Capital Punishment in America
Capital punishment, often referred to as the death penalty, is the governmentsanctioned execution of an inmate as a sentencing for their crimes.
Since being reinstated in 1976, 158 people have been exonerated. For every 9 executions, one person has been exonerated from death row.
In a 2008 survey by Death Penalty Information Center, 500 police chiefs ranked the death penalty last when asked to rank areas by “most important for reducing violent crime.�
Even though black people and white people are murder victims in nearly equal numbers of crimes, 80% of people executed since the death penalty was reinstated have been executed for murders involving white victims.
The longest execution in US history occurred during the execution of an Arizona man that lasted two hours. As recently as February of this year, an execution in Alabama failed after a 2.5 hour attempt.
Together, these organizations are working to bring awareness and reform to the criminal justice system and advocating for the abolishment of the death penalty.
Since 1976, 158 people have been exonerated from death row. As of today, there are 2,743 people awaiting execution in the United States.
GRA 461: Fall 2018 Visual Communication V
Student: Eric Sayban Instructor: A. Sanft, E. Montgomery