US imposes fewer death penalties as DNA evidence see more people cleared
source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/18/death-penalty-falls-us
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The number of death sentences imposed by US courts has fallen because of a growing number of exonerations through DNA testing, according to a report by a prominent anti-death penalty group.
The Death Penalty Information Centre in Washington says judges and juries imposed fewer death sentences over the past 12 months than at any time since the restoration of execution in 1976.
This year 106 death sentences have been passed, the seventh straight year the number has fallen and sharply down on the high of 328 in 1994. Richard Dieter, DPIC's director and author of the report, said the fall reflected growing concern over the reliability of convictions. "The principal reason is the innocence cases, the exonerations, people getting out because of DNA testing.
"People read about these exonerations, people walking out of prison 20 years after the crime. Jurors are convicting but giving life sentences not the death penalty."
The Death Penalty Information Centre in Washington says judges and juries imposed fewer death sentences over the past 12 months than at any time since the restoration of execution in 1976.
This year 106 death sentences have been passed, the seventh straight year the number has fallen and sharply down on the high of 328 in 1994. Richard Dieter, DPIC's director and author of the report, said the fall reflected growing concern over the reliability of convictions. "The principal reason is the innocence cases, the exonerations, people getting out because of DNA testing.
"People read about these exonerations, people walking out of prison 20 years after the crime. Jurors are convicting but giving life sentences not the death penalty."
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