians something to thump about. It is a giant FAIL. However since vengeance way more Christian than justice, this stupidity will continue.
The Real Wingman • 5 mths ago
Yet we are trying to medicate Jared Lee Loughner after he killed 6 people and wounded 13.
Not to mention he pleads not guilty what a waste of time and money.
Come and Take it.. • 5 mths ago
Violent crime went up, and death penalization sentencing went down. Hmmm, sound like we are going backwards.
KevinM • 5 mths ago
Republicans don't like this news.
Alicia Holloway • Palm Springs, United States • 5 mths ago
They should use the death penalty more often. If they did, maybe people would be less inclined to do horrible things. Murderers and child molesters should all be put to death. They don't deserve to live.
Paul • Fayetteville, United States • 5 mths ago
Thats nice so we lock up these killers and we pay so they can watch TV and workout and get college degrees on the taxpayer dime!I THINK NOT!It isthe time to do something to these repeat offenders whose whole life is breaking the law!I say we don't use the Death Penalty enough!
oddball • Minneapolis, United States • 5 mths ago
Death penalty does not deter crime, so why even have it any longer? If we are to have one it should be direct and immediate if there is absolutely not doubt of guilt. No years on end stay in jail. Guilty and next day its done.
Linda M • Ooltewah, United States • 5 mths ago
This is one subject that irks me. The usa is keeping these dirt bags up, then after they get out of prison, they are put on ssi. More or less rewarding the prisoners for what they have done. Then the families of the victims have to look at these dirt bags walking the streets again, looking for their next victim. imho, pick out a deserted island, drop their #$%$ off and let them die.

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