When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Friday, May 10, 2002
There are plenty of indications that the wrong man being put to death is not a rare fluke, but an all-too-common occurrence.
It was for this reason that two years ago, Gov. George Ryan of Illinois suspended executions pending a review of death row cases.
Nationwide, according to the Justice Project, over 100 people wrongfully sentenced to death have been exhonerated in recent appellate reviews, representing almost 7 of 10 cases reviewed.
Now, Maryland, too, has called a moratorium on executions while a study is completed viewing evidence of unjust application of the capital punishment laws. In Maryland's case, it is not so much new scientific evidence being looked at as statistical indications of bias. Blacks, who comprise 28 percent of Maryland's population, make up 70 percent of the death row population. We must recognize prosecutorial choice here -- it cannot be explained away by saying that black people commit more crimes; prosecutorial choice is evident in the fact thqt although blacks represent 80 percent of the homicide victims in Maryland, prosecutors seek the death penalty mostly (90 percent) in cases where the victim is white
In my opinion, people convicted of capital crimes are the only ones who should be serving life sentences in prison, and no one should be executed. The only people serving more than a year in prison should be people convicted of serious violent crimes. The vast majority of prisoners should go in and right out again before prison has time to take root in their minds.
The more the punishment ante is upped, the less effective it is.
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
A capital idea
There are plenty of indications that the wrong man being put to death is not a rare fluke, but an all-too-common occurrence.
It was for this reason that two years ago, Gov. George Ryan of Illinois suspended executions pending a review of death row cases.
Nationwide, according to the Justice Project, over 100 people wrongfully sentenced to death have been exhonerated in recent appellate reviews, representing almost 7 of 10 cases reviewed.
Now, Maryland, too, has called a moratorium on executions while a study is completed viewing evidence of unjust application of the capital punishment laws. In Maryland's case, it is not so much new scientific evidence being looked at as statistical indications of bias. Blacks, who comprise 28 percent of Maryland's population, make up 70 percent of the death row population. We must recognize prosecutorial choice here -- it cannot be explained away by saying that black people commit more crimes; prosecutorial choice is evident in the fact thqt although blacks represent 80 percent of the homicide victims in Maryland, prosecutors seek the death penalty mostly (90 percent) in cases where the victim is white
In my opinion, people convicted of capital crimes are the only ones who should be serving life sentences in prison, and no one should be executed. The only people serving more than a year in prison should be people convicted of serious violent crimes. The vast majority of prisoners should go in and right out again before prison has time to take root in their minds.
The more the punishment ante is upped, the less effective it is.
Palema
6:41 AM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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