Racial Disparities and Costs Make Lawmakers Revisit Death Penalty

[struggle4progress]

By Odell B. Ruffin - WI Staff Writer
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 12:30

As the Maryland General Assembly meets from Jan. 14 through Apr. 13., Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) is aggressively pushing for the repeal of the state’s death penalty. O’Malley’s pursuit to eliminate capitol punishment in the state directly followed the release of the Maryland Commission on Capitol Punishment’s Final Report to the General Assembly on Dec. 12.

"This is a very personal issue for members of the General Assembly, families of victims, law enforcement and the public, but it is my hope that we can all take the time to review the facts presented in this report thoroughly and with an open mind," O'Malley said.

According to the commission’s Final Report, the implementation of the death penalty in Maryland has been tainted with racial and geographic disparities, riddled with error beyond reform and is too expensive and ineffective as a deterrent to preventing crime ...

According to the Final Report to the General Assembly, 1,125 death row executions and 130 exonerations took place nationwide between 1995-2007. Furthermore, for every 8.7 death row executions, one inmate has been exonerated. The reversal rate for capital cases in Maryland outpaces that of many other jurisdictions, totaling 80 percent between 1995-2007 ...

http://www.washingtoninformer.com/wi-web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=534:racial-disparities-and-costs-make-lawmakers-revisit-death-penalty&catid=50:regional&Itemid=113

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Good on ya, Governor Marty