Study: Texas Not No. 1 in Death Penalty

[alwynsw]

<snip>

Texas actually trails the national average when it comes to the percentage of people convicted of murder who are sentenced to death, says the study, published in the new Journal of Empirical Legal Studies.

As a percentage of murders, Nevada and Oklahoma impose the most death sentences, at 6 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively. The national average is 2.5 percent.

In Texas, the percentage is 2 percent, but that is based on a larger number of murders than other states.

"Texas's reputation as a death-prone state should rest on its many murders and on its willingness to execute death-sentenced inmates," wrote the authors of the study. "It should not rest on the false belief that Texas has a high rate of sentencing convicted murderers to death."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=8&u=/ap/20040214/ap_on_re_us/death_penalty_study_1

[Wickerman]

1. Well, isn't that special?

but, of course, that would mean that they have a disproportionate amount of executions per those on death row. An insane amount, you might say.

[MrSandman]

2. It seems their number of homicides is greater...

I oppose capital punishment for many of the same reasons I oppose gun control. If either worked, TX or Chicago would be very safe.

ed for conjunction...s

[jhfenton]

3. I agree.

Gun control and capital punishment are both immoral, ineffective, and unworkable.

[Wickerman]

4. Yeah, that was the crux of the article, good reading -

their homicides are greater. They have less death row convictions per volume. Great - I am in support of that - well, actually, I am in support of zero death row convictions.

However, Texas has by far the largest number of executions, therefore, they have a disproportionate amount of executions per conviction. Its an insane way to conduct the business of "corrections". Texas corrections is run by politicians seeking votes and for some reason the public supports bloodletting for votes.

[alwynsw]

5. Most of you know that I once worked in corrections

Yes, it was maximum security. Yes, we had Death Row and Sparky at my institution, Kentucky State Penitentiary.

We had an inmate there who had a fresh outlook on the death penalty. (He had been on Death Row when the '72? ruling came down and was subsequently commuted to life.) His take concerned gang-related killings - primarily drive-by shootings. Too bad it wouldn't work under our legal system, because I believe his approach might just work. I AM NOT CONDONING THIS. Here it is:

Gang members who kill innocent bystanders, such as a kid or gramps in the living room of their home, by means of firearms in drive-by shootings get 30 days for both trial and appeals. On the 31st day, the shooter is hanged in public, in his 'hood. Leave the body up for a week or so to give all the other gang bangers a chance to look at it and digest the consequences of such actions. You have to admit that it should give his fellow bangers pause when considering a killing spree.

Impractical, unworkable, illegal: but still an interesting thought that would likely work.