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
Lisa Montgomery is scheduled to be the first female inmate put to death by the U.S. government in more than six decades
Donnie Rowe and Ricky Dubose are charged with killing COs Christopher Monica and Curtis Billue while escaping from a prison bus in 2017
Justices said the arguments from Briley Piper were “untimely” and didn’t contest his guilt
The U.S. Supreme Court sided with Bobby James Moore last year, saying that it would be unconstitutional to execute him because of his mental disability
Tommy P. Holland is charged with murder in the stabbing of Clifford Baggett at the Pendleton Correctional Facility
Pervis Payne has always maintained his innocence in the 1987 stabbing deaths of a woman and her 2-year-old daughter
The report also takes aim at the federal government’s scheduling of executions
The Navajo Nation said Lezmond Mitchell’s execution highlights a need to restore tribes’ ability to determine criminal justice matters on tribal land
Lezmond Mitchell, 38, expressed no remorse during the public portion of the execution
Many Navajos are hoping for last-minute intervention by President Trump to halt the execution
The Navajo government is asking officials to spare Lezmond Mitchell’s life on the basis of cultural beliefs and sovereignty
The claim Wesley Purkey may have felt a sensation akin to drowning while immobilized but conscious is disputed by DOJ attorneys
Lezmond Mitchell’s attorneys say there’s a “substantial likelihood” that the jury was impacted by racial bias
The bill was introduced after prison officials closed the witness viewing curtain for 14 minutes during a 2018 execution
Unless Lezmond Mitchell gets relief from another court or is granted clemency, he will be put to death on Aug. 26
During the executions last month, the obstructed roads forced demonstrators to gather nearly 2 miles from the prison
Jonathan Nez, who cited the tribe’s opposition to the death penalty, asked for Lezmond Mitchell’s sentence to be reduced to life in prison
The federal lawsuit filed by ACLU of Indiana lawyers on behalf of the activists seeks an injunction permitting protesters to gather just outside prison gates
The announcement comes weeks after the department fought off last-minute legal challenges and successfully resumed executions following a 17-year pause
Lezmond Mitchell was convicted of a 2001 murder of a Navajo woman and her 9-year-old granddaughter
Johnny Avila Jr., 62, was sentenced to death in 1996 for two counts of first-degree murder
A previous request for DNA testing in 2006 was refused based on a Tennessee Supreme Court ruling that has since been overturned
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services released records identifying its suppliers after a prolonged legal battle with local newspapers and the ACLU
The governor, who has declined to intervene in the four prior executions during his first term in office, offered no further explanation for his decision
The Supreme Court cleared the way for the execution to take place just hours before, ruling in a 5-4 decision
Wesley Ira Purkey’s lawyers said in recent filings he suffers from advancing Alzheimer’s disease
The execution of Daniel Lewis Lee came over the objection of the victims’ relatives and following days of legal wrangling and delays
The decision to move forward with the execution during a global health pandemic drew scrutiny from civil rights groups
The decision to resume executions has been criticized as a dangerous and political move
Bureau of Prisons officials insist they will be able to conduct the executions safely and have been holding practice drills for months
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