The ten percent is kind of misleading, the percent exonerated vs the entire population on death row since the return in 1970 would be a more meaningful ratio. That ratio would come way, way down but it could then be applied to the number executed to get a meaningful number.

 

 

The information in this study was compiled as of last summer, and it reflects a number of 3,101 inmates on death row currently. Now, taking into account the fact that the 629 death row inmates whose sentences had been handed down previous to June 29, 1972 had their sentences commuted, that means that all of those individuals were placed on death row after the capital punishment was reinstated in 1976. There are four ways to get off of death row: 1) be put to death, 2) die of natural causes, suicide, or murder by other inmates while on death row, 3) have your sentence commuted, or 4) receive full exoneration.

 

1,338 have been put to death, 144 have received full exoneration for the crimes they were sentenced with, and I can't find any direct numbers for how many died of natural causes/suicide/murder in prison, but I know the US Department Of Justice's yearly bulletins on capital punishment has estimated those numbers to represent upwards of a quarter of all death row inmates.

 

One thing that some studies use (not including those I've cited above in this post) is the fact that there have been 8,000+ death row sentences in the US since 1973. This number INCLUDES those who initially received a death sentence, but then were able to get acquitted through the appeals process. The numbers I posted represent those whose appeals have either run out, or who chose note to pursue appeals.

It's barbaric, terribly expensive, easily susceptible to human error, and there's no evidence for it's being a deterrent to others.

 

Any studies that show how many plead guilty before going to trail to avoid the possibility of the death penalty?

The Death penalty isn't meant to be a Deterrent as much as a Punishment for those that willfully take another persons life.

 

I too have changed my position over the years on the Death Penalty. If the Death Penalty is to be used in cases with certainty of guilt, then let's get on with them and not drag it out for 20-30 years.

 

In MOST cases I'd be happy with "Life without Parole" but placed in General Population in a maximum security prison.

Any studies that show how many plead guilty before going to trail to avoid the possibility of the death penalty?

 

The vast majority of Murder Convictions IMO come from Guilty pleas of this sort. The threat of the Death Penalty does seem to make defendants much more agreeable when faced with the facts of the case.

 

Case here in Somerset 12 years ago, 3 men conspired to assassinate the Sheriff. The Shooter and one accomplice both plead guilty to avoid the death penalty, which they would have received. Then both testified against the third conspirator (a local drug dealer) who's idea it was to kill the Sheriff in the first place. Both had well known and highly respected attorneys defending them and when faced with the evidence knew the only way to save their clients lives was to plead guilty if the Death Penalty was taken off of the table as a possible punishment.

The vast majority of Murder Convictions IMO come from Guilty pleas of this sort. The threat of the Death Penalty does seem to make defendants much more agreeable when faced with the facts of the case.

 

Case here in Somerset 12 years ago, 3 men conspired to assassinate the Sheriff. The Shooter and one accomplice both plead guilty to avoid the death penalty, which they would have received. Then both testified against the third conspirator (a local drug dealer) who's idea it was to kill the Sheriff in the first place. Both had well known and highly respected attorneys defending them and when faced with the evidence knew the only way to save their clients lives was to plead guilty if the Death Penalty was taken off of the table as a possible punishment.

 

But the possiblity of facing the death penalty did NOT deter them from plotting or carry out the crime.

But the possiblity of facing the death penalty did NOT deter them from plotting or carry out the crime.

No, the Death Penalty in my opinion IS NOT a Deterrent at the time of the crime. It is only one of many Punishment options afterwards.

Any studies that show how many plead guilty before going to trail to avoid the possibility of the death penalty?

 

The Plea Bargain Myth | Equal Justice USA

 

I can't find any direct figures, but here are some points regarding that matter:

-States without the death penalty have some of the highest rates of prisoners serving life without parole in the country. Three of the top five states for number of prisoners serving life without parole in the nation are states without the death penalty.

-Prosecutors in New Jersey say that the 2007 repeal of the death penalty in their state has made no difference in their ability to secure guilty pleas.

-During the period between 1995 and 2004, the period where the death penalty was reinstated in New York state, prosecutors secured plea bargains at a higher rate in second-degree murder cases than in first-degree murder cases. If the death penalty played a key role in securing pleas, the opposite would logically be true, since death was always an option in first-degree murder cases.

-In Alaska, plea bargaining was abolished completely in 1975. A 1980 study by the National Institute of Justice found that since the end of plea bargaining, "guilty pleas continued to flow in at nearly undiminished rates. Most defendants pled guilty even when the state offered them nothing in exchange for their cooperation."

 

 

Another point that I think runs a similar line...how many people have confessed to crimes that they didn't commit when they realized that they were unable to afford proper legal counsel and were threatened with the death penalty?

But the possiblity of facing the death penalty did NOT deter them from plotting or carry out the crime.

 

That is one of the more valid points to this debate that goes largely ignored in the discussion. Where is the data supporting the death penalty as a crime deterrent?

 

People are so concerned about vengeance for crimes that have already been committed - so much so that they are willing to spend more of people's time and money (it's a proven fact that actually putting a prisoner to death costs more than imprisoning them for life) simply in order to exact their pound of flesh.

The Death penalty isn't meant to be a Deterrent as much as a Punishment for those that willfully take another persons life.

 

I too have changed my position over the years on the Death Penalty. If the Death Penalty is to be used in cases with certainty of guilt, then let's get on with them and not drag it out for 20-30 years.

 

In MOST cases I'd be happy with "Life without Parole" but placed in General Population in a maximum security prison.[/QUOTE]

 

To me, if you do away with the death sentence, it needs to be replaced with hard labor. No more TV's, no more computers, or magazines, or basketball games. Send them to Alaska to break rocks on a chain gang for 16 hours a day.

To me, if you do away with the death sentence, it needs to be replaced with hard labor. No more TV's, no more computers, or magazines, or basketball games. Send them to Alaska to break rocks on a chain gang for 16 hours a day.

 

I think I could get behind that.

If you are against the death penalty, what do you suggest we do with these people who commit heinous crimes?

If you are against the death penalty, what do you suggest we do with these people who commit heinous crimes?

 

Life without parole seems sufficient to me.

But the possiblity of facing the death penalty did NOT deter them from plotting or carry out the crime.

It is very shortsighted to argue the usefulness of a law or punishment based on the deterrent.

The information in this study was compiled as of last summer, and it reflects a number of 3,101 inmates on death row currently. Now, taking into account the fact that the 629 death row inmates whose sentences had been handed down previous to June 29, 1972 had their sentences commuted, that means that all of those individuals were placed on death row after the capital punishment was reinstated in 1976. There are four ways to get off of death row: 1) be put to death, 2) die of natural causes, suicide, or murder by other inmates while on death row, 3) have your sentence commuted, or 4) receive full exoneration.

 

1,338 have been put to death, 144 have received full exoneration for the crimes they were sentenced with, and I can't find any direct numbers for how many died of natural causes/suicide/murder in prison, but I know the US Department Of Justice's yearly bulletins on capital punishment has estimated those numbers to represent upwards of a quarter of all death row inmates.

 

One thing that some studies use (not including those I've cited above in this post) is the fact that there have been 8,000+ death row sentences in the US since 1973. This number INCLUDES those who initially received a death sentence, but then were able to get acquitted through the appeals process. The numbers I posted represent those whose appeals have either run out, or who chose note to pursue appeals.

 

Thanks. Numbers are all over the place on these, you would think they would be pretty consistent. It appears that it comes down to statistically speaking 1 to 2 innocents have been put to death since 1973. Naturally it could be none or it could be dozens.

If you are against the death penalty, what do you suggest we do with these people who commit heinous crimes?

 

The hard labor option has been mentioned.