Rick Perry’s Execution Record Includes The Deaths Of Juveniles And The Mentally Disabled

[pinto]

Rick Perry’s Execution Record Includes The Deaths Of Juveniles And The Mentally Disabled

By Travis Waldron on Sep 2, 2011 at 2:00 pm

The amount of executions held in Texas during Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) 11 years in office has come under scrutiny in the early stages of his presidential campaign, most notably for the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was convicted of murdering his three daughters and put to death despite evidence showing that he was likely innocent of the crimes. But even as the Willingham case receives the most notice, many of Perry’s decisions regarding execution have begun to garner attention.

Texas has held 234 executions on Perry’s watch, more than the next two states combined have executed since the death penalty was restored 35 years ago. While Perry can only grant clemency from death sentences if it is recommended by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, he has rarely used that power. According to the Texas Tribune, Perry has commuted only 31 death sentences, and 28 of those resulted from a 2005 Supreme Court case outlawing the execution of juveniles. Meanwhile, he has allowed a host of controversial executions to go forward, the Tribune reported today:

JUVENILES: According to the Tribune, three people who were juveniles at the time of their crime were executed between 2000, when Perry took office, and 2005, when the Supreme Court banned the execution of juveniles. Before Napoleon Beazley, who committed a murder at 17, was executed, 18 state legislators wrote Perry asking him to grant clemency, and the trial judge who eventually had to sign his execution order asked Perry to commute the sentence to life in prison. Perry’s response: “To delay his punishment is to delay justice.”

MENTALLY DISABLED: Ten executions during Perry’s tenure have involved serious questions about the prisoner’s mental health and stability. One was Kelsey Patterson, who was judged as mentally fit by a doctor known as “Dr. Death” because he rarely found patients mentally unfit for trial. During his trial, Patterson testified about having devices planted in his head by the military, and once in prison, he sent incoherent letters to courts. The Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended to Perry that he grant clemency, but Perry rejected the recommendation. Another was James Clark, whose final statement was, “Howdy.” Two Texas prisoners with mental health concerns have been executed in 2011.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/09/02/310875/rick-perrys-execution-record-includes-the-deaths-of-juveniles-and-the-mentally-disabled/

[Turbineguy]

1. And it's a big tent

and he wants to include more.

[Auntie Bush]

2. Nice Guy!

He has balls...so lets make him president. Please don't ask if I'm being sarcastic!

[HockeyMom]

3. Hang 'em high Texas Governors

Remember GW not only refused to commute a sentence, but LAUGHING as he refused? I cannot remember the woman's name but her crime happened when she was 17. She had been a model prisoner for 15 years and was counseling youth to not go down the path she took. Even the Pope wrote to Bush asking him to stop the execution. Bush LAUGHED. It wouldn't surprise if these people would put a 6 year old to death also.

By their actions, you can judge them. So why would anybody be surprised that they want to strip away all social program safety nets for those less fortunate?

To put it bluntly, it's the master race theory, just American style.

[Angry Dragon]

4. A governor that is going to execute someone should have

to sit down with that person for at least and hour and look them in the eye and tell them they are going to let the state kill them
If you can not look a person in the eye before you kill them then you have no right to do so.
Let them get their hands dirty

[Rex]

5. GWB was just a cheap imitation of Rick Perry.

And that should scare everyone.

[saras]

6. So what? What value are they to the ultra-rich?

This is example number 23,781 in the long list of examples of Perry being consistent to his principles.