Number of executions and new death sentences declines

[BeyondGeography]

WASHINGTON — Executions in the U.S. declined by nearly 10% this year and the total of 39 marks only the second time in nearly two decades that fewer than 40 people were put to death, according to a report by the Death Penalty Information Center.

The center, an anti-death penalty group that closely tracks capital punishment issues, attributed the decline in part to a long-term drop in new death sentences, the inaccessibility of lethal injection drugs and an erosion of public support for the death penalty.

Although the 80 new death sentences this year represent three more than in 2012, the number has declined dramatically since 1996 when it reached a high of 315.

At the same time, a decline in the numbers on death row has outpaced the number of executions. There were 3,108 inmates on death row across the country as of April 1, down from 3,170 at the same time last year.

"Fewer death sentences, fewer people on death row will mean fewer executions,'' said Richard Dieter, the center's executive director.

More at:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/19/executions-lethal-injection-drugs/4111597/

[intaglio]

1. Interesting in the light of this other version of the story

In this the difficulty in carrying out Capital Punishment is cited as the reason for decline.

Posted by Judi Lynn as European boycott of death penalty drugs lowers rate of US executions in LBN

[BeyondGeography]

2. The decline in death sentences also says the right things are happening in our culture

with respect to this issue. May it continue.

[Harmony Blue]

3. Good

the death penalty has no place in our society.