Dec 01 For the first time, more Americans believe death penalty is applied unfairly, report finds By Juan A. Lozano, Associated Press Whether the public’s waning support for the death penalty and the declining number of executions and death sentences will ultimately result in the abolition of capital punishment in the U.S. remains uncertain, experts said. Continue reading
Nov 09 Oklahoma board recommends the governor spare the life of a death row inmate who argued self-defense By Sean Murphy, Associated Press The board voted 3-2 on Wednesday to recommend that Gov. Kevin Stitt spare the life of Phillip Dean Hancock. Hancock was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2001 shooting deaths after an argument at a home in south Oklahoma City. Continue reading
Oct 31 Why some Republicans in Oklahoma want to pause executions By Adam Kemp Oklahoma and Texas accounted for more than half of all executions in the U.S. last year. These Republicans say the death penalty cases need to be reexamined… Continue reading
Aug 31 Departing governor races to move prisoners off death row in Louisiana By Roby Chavez Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards is using his clemency power to help advance a mass request for commutations after he publicly called on state lawmakers to stop the death penalty months ago. Continue reading
Jul 22 Watch 5:31 Oklahoma death row prisoner's case reignites debate over capital punishment By Adam Kemp, Andrew Corkery, Harry Zahn Death row prisoner Richard Glossip has been scheduled to be executed in Oklahoma nine times since 2015. The courts have delayed his execution each time so that legal challenges could be considered. Now, Glossip is asking the Supreme Court to… Continue watching
Jul 19 Louisiana youths held in an old death row building suffer heat, isolation, advocates say By Kevin McGill, Associated Press Advocates for juveniles held in a former death row building at a Louisiana prison say the youths are suffering through dangerous heat and psychologically damaging isolation in their prison cells with little or no mental health care, schooling or water. Continue reading
Jun 23 Oklahoma death row inmate plans to refuse clemency hearing but maintains innocence By Sean Murphy, Associated Press An Oklahoma death row inmate scheduled to be executed in September for the 1996 killing of a University of Oklahoma dance student says he plans to reject his chance for a clemency hearing. Continue reading
Apr 25 Watch 7:51 Texas woman's last-minute reprieve on death row draws questions about wrongful convictions By Amna Nawaz, Frank Carlson The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted a stay of execution for 52-year-old Melissa Lucio, a woman who had been set to be the first Hispanic woman put to death by the state in modern history after being convicted of… Continue watching
Apr 14 Lawsuit over South Carolina execution methods allowed to move forward By Michelle Liu, Associated Press A judge has ruled that a lawsuit brought by four death row inmates challenging South Carolina’s execution methods can move forward. Continue reading
Mar 24 Supreme Court says states must allow prayer, touch during executions By Jessica Gresko, Associated Press The Supreme Court says states must accommodate the wishes of death row inmates who want to have their pastors pray aloud and even touch them during their executions. Continue reading