Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed legislation to end the death penalty in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia is the first southern state to end the death penalty and holds the dubious distinction of being the second highest state of executions with 1400 lives taken since the Colonies. The death penalty has its roots in slavery, slave patrols, lynching and Jim Crow. The good news is that Virginia becomes the 23rd state to end the death penalty. The bad news is that 27 other states still have the death penalty. Ironically, lynching was the precursor to the death penalty. Lynching events decreased as capital punishment took its place in the South. Eight in ten executions since 1976 have occurred in the South. And eight in ten lynching incidents from 1889 to 1918 were carried out in the South. Executions in Virigna were carried out by hanging for the first 300 years until 1908. The earliest form of the death penalty was the slave patrols. The earliest form of … [Read more...] about Virginia Ends Death Penalty After 400 Years
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Rodney Reed and Why We Must End the Death Penalty
Rodney Reed sits on death row in a Texas prison while awaiting his execution. His execution is slated for November 20. In 1996, a jury convicted Reed of rape and murder of Stacy Stites, a woman whom he claims he had a consensual relationship. Doubts about his guilt have surfaced with many celebrities joining in his cause, including Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Dr. Phil and others. The victim was the fiancé of former police officer, Jimmy Fennel. Fennel was suspected of the murder after he failed 2 police administered lie detector tests. But DNA evidence helped to convict Reed whom he admits to having a consensual affair with Fennel’s fiancé, the victim. Since Reed’s conviction Fennel confessed in 2010 while in jail to inmate Arthur Snow; a cousin agreed that Stites and Reed were romantically involved; and, an insurance agent also supported the theory that Fennell killed Stites. Reed’s attorneys, The Innocence Project, filed a petition for clemency to the Board of Pardons and Parole. … [Read more...] about Rodney Reed and Why We Must End the Death Penalty
Supreme Court Reconsiders Juveniles with Life Without Parole
On Monday, while everyone in the DC Metropolitan area was still digging out snow, the Supreme Court released an opinion stating that juveniles under the age of 18 who were sentenced to life without parole before 2012 may apply to courts to reconsider their sentences. In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that juveniles could not be given the death penalty. Again, in 2012, the High Court prohibited sentences of life without the possibility of parole for juveniles. In doing so however, it did not make the ruling retroactive to those who had already been sentenced. Henry Montgomery, the petitioner, is now 69 years of age and sentenced to life without parole for murder of a law enforcement officer he committed when he was 17. The Supreme Court ruled with Justice Kennedy writing the opinion stated, "Allowing those offenders to be considered for parole ensures that juveniles whose crimes reflected only transient immaturity — and who have since matured — will not be forced to serve a … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Reconsiders Juveniles with Life Without Parole
Is the Death Penalty Coming to an End in America?
As the jury in the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Bomber, deliberated and ultimately recommended the death penalty, more states are slowly leaning away from the death penalty. Massachusetts abolished the death penalty in 1984. However, Tsarnaev’s trial was a federal one which allows for the death penalty. Nebraska is close to becoming the next state to abolish the death penalty. A final vote was taken to abolish it on May 20. All indication is that there are enough votes to ward off any possible veto by Republican Governor Pete Ricks. What is unusual is that Nebraska is a conservative state headed by a Tea Party Republican Governor who supports the death penalty. Other recent states that moved to abolish the death penalty included Maryland in 2013, Connecticut in 2012, Illinois in 2011 and New Jersey in 2007. In all, eighteen states have abolished the death penalty with a third of those states’ banning it since 2007. Connecticut and New Hampshire round out the six … [Read more...] about Is the Death Penalty Coming to an End in America?
Why the Boston Bomber May Avoid the Death Penalty
The jury started deliberations on the death penalty phase on Wednesday in the case of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the now infamous Boston Bomber who was convicted of all 30 counts involved in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, including 17 eligible for the death penalty. His actions took the lives of three persons, including seven year old Martin Richard and severely injured 264 others. Some victims have undergone at least 60 surgeries due to their injuries. It’s difficult to imagine a more heinous crime deserving of the death penalty, Yet despite the heinous acts, Tsarnaev may receive life in prison without the possibility of parole. The prosecutor must convince all twelve jurors to sentence Dzhokhar Tsarnaevto death on a single count. If twelve agree to death on a single count, he will receive the death penalty. And that may be more of an uphill climb than most would imagine. The defense on the other hand has only to convince one person on each of the eligible counts that he … [Read more...] about Why the Boston Bomber May Avoid the Death Penalty
Why the Boston Bomber May Avoid the Death Penalty
With the first phase of the trial over for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicting him on all counts, one would think the second death penalty phase is a no brainer. Multiple reasons suggest that Tsarnaev may likely receive life without the possibility of parole. Unlike the first phase, jurors will now get to hear evidence that will show the aggravating factors which warrant the death penalty. His case is likely the most heinous crime committed in Massachusetts with four persons killed by a bomb, used as a weapon of mass destruction, including an eight year old and injuring 264 others with life permanent injuries both physical and emotional. Family members of the four deceased victims, including one police officer and many of the other many victims whose lives have been forever altered will likely testify on behalf of the prosecution. The prosecution will also likely portray his callousness in going to a Whole Foods store and the gym following the bombing. In his defense for life … [Read more...] about Why the Boston Bomber May Avoid the Death Penalty