Texas Executions Pick Up Pace
Posted by schnurbush on March 12, 2009
Texas on pace to execute far more in 2009
“Texas is far and away the most frequent user of the death penalty,” said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University. “We are on a tear here in 2009.
“If it’s an eye for an eye, we take far more eyes than every other state,” he said. “The rest of the country looks at us and wonders what we are doing.”
Since 1976, there have been 432 executions in Texas, far more than in Virginia, which had the second highest number of executions with 103, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
Some states are clamoring to abolish the deadly practice. Even in Texas, bills have been filed to do away with the death penalty, since life without parole is now an option.
But state Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, said he doesn’t expect that to impact what has long been called the “conveyor belt of death” in Texas.
“This Legislature isn’t going to deal with it,” said Burnam, who is co-sponsoring bills to stop the death penalty here. “I think it’s immoral. It’s pre-planned, pre-meditated, state-sponsored murder.
“It’s barbaric.”
There are 348 inmates on Death Row in Texas, including 24 convicted in Tarrant County, state records show.
Changing times
President Barack Obama has indicated he favors executions only in the most extreme cases, but he hasn’t publicly focused much on the issue. But he could have a big impact through the years, by appointing judges to federal courts who will weigh in on the issue.
States such as New Mexico are looking at whether to let the costly death penalty system die. Some officials complain that costs are skyrocketing, making the procedure nearly out of reach. In Kansas, a lawmaker even proposed using execution funds to instead help with a budget shortfall.
“States know in these economic times that they have to cut something, whether it’s police forces, prisons or libraries,” said Richard C. Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit research center that opposes the death penalty. “The death penalty is something that’s being considered.”
The cost is just a new tactic used by death penalty opponents, said William Rusty Hubbarth, an Austin attorney and vice president of Justice For All, a victim’s advocacy group.
“No one is saying deny them due process,” he said. “But the cost (of keeping an inmate on Death Row for years) is instigated by the defense, by appealing, and they say it’s too expensive.
“The costs come from maintaining that person’s life.”
A recent effort to repeal the Maryland death penalty died, but New Jersey in 2007 successfully abolished using the death penalty.
Burnam, who has signed on to bills seeking to abolish Texas executions, said he doesn’t expect to have much success this session.
“This isn’t about the present,” Burnam said. “It’s about trying to build for the future.”
‘Justice is swift’
Executions were down last year because the U.S. Supreme Court halted executions between September 2007 and April 2008 to review whether lethal injections were unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment.
Once the hold was removed, Texas executed 18 Death Row inmates in the last eight months of the year. Virginia had the second most executions last year, with four.
Critics chastise Texas for the number of executions and the frequency at which they are done.
Even Fort Worth’s Italian sister city – Reggio Emilia, Italy – has threatened to cut ties if city leaders didn’t denounce capital punishment. City officials declined.
If no delays are issued, Texas will have executed 16 prisoners by June, Texas Department of Criminal Justice records show.
“I don’t think Texas is going to ban the death penalty,” said Jillson, of SMU. “But it would behoove us to look at the practices and see why we are so out of balance with the rest of the country.”
| Year | 2009 (to date) | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 |
| Texas | 11 | 18 | 26 | 24 | 19 | 23 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Ohio | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Virginia | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| South Carolina | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Alabama | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Florida | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
Source: Death Penalty Information Center
| Texas | 432 |
| Virginia | 103 |
| Oklahoma | 89 |
| Florida | 67 |
| Missouri | 66 |
| Georgia | 43 |
| North Carolina | 43 |
| South Carolina | 41 |
| Alabama | 40 |
| Ohio | 28 |
| Louisiana | 27 |
| Arkansas | 27 |
| Arizona | 23 |
| Indiana | 19 |
| Delaware | 14 |
| California | 13 |
| Nevada | 12 |
| Illinois | 12 |
| Mississippi | 10 |
| Utah | 6 |
| Tennessee | 5 |
| Maryland | 5 |
| Washington | 4 |
| Kentucky | 3 |
| Nebraska | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 |
| Montana | 3 |
| Oregon | 2 |
| Colorado | 1 |
| Idaho | 1 |
| Wyoming | 1 |
| Connecticut | 1 |
| South Dakota | 1 |
| New Mexico | 1 |
Source: Death Penalty Information Center
Corey said
The first thing that came to my mind after reading this article was how different the opinions of people change within the United States of America. Just the fact that Texas has so many more executions than the rest of the country is amazing considering that some states have not had a single execution since 1976.
I feel that the death penalty is not the right way to deal with high security prisoners. It is to expensive and now that life without parole is an option it is unnecessary. I feel that in some cases that the death penalty is an easy way out for the prisoners and that it is much worse to have to stay confined in prison for the rest of your life than to be executed. Although I do not think that Texas will ban the death penalty in the foreseeable future I do agree that they should take a look at their practices and wonder why they are so much different.
Tina Mosdal said
I’m not saying I am for nor against the death penalty but Texas’s execution rate in comparison to all the other states are EXTREMELY high. Virginia is in second place has 1/4 the amount of Texas. That insane number should say something to the state about how something needs to change. New Jersey could pass the bill to abolish the death penalty, why can’t Texas?
Also, 16 executions will be finished by June. That is only 2 less from last year. With the rate they are going, Texas could easily execute 30 people this year.
I would much rather see a criminal locked up behind bars for the rest of their life than to see them on death row.
Alex K said
I believe that the death penalty is firmly needed to show that severe punishment can be prosecuted against the criminal for their actions. If there were no capital punishment, what would defer criminals from killing/raping others except for the fact of living in prison for the rest of their lives? Many prisoners grow accustomed to prison life and some would probably even say they enjoy it better than outside life because they are accepted there and have a reputation/pride. If you put the fear of death in their minds, they will think twice before committing such criminal acts. Texas just happens to be the state where the most executions occur, would it be any different if say New York had more executions then Texas? It was just the one of fifty states that fits best for the job.
Maria Palumbo said
I agree with Tina when she said that she would rather see a criminal locked up behind bars rather then on death row. Some people need to be punished so they can learn a lesson and by putting someone on deatn row you are pretty much just taking their life, so what purpose is that really showing them. I also feel that texas needs to take a step down with their death penalty. Compared to every other state they ar extremley high! The legislature should look into giving life without the possibility of parole for some of the people they are thinking of putting on death row.
Amanda Q. said
I agree with Alex that a death penalty should be instituted and utilized by many more states in the US. Some form of fear should be put forward to criminals in an attempt to reconsider carrying out a crime, to avoid the ultimate punishment. Those who sit in prison for life sentences remain there for years, simply taking up space in a cell and giving the families of victims only some peace of mind, hoping they do not escape prison. As overpopulation is already an issue in prisons, a death penalty would reduce this problem and help the prison systems remain true to justice.
However, the death penalty should not be overused or put into practice for every offense. I believe those criminals with only the most severe or horrific crimes (serial killers, mass murderers, etc.) should be considered for capital punishment.
If Texas can implement this practice in an attempt to help crime, why can’t other states with equally strong beliefs in justice? In a situation where people’s lives are at stake, it would be better to sacrifice one as an example to others, in an attempt to save hundreds more.
Amy Plewinski said
The death penalty will always be a highly controversial subject, especially Texas’ use of execution. I believe that the death penalty should not be taken away completely. Like Amanda said, some criminals commit such horrific crimes that the death penalty seems like the only punishment befitting of their crimes. However, with more and more cases of innocent people being murdered, capital punishment seems more severe than needed. The number of executions being held in Texas in much higher than the rest of the US. Should we look more closely at Texas, and criticize them for over executing people? Or should we look at Texas and commend them for being efficient and not leaving as many people on Death Row for as long as some other states?
Ashley Moreland said
I actually think that they should get rid of the death penalty, not because I think that they dont deserve it, because I do, its because it cost to much. This article was right. In these economic times we need to cut out anything that “isnt nesscary”. I don’t think it is a plausible option for use to cut down on policing. I don’t think it is plausible to cut out libraries because education is the foundation of the furture. I would like to see more information on whether or not they are going to cut out the death penalty and Barack Obama’s play in this whole situation as the future unfolds itself.