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60 Percent of Executions Happen in Texas
The New York Times ^ | 12-26-2007 | ADAM LIPTAK

Posted on 12/26/2007 7:08:55 PM PST by Baladas

(Dec. 26) -- This year’s death penalty bombshells — a de facto national moratorium, a state abolition and the smallest number of executions in more than a decade — have masked what may be the most significant and lasting development. For the first time in the modern history of the death penalty, more than 60 percent of all American executions took place in Texas.

Over the past three decades, the proportion of executions nationwide performed in Texas has held relatively steady, averaging 37 percent. Only once before, in 1986, has the state accounted for even a slight majority of the executions, and that was in a year with 18 executions nationwide.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.aol.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: deathpenalty; dontmesswithtexas; executioms; godblesstexas; texas
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To: Baladas

“What happens in Texas stays in Texas!”


61 posted on 12/26/2007 8:01:30 PM PST by RightOnTheLeftCoast ([Fred Thompson/Clarence Thomas 2008!])
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To: altura; nina0113
One reason is that Texas does not have a provision for a life sentence without parole.

As of 2005 (Senate Bill 60 signed by Gov. Perry), Texas juries in capital murder cases do have the option of sentencing a convicted killer to life w/o the possibility of parole.

62 posted on 12/26/2007 8:02:22 PM PST by Tex_GOP_Cruz
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To: kcvl

Michael Richard, Michael Richards, John Edward, John Edwards...the left loves to cry over the scum of society.

And yeah, “life without the possibility of parole” is a joke, even most jurors now know that.


63 posted on 12/26/2007 8:05:03 PM PST by Baladas
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To: Baladas

Texas - undisputed American heavyweight champion for sending criminal scumbags directly to hell. Just remember that you have to go far out of your way in order to be put down like a rabid animal. You have to earn it - the crimes are voluntary activities, and one should expect nothing short of the full renumeration for their efforts (and execution merely expedites the beginning).


64 posted on 12/26/2007 8:05:37 PM PST by M203M4 (True Universal Suffrage: Pets of dead illegal-immigrant felons voting Democrat (twice))
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To: Baladas

Final/Special Meal:
Fried chicken, a salad with pepper, lemon-lime soda, apple pie and a pint of ice cream.

Final Words:
“I’d like my family to take care of each other. I love you, Angel. Let’s ride. I guess this is it.”

“Convicted killer executed for woman’s death 21 years ago,” by Michael Graczyk. (Associated Press Sept. 25, 2007, 8:55PM)

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — More than two decades after a mother of seven was attacked and killed inside her Harris County home, the man convicted of her slaying was executed Tuesday evening.

Richard, 49, had at least five felony convictions and had been released from his second prison term just eight weeks before the 1986 murder of Marguerite Lucille Dixon. He was the 26th Texas inmate executed this year. The execution was delayed about two hours while appeals were in the courts.

“It means in this particular case, the system worked, it was thorough,” Stephen Dixon, whose mother was killed in the attack, said after watching Richard die. “The person executed deserved what he got.” Dixon said he wasn’t too concerned with the delays. “I was told to expect such things,” he said. “It’s been a long 21 years.”

Dixon’s 53-year-old mother, who worked as a nurse, had offered Richard a drink of water after he came up to her house and inquired whether a van parked outside was for sale. The vehicle wasn’t and Richard left, noticing that two of Dixon’s children who were home at the time left shortly after he did. Evidence showed he returned, raped the woman, fatally shot her, then stole two televisions and drove off in the van.


65 posted on 12/26/2007 8:05:54 PM PST by kcvl
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To: Trajan88
...Hey all you p.o.s. murdering thugs out there... fear Texas...

My feelings exactly!... When I think of all the innocent people, little girls, Young promising men and women, the elderly... killed by these pieces of SHI*... I say CONGRATULATIONS TEXAS!!!

66 posted on 12/26/2007 8:09:16 PM PST by ElPatriota (Duncan Hunter 08 -- I am proud to support this man for my president)
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To: kcvl

Awwwww, how touching. Her last day on earth involved trying to help a stranger and then being raped, robbed, and murdered. But her killer got to live for two more decades and even got ice cream on his last day!


67 posted on 12/26/2007 8:11:42 PM PST by Baladas
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To: altura
Well, that WAS the case until Gov Perry signed Senate Bill 60 in June of 2005. It changed Texas Penal Code 12.32

SUBCHAPTER C. ORDINARY FELONY PUNISHMENTS

§ 12.31. CAPITAL FELONY.

(a) An individual adjudged guilty of a capital felony in a case in which the state seeks the death penalty shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for life without parole or by death. An individual adjudged guilty of a capital felony in a case in which the state does not seek the death penalty shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for life without parole.

68 posted on 12/26/2007 8:20:13 PM PST by GregoTX (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: OCC

I’d support the death penalty whether a deterrent effect gets proven or not. I believe in justice. I was just wondering if a correlation could be seen in the state.


69 posted on 12/26/2007 8:27:01 PM PST by Marie2 (I used to be disgusted. . .now I try to be amused.)
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To: Marie2

“Any correlation with a lower murder rate?”

Not until they reduce the time between the crime and the execution down from 15 years to, say, 15 days.


70 posted on 12/26/2007 8:29:40 PM PST by Eccl 10:2 (Pray for the peace of Jerusalem - Ps 122:6)
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To: Eccl 10:2

Good point. Justice delayed is pretty much justice denied.


71 posted on 12/26/2007 8:32:05 PM PST by Marie2 (I used to be disgusted. . .now I try to be amused.)
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To: Marie2
I was just wondering if a correlation could be seen in the state.

Probably not, but it all depends on who you ask and how you massage the statistics.

http://teacher.deathpenaltycurriculum.org/c/about/arguments/argument1a.htm

72 posted on 12/26/2007 8:33:53 PM PST by OCC
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To: CindyDawg
"Of the 42 executions in the last year, 26 were in Texas"

26 for 42. Not a bad average but there's still room for improvement.

There are 360+ opportunities to up that batting average in the near future against some poor opposition found here: Offenders on Texas Death Row

yitbos

73 posted on 12/26/2007 8:46:37 PM PST by bruinbirdman ("Those who control language control minds. - Ayn Rand")
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

Can’t believe I had to scroll to 42 to find that, but way to go...

“Yeaaap!... That’s our policy.”

“The difference between California and Texas is we have the death penalty, and Weeeee Uuuuuuuuuuuuse it.”


74 posted on 12/26/2007 8:56:31 PM PST by sayfer bullets (Go Pokes!)
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To: Dog Gone; BlueLancer

Good of you not to gloat at the expense of us slackers, though you’ve earned it.


75 posted on 12/26/2007 9:04:08 PM PST by dighton
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To: Baladas
Two Words: Guisseppe Zangara

On the morning of 2/15/33 Guisseppe Zangara took a shot at President Elect Roosevelt but he shot and killed Mayor Cermak.

On 3/20/33 he was electrocuted.

Total time from crime to execution: 33 days.

If you are going to have a death penalty this is how to do it!

76 posted on 12/26/2007 9:06:26 PM PST by Mikey_1962 (Liberals want equality of outcome not opportunity.)
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To: Marie2
"I’d support the death penalty whether a deterrent effect gets proven or not. I believe in justice."

Your right about that, and what you said is final the point. It is an appropriate punishment for the crime. If it deters other crime... well thats great, but it is a punishment. It is the death penalty, it is capitol punishment . It isnt a social program.

77 posted on 12/26/2007 9:07:41 PM PST by GregoTX (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: GregoTX
If it deters other crime... well thats great, but it is a punishment. It is the death penalty, it is capitol punishment . It isn't a social program.

Well put!!

78 posted on 12/26/2007 9:30:27 PM PST by evad (.)
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To: altura
"One reason is that Texas does not have a provision for a life sentence without parole. "

There is reason to think that the number of death sentences in the state will fall farther, given the introduction of life without the possibility of parole as a sentencing option in capital cases in Texas in 2005.

79 posted on 12/26/2007 9:46:06 PM PST by matthew fuller (The destruction of the CIA tapes was indubitably intentional obstruction of treason.)
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To: nina0113
"Can't every governor commute a sentence?"

I believe that the TX Gov. can only give a 30 day postponement of an execution.

80 posted on 12/26/2007 9:51:42 PM PST by matthew fuller (The destruction of the CIA tapes was indubitably intentional obstruction of treason.)
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