Capital Punishment
Capital Punishment is a profoundly complex and controversial aspect of the criminal justice system. This section provides articles that explore the history, legal frameworks, and ethical debates surrounding Capital Punishment in various jurisdictions. Correctional professionals can gain insights into the procedures, implications, and ongoing discussions about using the death penalty. Understanding Capital Punishment is crucial for those involved in its administration and those engaged in broader criminal justice reform efforts. For further context, explore related topics on supermax prisons.
Gregory Hunt’s death marks the sixth U.S. execution using nitrogen gas
Ralph Menzies, sentenced to death in 1988, was found to still understand his crime and punishment despite severe cognitive decline
Justices ruled there’s no proof the recent execution of Mikal Mahdi was botched, rejecting calls to disclose protocols ahead of Stephen Stanko’s scheduled execution
The state hasn’t executed a death row inmate since June 2012
Oscar Smith was convicted of stabbing and shooting all three victims; the case involved insurance policies, threats and a 911 call naming him
Benjamin Ritchie was put to death by lethal injection for the 2000 murder of Beech Grove Officer Bill Toney, who was shot during a foot pursuit
Glen Rogers, once eyed for a possible link to the O.J. Simpson case, was put to death by lethal injection for the killing of Tina Marie Cribbs in Tampa
The suspect allegedly strangled one man to death and severely beat another inside the Federal Transfer Center
The legislation would end a nearly 20-year pause on capital punishment in North Carolina by giving inmates a choice in execution methods
Jeffrey Hutchinson killed his girlfriend and her three children with a 12-gauge shotgun and was convicted in 2001
The judge ruled that lethal injections can’t proceed unless IDOC officials allow full press access to lethal injection drug preparation and administration
James Osgood was convicted of killing Tracy Lynn Brown and declined to appeal his sentence, saying he deserved to die
Convicted killer James Osgood says he’s ready to be executed for the 2010 killing of Tracy Lynn Brown and opposes protests in his name
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the state will be deliberate on nitrogen executions and said prison expansion has broad support
Mikal Mahdi admitted to shooting Orangeburg Officer James Myers eight times before burning his body in a shed in 2004
Ishmael Petty, already serving life for a prior inmate murder, is charged in a second prison homicide at ADX Florence in 2020
The SCI-Somerset attack on Sgt. Mark Baserman, captured on video, showed a calculated assault that prosecutors called “cold-hearted” and fit for capital punishment
Sgt. Mark Baserman died of brain injuries after being kicked and punched in a 2018 attack at SCI-Somerset; a panel of 12 jurors will decide if the inmate should face the death penalty
Dwight Eaglin, who killed Corrections Officer Darla Lathrem and an inmate during a failed escape, will face a new sentencing phase under Florida’s revised death penalty law
Under the plan, Ohio prisons would be directed to pursue lethal injection drugs in partnership with the DOJ and provide twice-yearly progress reports
Mikal Mahdi was sentenced to death for the 2004 killing of Orangeburg Officer James Myers, whom he ambushed and shot at least eight times
The change comes after a failed IV placement delayed the scheduled execution of a convicted killer in 2023
Rafael Caro Quintero, extradited from Mexico in 2022, appeared in Brooklyn court as feds weigh capital charges for the torture and murder of Agent Enrique Camarena
New DA Nathan Hochman reverses former DA George Gascón’s directive, citing the need for accountability in the most extreme murder cases
Lethal injection remains the most common method in the U.S., but states are increasingly exploring alternatives due to drug shortages and legal challenges
In late 2024, Aaron Gunches asked the Arizona Supreme Court to schedule his execution as soon as possible, saying his death sentence was “long overdue”
The state had not carried out an execution in 15 years due to legal challenges and difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs
Brad Sigmon, who killed his ex-girlfriend’s parents with a baseball bat, was shot by three volunteer Broad River Correctional Institution employees
Five states authorize firing squads, though the method has been used only three times in the past five decades
