Demise Penalty
Solely 7 states imposed new loss of life sentences in 2023; 1 of them has handed new legal guidelines more likely to develop quantity
In accordance with a report by the Demise Penalty Info Heart, 21 folks have been sentenced to loss of life in 2023. The sentences have been imposed in seven states. Picture from Shutterstock.
Texas and Florida accounted for greater than half of the executions this 12 months, with Florida placing six inmates to loss of life and Texas executing eight, in response to a report by the Demise Penalty Info Heart.
Solely three different states performed executions in 2023: Alabama (two), Missouri (4) and Oklahoma (4), in response to a Dec. 1 press release.
The final time that so few states performed executions was in 2016 and 20 years in the past, in response to The Death Penalty in 2023: Year End Report.
Twenty-one folks have been sentenced to loss of life in 2023. The sentences have been imposed in seven states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina and Texas.
The figures are present as of Dec. 1. This 12 months was the ninth 12 months in a row with lower than 30 executions and les than 50 loss of life sentences.
The 24 executions performed in 2023 are greater than the 18 performed in 2022, nonetheless. The press launch mentioned the year-over-year enhance may be attributed to Florida’s resumption of executions following “a prolonged pause.”
Florida’s six executions have been the state’s highest quantity since 2014, and it imposed 5 new loss of life sentences, the very best variety of any state this 12 months.
And Florida is more likely to impose extra loss of life sentences following its passage of two legal guidelines in April. One legislation ended the requirement for a unanimous jury suggestion to impose the loss of life penalty. Now, solely eight folks need to agree.
The opposite legislation authorizes the loss of life penalty for sexual battery of a kid youthful than age 12. The legislation “straight flouted” a 2008 U.S. Supreme Courtroom determination that held that the loss of life penalty for little one rape is unconstitutional in instances that don’t end in loss of life, the report mentioned.
Twenty-nine states, alternatively, have abolished the loss of life penalty or have paused executions by govt motion.
