Connecticut poised to abolish death penalty

[joeybee12]

Despite widespread public opposition, Connecticut may become the next state to abolish the death penalty, with lawmakers taking up the vote Wednesday.

Legislative action was delayed last year amid the high-profile prosecution of a capital punishment case involving a brutal home invasion that left a mother and her two daughters dead. But now the Senate is set to vote on legislation that would replace the death penalty with life without parole.

If approved, the bill would head to the House of Representatives, where observers expect it to pass. Gov. Daniel Malloy said he would sign the bill as long as it was forward looking, and not retroactive to those already sitting on death row.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/04/11017618-connecticut-poised-to-abolish-death-penalty

Glad to see my home state is doing the right thing when you hear about so many other states harkening back to the Dark Ages on so many issues.

[ZombieHorde]

1. I am happy to read this.

Revenge fantasies are great for b-movies, but not so great for real life.

[PoliticAverse]

2. Good. n/t

[CTyankee]

3. I'd like to think it was as you say and I know some state reps feel that way. But I get the

feeling that it is also just too costly, even tho a life sentence runs up one helluva taxpayers bill.

Isn't there a cost saving to this?

[Chan790]

5. Yes. A life sentence is drastically-cheaper than a capital-sentence.

In fact, the savings to the state of CT would be even larger if it were a retroactive bill for the 6 (I think) people currently on CT's death-row.

[CTyankee]

7. I keep wondering if those six or so could challenge their own death sentence under the new

law. I guess not, but I was wondering...

[Chan790]

8. Not likely, but...

I'm under the impression that with the exception of the Petit killers the state of CT is in no real rush to execute any of them (I just checked, there are 10 men on CT's death row) and perfectly willing to let them die of natural causes.

Remember that the only person executed in CT since the return of capital punishment is Michael Ross and he was only executed because he sued the state to compel them to execute him (and won), waived all his appeals then refused to assist the multiple efforts being carried out against his will to overturn his sentence and/or declare him mentally-incompetent of deciding to waive his appeals. Literally, to be executed in CT, you've got to pretty much force them to execute you.

In all likelihood, none will be executed. The eight other than Hayes and Komisarjevsky could be commuted to life tomorrow and it would be passing news of little attention. Most nutmeggers don't even remember who they are. Given 10 more years for the furor to die down, the state could likewise commute H & K to life as well on technical grounds citing the then-current inability of the DoC to carry out their sentences due to non-certified equipment, facilities and drugs making them unable to meet federal guidelines for execution. (These guidelines are the standards and certifications required to insure the execution is humane and fulfills the 8th Amendment.)

The non-retro clause is as much political cover as anything. The uproar tomorrow if the CP-ban commuted the sentences of the Petit killers would be overwhelming.

[CTyankee]

9. I think you are right. I guess the Petit killers will be spend the rest of their lives in prison.

It is fine with me, actually. I am pretty nauseated by the death penalty and agree with all the progressive countries around the world who have eliminated it.

There will be a big outcry from the RW here in CT but they are too small to do too much about it. It will melt like slush in April once it is done.

This is a step to the future...

[DippyDem]

4. Anyone know if it has passed the CT senate yet? I sure hope so. nt

[longship]

6. As a native Michigander, go CT!

I also lived in another no death penalty state, KS. That is until catholic, pro-life (so-called) Democratic governor Joan Finney let the death penalty pass over her refusal to sign and her simultaneous refusal to veto. What a disappointment that was.

[Eugene]

10. Updated story at link: Connecticut Senate votes to repeal state's death penalty

Connecticut Senate votes to repeal state's death penalty

By Miranda Leitsinger, msnbc.com

Updated at 8:45 a.m. ET: With the Connecticut Senate voting early Thursday to repeal the death penalty, the state is poised to become the fifth in five years to end the practice.

Legislative action was delayed last year amid the high-profile prosecution of a death penalty case involving a brutal home invasion that left a mother and her two daughters dead. But after a debate that stretched into the early morning hours Thursday, the Senate voted 20-16 to approve legislation that would replace the death penalty with life without parole.

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Read more: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/04/11017618-connecticut-senate-votes-to-repeal-states-death-penalty