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Capital Punishment in the United States: Explained
Loaded on Jan. 17, 2019
by Callie Heller, Jessica Brand
published in Criminal Legal News
February, 2019, page 1
by Jessica Brand and Callie Heller, The Appeal
This explainer was produced by The Appeal, a nonprofit criminal justice news site.
In August 2018, the state of Tennessee executed Billy Ray Irick, the first man executed in the state since 2009. He had spent over 30 years on death row. ...
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More from this issue:
- News in Brief
- Race-Based Arrests Rampant in San Francisco, by Kevin Bliss
- Tracking the Prevalence of Police Crime, by David Reutter
- Former Balch Springs, Texas, Officer Found Guilty of Murder of Black Teen, by Kevin Bliss
- Massachusetts Drug Lab Scandal: Thousands More Cases Likely Affected, by Kevin Bliss
- $225,000 Settlement by Detroit for Unjustified Shooting of Dogs in Drug Case, by Derek Gilna
- Why Defining a ‘Credible Witness’ in Criminal Trials Is a Slippery Slope, by Steve Horn
- Illinois Law on Informants Designed to Avoid Wrongful Convictions, by Betty Nelander
- ‘Innocent Man Almost Executed’ Freed After Decade on Death Row, by Betty Nelander
- Washington Governor Expects to Pardon About 3,500 for Single Misdemeanor Pot Convictions, by Betty Nelander
- Police Commit Significant Number of Sex Crimes, Which May Shock the General Public but Not Those Familiar with Law Enforcement, by Kevin Bliss
- Juror Bias Often Triggered by Severity of Crime Charged, by Edward Lyon
- Investigation and Arrest of Mail Bomb Suspect Rips Cover Off Postal Surveillance, by Derek Gilna
- Campus Cops on Municipal Streets Raises Transparency and Accountability Concerns, by Virginia Griese
- Louisiana Ends Jim Crow-era Law: Unanimous Jury Requirement Now in Constitution, by Virginia Griese
- ‘Texas Reneging on Deal’ With Draconian Sex Offender Registry, but Some Are Fighting Back, by Edward Lyon
- Montana Supreme Court: Retrial Following Mistrial Declared Without ‘Manifest Necessity’ Violates Prohibition on Double Jeopardy, by Mark Wilson
- U.S. Senator Sounds Alarm on Privacy, Public Safety Concerns of Cell-Site Simulators, by Derek Gilna
- DEA Agents Trap Cocaine-Trafficking Suspects with Doctored Blackberrys, by Derek Gilna
- Federal Judge Signals That Defense Counsel Will Be Permitted To Argue Jury Nullification in Questionable Child Porn Prosecution, by Chad Marks
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Rules Defense Attorney Violated McCoy, Reverses Capital Convictions and Orders New Trial, by Chad Marks
- Nevada Supreme Court Reverses Convictions Where Trial Court Failed to Conduct Third Step of Batson Challenge, by Chad Marks
- Sixth Circuit: Tennessee Aggravated Sexual Battery Is Not a SORNA Tier III Offense, by Christopher Zoukis
- Georgia Supreme Court: Asportation Required to Support Kidnapping Conviction, by David Reutter
- Montana Supreme Court Overrules Its Precedents Confusing Venue and Jurisdiction, Announces Venue Is Waivable But Cannot Waive Jurisdiction, by Dale Chappell
- California Court of Appeal: Commissioner Cannot Preside Over Parole Revocation Hearing Absent Stipulation, by Douglas Ankney
- Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Attempt to Close Door in Officer’s Face Clear Signal that Consent Not Given for Warrantless Entry, by Douglas Ankney
- Report: Bitemark Analysis Debunked as Pseudoscience, by Richard Resch
- Montana Supreme Court: City May Not Impose Local Surcharge Not Authorized by State Law for Violation of State Criminal Statute, by Derek Gilna
- Sixth Circuit Holds Tennessee Burglary Not Violent Felony Under ACCA, Overturning Previous Controlling Authority in Light of SCOTUS’ Mathis Opinion, by Dale Chappell
- Maine Supreme Court Rules Double Jeopardy Bars Re-Use of Evidence at Second Trial After Acquittal Based on Same Evidence at First Trial on Different Charges, by Dale Chappell
- West Virginia Supreme Court Vacates Sentence After State Violates Plea Bargain by Making Recommendation at Sentencing, by Matthew Clarke
- Tenth Circuit Clarifies Proper Test for Pretrial Hearing on Seized Assets Needed to Retain Counsel, by Matthew Clarke
- Public Support for Militarized Policing Ebbs, Fails to Improve Safety, by Edward Lyon
- Minnesota Supreme Court Clarifies Rule Against Judicial ‘Participation’ in Plea Negotiations, by Dale Chappell
- Study Shows Reassigning Problem Cops Could Have Saved Chicago More than $6 Million in Lawsuit Payouts, by Dale Chappell
- Washington Supreme Court Announces Effective Date of Certificate of Discharge Is Date Offender Completes All Sentence Requirements, by Chad Marks
- Fourth Circuit Vacates USSG Career Offender Sentence Predicated on Georgia Robbery, by Christopher Zoukis
- Iowa Supreme Court Announces New SOL Rule for Consecutive Postconviction IAC Claims, by Dale Chappell
- Ninth Circuit Remands Drug Case for Reconsideration of Sentencing Guidelines’ Minor-Role Adjustment, by Christopher Zoukis
- N.Y. Court of Appeals Announces When Trial Commences for Timeliness of Pro Se Requests, by Edward Lyon
- President Trump Signs First Step Act Into Law—It’s a Good Initial Attempt at Meaningful Reform, by Chad Marks
- South Carolina Supreme Court Holds Broken Chain of Custody for Drug Evidence Requires Reversal of Conviction, by Dale Chappell
- America’s Cities Are Criminalizing Homelessness, by Matthew Clarke
- Habeas Hints: SCOTUS Review 2017-18, by Tara Hoveland, Kent Russell
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court Holds Defendant Unambiguously Invoked Right to Remain Silent Suppresses Confession and Derivative Physical Evidence and Announces New Rule, by Chad Marks
- Capital Punishment in the United States: Explained, by Callie Heller, Jessica Brand
More from Callie Heller:
- Capital Punishment in the United States: Explained, Jan. 17, 2019
More from Jessica Brand:
- The Power of Sheriffs: An Explainer, Sept. 17, 2019
- Capital Punishment in the United States: Explained, Jan. 17, 2019
- Fines and Fees: Explained, Dec. 27, 2017
More from these topics:
- Alabama Governor Commutes Death Sentence, May 1, 2025. Death Penalty/Death Row, Resentencing.
- Federal Withdrawal of Single-Drug Execution Protocol Follows Challenges in Indiana, Arizona, March 1, 2025. Death Penalty/Death Row, Lethal Injection Method of Execution.
- Arizona To Resume Executions, Feb. 15, 2025. Death Row, Lethal Injection Method of Execution.
- Tennessee Finalizes New One-Drug Execution Protocol, Feb. 15, 2025. Death Penalty/Death Row, Drugs - Determination of, Lethal Injection Method of Execution.
- Indiana Resumes Executions, Feb. 15, 2025. Death Penalty/Death Row, Lethal Injection Method of Execution.
- With Eleventh Circuit Okay, Alabama Executes Third Prisoner by Nitrogen Hypoxia, Jan. 15, 2025. Death Penalty/Death Row, Cruel and Unusual Punishment.
- Biden Commutes Sentences of Most Federal Prisoners on Death Row, Jan. 15, 2025. Alternative Sentencing, Death Penalty/Death Row, Resentencing.
- Alabama Shrouds Executioners in Secrecy, Dec. 15, 2024. Death Penalty/Death Row, Lethal Injection Method of Execution.
- San Quentin Brings in Hollywood, Moves Out California Death Row Prisoners, Dec. 15, 2024. Death Penalty/Death Row, Media.
- SCOTUS Stays Texas Execution With 20 Minutes to Spare, Nov. 15, 2024. DNA Testing/Samples, Death Penalty/Death Row, Stays, Lethal Injection Method of Execution.