California's death row swells despite nationwide decline in death sentences

[Liberal_in_LA]

California's death row swells despite nationwide decline in death sentences


California's death row has swollen to 697 inmates, with 29 new death sentences in the state this year, despite a nationwide trend that in 2009 saw the fewest execution verdicts since capital punishment was reinstated in the state in 1976.

Los Angeles County alone sent more people to death row than the entire state of Texas, with 13 capital sentences from the nation's most populous county.

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Death penalty opponents describe California’s capital punishment system as the most cost-inefficient in the country, with just 13 people executed in more than 30 years.

"It really goes against all of the trends we’ve seen across the country, where death sentences are becoming less and less common and are imposed more selectively," said Natasha Minsker, death penalty policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, which opposes capital punishment.

Los Angeles County sent as many defendants to death row in 2009 as in the previous three years combined.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/12/california-death-row-swells-as-execution-verdicts-drop-nationwide.html

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Could it have something to do with having the Terminator as the Gov?

:shrug:

[marmar]

2. These stories always harp on costs......

...... what about the larger issue of state-sanctioned murder, 'cause that's what the death penalty is, no matter how much lipstick they smear on the pig.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. Because most DP proponents are conservatives - therefore they LIKE

state-sanctioned murder, but they HATE taxes that pay for it.

[dustbunnie]

3. Funny, I read an article recently that said some convicted in Cali prefer the death penalty.

This particular article referred to a white supremicist who was convicted of murder. He wanted the death penalty mainly because the accommodations are better and there's no real worry of being executed any time soon. At his age, he was in his late 40s, it was a worthwhile gamble. The benefits were a slightly bigger, single occupant cell, visitation rights whenever and privately (or something like that), plus they didn't have to fear reprisals or the danger inherent in gen pop. I think there was something to do with tv and other media privileges, but am not sure what it was.

I wonder if these cases in the LA times piece are similar to the one I read about.