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.
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen is petitioning the county Superior Court to resentence 14 men — all being held in San Quentin State Prison — to terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole
“I’ve decided to drop my appeals and have my sentence carried out… I was fairly tried and convicted. I agreed with the court’s decision,” the inmate said
The inmate is the first person executed in Oklahoma this year and the 12th put to death since the state resumed executions in 2021 following a nearly seven-year hiatus
Judge Kristine Baker must rule whether the state’s plan to execute seven prisoners in 11 days would violate their rights to meaningful counsel and access to the courts
Dylann Roof pleaded guilty to state murder charges, leaving him to await execution in a federal prison and avoid a second trial
Ivan Teleguz maintains his innocence, and since he was put on death row, two key prosecution witnesses have recanted
With one dissenting vote, the court ordered the state to hold off putting Paul David Storey to death until the trial court can review whether he received a fair trial
The judge rejected stay requests from five other inmates
On Feb. 10, Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich delayed eight executions to allow time for the appeals court arguments
Alabama currently gives death row inmates the choice between the electric chair and lethal injection
The board said the governor should spare Jason McGehee’s life, but did not offer a reason for the recommendation
Alabama is the only state that allows a judge to override a jury’s recommendation when sentencing capital murder cases
If Gov. Rick Scott believes Aramis Ayala is neglecting her duties by not seeking the death penalty, he could try to suspend her from office
Since SCOTUS reauthorized the use of the death penalty in 1976, only Texas has killed eight inmates in a month, doing it twice in 1997
State lawyers are telling a federal court that delaying eight executions beyond April 30 would have the same effect as canceling them altogether
The court will weigh Carlos Ayestas’ claim that federal courts improperly forced him to prove a “substantial need” for the mitigation expert
The prison system says its suppliers need anonymity to take part in execution
Prison officials have refused to release packing slips that detail how the drugs are to be used
The decision means the board has now rejected three of the five inmates who asked the board to spare their lives
Last month, a prison guard was killed during an inmate riot and hostage taking at Delaware’s maximum security prison
The state’s highest court said that using the drug pentobarbital to execute condemned prisoners is constitutional
The inmates asked SCOTUS to reconsider its decision to not review a state court ruling upholding the lethal injection law
Kharon Davis has been held without bail in the Houston County Jail since his arrest in 2007
Aramis Ayala argued that the governor doesn’t have the authority to remove her from Markeith Loyd’s case
The Supreme Court sided with inmate Bobby James Moore who claims he should not be executed because he is intellectually disabled
The state’s current stock of midazolam expires at the end of April
The lower court said the case was resolved because prison officials had eased restrictions and granted death row inmates more privileges
The lawyer said the inmates had too little time to put together a meaningful clemency request after their death warrants were signed less than four weeks ago
Attorneys said that Romell Broom has important appeals pending and the state shouldn’t hurry to set a new date
In an affidavit, Jonas Cherry’s parents said Paul Storey’s execution won’t bring back their son or atone for his loss
Arkansas has not put a prisoner to death since 2005
Gov. Rick Scott removed Aramis Ayala from a case after Ayala made her announcement against the death penalty
Alabama is the only state that allows a judge to override a jury’s sentence recommendation in capital murder cases