State expects number of executions to rise - 2006, four inmates could enter the execution chamber

The Contra Costa Times ^ | Jan. 01, 2006 | Crystal Carreon and Claire Cooper

[Former Military Chick]

I say it is about damn time. I also say thank goodness someone is forcing the appeal process into the light. Send Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, a note appreciating his efforts.

Not only is this horrible for the victim's families the years can cause evidence to get lost, witnesses to disappear or worse die.

Twenty plus years on death row is just far to long.

This really gives me pause though:

The bill has encountered unexpected resistance, however, from the chief justices of the 50 states, who have voted unanimously to oppose it.

"We are concerned with speed and efficiency, but we're also concerned with fairness," said California Chief Justice Ronald George, a former death penalty prosecutor who has done much to expedite death penalty cases in the state court system.

[bigsigh]

I didn't see the numbers, but last I read there were 20-25 death penalty sentences per year in Cal and two executions every 4-5 years. That's why we have 640 on death row. A 235 year appela process is obsecene and immoral.

[BenLurkin]

There are two chairs in the gas chamber. San Quentin should be executing four people a day -- not in a year.

[GSlob]

Death penalty should be applied liberally. Very liberally.

[Former Military Chick]

I am no longer a voter of CA but if I were I would be voicing my outrage of the time spent on death row.

In the last week, I had heard Scott Peterson's family hired their own private appeals attorney. That should not seem odd except folks on death row do not pay for their own appeals attorneys, they file the indigent status and then wait.

The wait is the fact that the state pays little for the services and those that offer their time are so overwhelmed that they have no room on their plate.

I want a fair system. I demand that the record be checked and done so in a timely manner. That all the T's are crossed etc. But, really what CA is doing is as you put it obscene and immoral .

Thank you for the comment.

[bigsigh]

I can't remember the last time I heard death peanalty come up in a campaign.

[Once-Ler]

TX executed 19 scumbags last year and has removed over 300 parasites from society in the last 25 years. That is a record to be proud of. With all the murderers in CA I can't believe they worry over 4.

[Lancer_N3502A]

Yup, start doin' one a day and we'll be done in about 21 months.

[Lancer_N3502A]

That's too many. We can't do 4 a day, those executioners would be out of work in weeks...can't have that.

[sgtbono2002]

640 people on Death Row. Thats frickin unbelieveable.

Now they are crying that this murderous turd in the wheelchair is old and cant see and should be saved. Well: If they dont start knocking off 2 or 3 a week most of them on death row will die of old age.

[Burf]

I thought the idea was to do four at a time. That would reduce the population in short order. They could have death row cleared out in a month.

[Navy Patriot]

Aww, I thought it was going to be four at one time.

[Don Carlos]

Pikers!

January 2001. Record 8 executions set this month in Oklahoma Shortened appeals process, long terms contribute to rate By Kelly Kurt, -- Associated Press News Service Tulsa, Oklahoma – Gary Gibson has officiated at Oklahoma executions more than 20 times. However, never has Mr. Gibson, the warden at the southern Oklahoma prison that houses the state's death chamber, faced a month like January, when seven men and one woman are scheduled to die. "It's a trying situation for everybody," he said. Reforms that have shortened the appeals process and the fact that five of the condemned inmates have been on death row for more than 11 years contribute to the surge. The twice-a-week executions have caused little stir among a public supportive of the death penalty that even Gov. Frank Keating, a Roman Catholic, once called the pope's stance against it wrong. Leading people to their deaths is never easy, and Mr. Gibson said he plans to watch his employees closely for signs of fatigue, anxiety, or profound stress from January's hectic pace.

[jamesm51]

There are two chairs in the gas chamber. San Quentin should be executing four people a day -- not in a year.

Better yet, every day, take 10 out back and have them face a firing squad.

[Redbob]

Good, good!

Things ARE improving in Californicate!

[JRios1968]

SACRAMENTO - California's capital punishment debate -- ignited by the execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams -- will likely intensify as the state prepares to carry out death sentences at a pace unseen in more than a generation.

SNIP

In 2006, four inmates could enter the execution chamber, including the state's oldest death row resident, 75-year-old Clarence Ray Allen, according to the state attorney general's office.

Four in one year? That's a slow month in Texas, and way short of what needs to be done!

[PAR35]

TX executed 19 scumbags last year.... That is a record to be proud of.

No, it isn't.

Now 19 a month might be a record to be proud of.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Gov. Frank Keating, a Roman Catholic, once called the pope's stance against it wrong.

And he was right.

[goldstategop]

Fairness harrumph... when it takes 20 years to execute a murderer something is wrong. There's practically no penalty for murder. You can kill someone and drag things out long enough to either get a new trial, clemency or die of old age. We don't have the death penalty in California - we have the pretense of pretending to be tough on murderers even as more innocents die. This is justice? Not in my book.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Banjoguy]

2006, four inmates could enter the execution chamber

Not near enough........