The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) has released its annual summary of how the death penalty fared in this country during the preceding year. The full report is available online here.
Hallmarks from 2019 include the following:
In a capital case, there are two times when the issue of the accused’ mental health must be addressed; first, at the criminal trial where the individual is facing a prosecutor who is seeking the death penalty as punishment upon conviction. Second, when the convicted Death Row inmate is scheduled for execution.
This week’s death penalty trial of Markeith Loyd will include the following motion by Terence Lenamon to prevent the prosecution from introducing evidence in other alleged crimes involving Markeith Loyd. Read the full text of the filings here, as presented to the judge:
DEFENSE MOTION TO STRIKE
Defense Amended Motion to S… by on Scribd
While those who argue in support of capital punishment suggest that it helps keep police officers safer on the streets — the idea being that the death penalty is a deterrent here — research undertaken by the Death Penalty Information Center suggests otherwise.
After reviewing 31 years of FBI research on the murders of police
The State of Tennessee has the execution of Tennessee Death Row inmate Billy Ray Irick scheduled for August 9, 2018. Irick’s defense lawyers are working very hard to stop this from happening.
This case is yet another example of the importance of zealous, aggressive, and experienced Death Penalty Defense attorneys during the investigation and initial
Defending those facing the death penalty brings Terry Lenamon into the heart of the issue of mental illness in this country and how that does (as opposed to should) impact the imposing of capital punishment on those convicted of serious crimes.
Mental Illness is an Issue in All Death Penalty Cases
We discuss aspects of
The Death Penalty Info Center just updated its Death Penalty Fact Sheet. You can download the pdf by clicking on the image:
Lots of information here regarding capital punishment in the United States today. From the DPIC statistics, consider the following:
The American Bar Association Death Penalty Due Process Review Project has published its report, "Severe Mental Illness and the Death Penalty."
ABA Report To Be Tool For Change
From its Executive Summary (emphasis added):
Despite broader efforts to reform the criminal justice system’s approach to mental illness, individuals