Despite the best efforts of the many principled and thoughtful actors who play roles in the criminal justice process in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, our research establishes that, at this point in time, Pennsylvania cannot ensure that fairness and accuracy are the hallmark of every case in which the death penalty is sought or imposed. Basic notions of fairness require that all participants in the criminal justice system ensure that the ultimate penalty of death is reserved for only the very worst offenses and defendants.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
ABA: Pa.'s Death Penalty System is Flawed
The American Bar Association this morning released a bleak assessment of Pennsylvania's death penalty. There are "substantial" flaws that put potentially innocent death row inmates at risk for execution.
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7 comments:
I'd be okay with it if they allow the execution of thieving politicians
Watch the language and syntax here. Many cases since the mid 90s that were overturned with DNA evidence, were not acquittals. Pulling murderers off death row for a new trial is not tantamount to a declaration of innocence. Our 10+ year appeals process provides ample opportunity to prove innocence - long after a jury of peers has removed a murderer's presumption of innocence and sentenced him or her to die for the only crime citizens have chosen to punish with the ultimate penalty.
The penalty was ment in theory for the worst offenders possible. If out of Nine , SIX were taken off death row for not meeting those perimieters.
Obviuosly the DA's have become far too over zealous in its envocation to score cheap pathetic political points for re-election.
Including DA's who go so far as to molest children at a Hillary Duff show.
Think about that some real swine like Pazi up in monroe county pushed for it on almost everycase to appease a GOP base.
Its folks playing god to bolster the fake images of themselves they create.
As for anon 4:05. That poster is clearly a conservative supporter. (Since Consertive pundits, radio host, and rabbid supporters NEVER admit errors.)
Let me ask you this? Who would Jesus Execute?
Shouldn't a political party that cloaks itself as the Party of ZZGod and Nation want Justice and Humanity?
Why then support a policy most held by Satanic Dictators like Pinocet, Che, Saddam, Stalin, and Hitler to name a few?
They belived in captial punishment NOT justice!
Anon 4:05,
I appreciate your comment. I lack your confidence in the appeals process. And, in the interest of full disclosure, I need to tell you I am philosophically opposed to the death penalty. I think it's anachronistic and out of place, and it disgusts me, no matter what the crime. I realize this is a minority view, but there it is. I don't often talk about it because there's not much point.
Its anything but justice Bernie. Guys doing life with no parole wish they could get killed.
jspike:
I hear that argument all the time. I have done work with lifers, I've never heard it.
The reality is in Pennsylvania we have had six capital exonerations, have the most racially skewed death row in the country & haven't executed anybody who didn't volunteer for it in decades.
The system is broken. Even DA's (such as John Morganelli)who were gung-ho on it years ago have mellowed on it because the reality is criminal justice resources are much better spent keeping us safe with things like adding a community cop on the in teh center square of Easton, or another gang prosecutor, or targeting gang bangers rather than trying to build a "capital case".
Any system that allows someone to sit on death row for 20 years without execution is certainly flawed. Think Mumia Abu-Jabal.
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