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.
Ramiro Gonzales was executed at the Texas State Penitentiary on June 26 for killing Bridget Townsend, the same day that Bridget would have turned 41
Gov. Mike Parson declined to grant clemency the day before the scheduled execution, citing the inmate’s “lack of remorse” for the 2009 killings
The Alabama attorney general issued a statement that said the inmate’s “actions were cold and calculated, and his assigned punishment has never been more deserved”
Nebraska’s corrections department was only able to buy potassium chloride in 2015 because one of its U.S. distributors made a mistake
The state’s already compromised plan to execute eight men by the end of the month fell apart further Friday
The Missouri DOC has refused to disclose who supplies it with pentobarbital, saying suppliers’ identities are shielded as part of its “execution team”
Bruce Ward and Don Davis’ attorneys say they were denied access to independent mental health experts in their cases
State Attorney Aramis Ayala filed a motion with the Florida Supreme Court, asking the court to determine who has authority over the cases
Alabama was the last state in the country to allow judges to override a jury when sentencing capital murder cases
American Bar Association President Linda Klein urged the governor to modify the execution schedule to allow for adequate time between executions
The conservatives say executing a man who might be innocent would “leave a terrible stain on Virginia and our justice system”
The Virginia Council of Churches and two state lawmakers are urging Virginia’s governor to halt the planned execution of Ivan Teleguz
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