New data stir old debate (death penalty)

[Thom Little]

By Taylor Bright
Huntsville Times
Monday, Nov. 21, 2005


Alabama continues to have one of the largest death rows, according to a new report by the federal government, but some experts say national support for the death penalty is waning.

For years, the state has had the most inmates on death row per capita than any other state. As of Dec. 31, Alabama reported 193 death row inmates, which was sixth overall, even though Alabama ranks 23rd in population. California led the nation in death row inmates at the end of last year with 637, followed by Texas (446), Florida (364), Pennsylvania (222) and Ohio (201).

Alabama continues to sentence people to death. In fact, Alabama has sentenced 356 people to death and executed 30 people from 1977 through 2004, ninth overall. The state has executed four people this year. Texas led all states in the number of executions between 1977 and 2004 with 336; Virginia was No. 2 with 94.

.......

"The death penalty in Alabama has been used to kind of create an identity without regard to what the law requires, and you see that in the data," said Bryan Stevenson, executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, which represents death row inmates on appeal. "Alabama's death penalty is largely, in my mind, mistakes.



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