Death Penalty
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Death Penalty Info & Stats
As of April 1, 2008, the Death Penalty was authorized by 37 states, the Federal Government, and the U.S. Military. Those jurisdictions without the Death Penalty include 13 states and the District of Columbia. (Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin).
In 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that the use of the electric chair as a method of execution violated the Nebraska Constitution. With no alternative method of execution on the books, Nebraska is practically without a death penalty. In 2004, the New York Supreme Court ruled that the existing death penalty procedures violated the New York Constitution. The New York legislature has made no effort to change the procedures, effectively eliminating the death penalty in the state.
U. S. EXECUTIONS SINCE 1976: 1,099 (as of April 1, 2008)
ON DEATH ROW IN THE U. S.: 3,263 (as of Jan 1, 2008)
Of the 3,320 convicted murderers on Death Row
as of January 1, 2005:
65.0% had a prior felony conviction at the time of the murder.
08.4% had a prior homicide conviction at the time of the murder.
07.8% had criminal charges pending at the time of the murder.
26.7% were on probation or parole at the time of the murder.
4.9% were incarcerated or had escaped from incarceration.
14% had accumulated more than one death sentence.
22% were married, 21% divorced, and 03% widowed.
54% were never married.
46% were high school/GED graduates.
39% were under the age of 25 at arrest; 1.9% are under 25 now.
0.2% were 60+ years at arrest; 4.2% are 60+ years now.
The average age was 42 years. (27 at sentencing)
The youngest inmate is Devin Thompson (DOB: 05-15-85), sentenced to death in Alabama in October 2005 at the age of 19 years, and as of 01-01-06 was 20 years, 07 months old.
The oldest inmate is Viva Leroy Nash (DOB: 09-10-15), sentenced to death in Arizona in June 1983 at the age of 67 years, 09 months, and as of 01-01-06 was 90 years, 3 months old.
as of January 1, 2005:
65.0% had a prior felony conviction at the time of the murder.
08.4% had a prior homicide conviction at the time of the murder.
07.8% had criminal charges pending at the time of the murder.
26.7% were on probation or parole at the time of the murder.
4.9% were incarcerated or had escaped from incarceration.
14% had accumulated more than one death sentence.
22% were married, 21% divorced, and 03% widowed.
54% were never married.
46% were high school/GED graduates.
39% were under the age of 25 at arrest; 1.9% are under 25 now.
0.2% were 60+ years at arrest; 4.2% are 60+ years now.
The average age was 42 years. (27 at sentencing)
The youngest inmate is Devin Thompson (DOB: 05-15-85), sentenced to death in Alabama in October 2005 at the age of 19 years, and as of 01-01-06 was 20 years, 07 months old.
The oldest inmate is Viva Leroy Nash (DOB: 09-10-15), sentenced to death in Arizona in June 1983 at the age of 67 years, 09 months, and as of 01-01-06 was 90 years, 3 months old.
