Today Texas executed its 400th prisoner since the US reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Johnny Ray Conner, 32, was killed by lethal injection.
“What is happening to me is unjust and the system is broken,” he said in his final statement.
In 2005, a judge overturned Conner’s death sentence and ordered a retrial, claiming his lawyers had been ineffective. In January, a federal appeals court reversed that decision.
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, the US has executed more than 1,090 prisoners since 1976. A third have been carried out in Texas.
Are we to believe the population there is that much more evil? (Current president notwithstanding, this is not a trick question.)
Why did it take a whole 8 years of time and taxpayer dollars to carry out this justice?
Executing people is much more expensive than keeping them in prison for life. Do a little research and you will find stats like these:
“Elimination of the death penalty [in California] would result in a net savings to the state of at least tens of millions of dollars annually, and a net savings to local governments in the millions to tens of millions of dollars on a statewide basis.” (Joint Legislative Budget Committee of the California Legislature, 09/9/99)
Total cost of death penalty is 38% greater than total cost of life without parole sentences. (Indiana Criminal Law Study Commission, January 10, 2002)
Since its return to New York in 1995, $160 million has been spent. The New York Daily News estimates that before the first execution takes place, $238 million will be spent.
In addition to the funds required to try death penalty cases, the New York Department of Correctional Services spent $1.3 million to construct New York’s 12-inmate death row and pays nearly $300,000 per year to guard the unit. (New York Law Journal, April 30, 2002)
NYADP advocates that the money spent on the death penalty should be spent on crime prevention programs and victims’ assistance programs, both of which are severely under-funded.
Thanks to All who took action! Please continue action calling for the DNA test, as requested by The Innocence Project.
see http://deathpenaltyusa.blogspot.com/2007/09/innocence-project-raises-questions.html
for action and case details….
–abe
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OFFICE OF GOVERNOR BOB RILEY
Governor Riley Issues 45-Day Stay of Execution
MONTGOMERY ˆ Governor Bob Riley granted a brief
stay of execution to Thomas Arthur, a death row
inmate who was scheduled to die by lethal injection at 6 p.m. Thursday.
The Governor made the decision to grant a stay of
45 days and met with Commissioner Richard Allen
of the Alabama Department of Corrections on Thursday morning.
„The evidence is overwhelming that Thomas Arthur
is guilty and he will be executed for his
crime. The decision to grant a brief stay is
being made only because the state is changing its
lethal injection protocol, and this will allow
sufficient time for the Department of Corrections
to make that change,‰ Governor Riley said. „It
is my desire that, as soon as the stay has
expired, justice will be administered to Thomas
Arthur. I have encouraged the Attorney General
to make a motion with the Alabama Supreme Court
for a new date of execution as soon as possible.‰
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For more information, contact the Governor’s Press Office at 334-242-7150.