Post by Anja Nieser on Oct 1, 2006 5:51:56 GMT -5
Death-penalty opponents press for ban
Death penalty opponents again dominated the agenda of a state study
commission deciding whether to keep the sentence on the books.
Family members, rape victims, attorneys and other death penalty
abolitionists today urged the state to repeal the unused 1982 law, as the
commission weighed whether the sentence is handed down fairly to people
charged with similar crimes.
David Kaczynski, executive director of New Yorkers Against the Death
Penalty, and brother of "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski, spoke of his own
experience with the criminal justice system. He said that many cases'
outcomes are determined by outside variables and not the case's facts.
"I began to see the criminal justice system for what it is: an imperfect
system run by fallible human beings," said Kaczynski. "Who lives and who
dies should not depend on one's wealth, one's given mental ability, one's
ethnicity or race, or anyone else's personal whim or bias."
Among other things, the commission's latest meeting was concerned with
determining whether the reasons for sentencing could be arbitrary, unfair
or discriminatory. Also, it sought to determine if the crime committed by
those who received life sentences varied in severity compared to those who
received the death penalty.
Bill Babbitt, director of the Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights,
testified about how his mentally ill brother was improperly represented
and sentenced to the death penalty.
"I trusted that the system would work. Maybe I trusted the system too
much," Babbitt said.
The commission comes along at a time where many states are facing
criticism about their use of the death penalty.
In 2003, Illinois Gov. George Ryan commuted all of death row's sentences
due to errors within their criminal system. This past month, a report from
the American Bar Association found that Florida's application of the
sentence violates many of the ABA's guidelines for fairness and accuracy.
Eight lawyers from the state analyzed their findings and created proposals
for the state.
Along with ethical implications, the commission is evaluating the sentence
from a economic standpoint. A 2005 study by New Jersey Policy Perspective,
a liberal nonprofit research group, found that since the law's conception
23 years ago, the state has spent an estimated $250 million on the capital
punishment system.
Jack Callahan, chairman of the New Jersey Governor's Advisory Council on
Volunteerism and Community Service, began researching capital punishment
in 1996 while he worked in the Legislature. After he retired, he continued
to study capital punishment, its factors, and its social impact.
"All of the studies have led me to one conclusion: There is no rational
basis for the death penalty as a matter of public policy," said Callahan.
The commission will continue to hear testimony until it must submit its
findings and recommendations by Nov. 15 to the Legislature and Gov. Jon S.
Corzine.
(source: Cherry Hill Courier Post)
Death penalty opponents again dominated the agenda of a state study
commission deciding whether to keep the sentence on the books.
Family members, rape victims, attorneys and other death penalty
abolitionists today urged the state to repeal the unused 1982 law, as the
commission weighed whether the sentence is handed down fairly to people
charged with similar crimes.
David Kaczynski, executive director of New Yorkers Against the Death
Penalty, and brother of "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski, spoke of his own
experience with the criminal justice system. He said that many cases'
outcomes are determined by outside variables and not the case's facts.
"I began to see the criminal justice system for what it is: an imperfect
system run by fallible human beings," said Kaczynski. "Who lives and who
dies should not depend on one's wealth, one's given mental ability, one's
ethnicity or race, or anyone else's personal whim or bias."
Among other things, the commission's latest meeting was concerned with
determining whether the reasons for sentencing could be arbitrary, unfair
or discriminatory. Also, it sought to determine if the crime committed by
those who received life sentences varied in severity compared to those who
received the death penalty.
Bill Babbitt, director of the Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights,
testified about how his mentally ill brother was improperly represented
and sentenced to the death penalty.
"I trusted that the system would work. Maybe I trusted the system too
much," Babbitt said.
The commission comes along at a time where many states are facing
criticism about their use of the death penalty.
In 2003, Illinois Gov. George Ryan commuted all of death row's sentences
due to errors within their criminal system. This past month, a report from
the American Bar Association found that Florida's application of the
sentence violates many of the ABA's guidelines for fairness and accuracy.
Eight lawyers from the state analyzed their findings and created proposals
for the state.
Along with ethical implications, the commission is evaluating the sentence
from a economic standpoint. A 2005 study by New Jersey Policy Perspective,
a liberal nonprofit research group, found that since the law's conception
23 years ago, the state has spent an estimated $250 million on the capital
punishment system.
Jack Callahan, chairman of the New Jersey Governor's Advisory Council on
Volunteerism and Community Service, began researching capital punishment
in 1996 while he worked in the Legislature. After he retired, he continued
to study capital punishment, its factors, and its social impact.
"All of the studies have led me to one conclusion: There is no rational
basis for the death penalty as a matter of public policy," said Callahan.
The commission will continue to hear testimony until it must submit its
findings and recommendations by Nov. 15 to the Legislature and Gov. Jon S.
Corzine.
(source: Cherry Hill Courier Post)