The Death Penalty in Numbers

Today the Death Penalty Information Center published a profile of United States executions that have taken place this year. According to DPIC:

o Since January 2006, 41 American prisoners have been sent to their deaths.

o Although about half of all murder victims are black, only 20% of these inmates were charged with killing a black person. This reinforces a prevalent theme in death penalty "justice": A criminal is much more likely to be executed for killing a white citizen than killing a black citizen.

o 80% of these executions took place in the south, and almost 50% (20 of 41) occurred in Texas.

A search through DPIC's website revealed the following information:

o By the end of December, if no stays are granted, the United States will have executed 55 people in 2006. This is on par with 2005, when 60 prisoners were killed.

o Since 1976, 229 death row inmates have been granted clemency for humanitarian reasons. The most dramatic granting of clemency occurred in Illinois in 2003. Declaring Illinois capital punishment system as "broken" and a "major catastrophe", Republican Governor George Ryan emptied his state's death row.

o Since 1976, 123 death row inmates have been found innocent and exonerated.

o 1045 inmates have been executed since 1976.

By Krista, NO Death Penalty Wisconsin Campaign

posted by Sachin @ 7:29 PM