Jackson Free Press

This month marks 30 years since the death penalty was reinstated in the United States. In the past 30 years, we as Americans have executed 1,031 people. Are we better off?

Many Americans think not. Support for the death penalty is shrinking, and more Americans support life without parole than the death penalty. Why? Because in the last 30 years, we've seen that the death penalty isn't working.

Sometimes, we execute innocent people. 123 death-row prisoners have been proven innocent in the last 30 years. That's one person exonerated for every 10 executed. The number is growing: DNA testing and other post-conviction reexaminations of evidence will continue to exonerate innocent people who were sentenced to die for crimes they did not commit.

Currently, 63 people await execution in Mississippi. Who among them might be innocent?

The South accounts for more than 80 percent of the country's executions. It is disproportionately applied based on the race of the victim and the race of the defendant, and disproportionately applied against poor people. Almost all people on death rows across the country could not afford to hire an attorney. How can we dare to hope for liberty and justice for all if justice isn't fairly applied to all people? Supporters of the death penalty hoped it would bring a sense of justice to victims and their families. Many families, however, have said repeatedly that executions did not heal their grief or bring justice to their lost loved ones. Some families think the death penalty perpetuated their grief as they waited for the promised closure that execution ultimately did not provide.

As a result, networks like Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights have formed to advocate for an end to the death penalty.

Many major religions also oppose the death penalty, but proponents of the death penalty often find as much liturgical support as its opponents. Some biblical passages advise a death sentence for murder, rebellious teenagers, premarital sex, blasphemy and working on the Sabbath. But even Cain's punishment did not include death.

Morally and philosophically, the death penalty is a paradoxical punishment. Killing to stop killing simply does not make sense. There are no other violent crimes for which we subject the perpetrator to the same fate. Should we sentence rapists to be raped? Wouldn't we consider that barbaric?

After 30 years, the death penalty has not prevented crime. Criminologists agree overwhelmingly that the death penalty is not a deterrent. In fact, states without it have lower murder rates than states that do. Police chiefs have rated the death penalty as the least cost-effective method for controlling crime. In fact, the death penalty has proved quite costly. The state of Mississippi spends more to execute a person than to keep him or her in prison for life without parole.

Having just celebrated Independence Day, it's ironic that the United States is the only Western democracy that still sentences its residents to death.

Undoubtedly, criminals should be punished, and justice should be served. But the death penalty serves justice to no one—and may outright deny justice to some.

On July 11, the state of Mississippi is scheduled to execute Bobby Wilcher. A man with bipolar disorder, Wilcher waived his appeals process, requesting that the state hasten his death. He then reversed his decision. Nonetheless, the court denied his request to continue the normal appeals process, and unless overruled by the U.S. Supreme Court, a mentally ill man will be executed this week. Thirty years later, it seems we are no better off—but we now know better, and we can do better. Mississippians have stood up against injustices in the past. Now is the time to stand together again and work toward a justice system that delivers true justice for all.

Mississippians Educating for Smart Justice is a non-partisan, non-sectarian organization. More information is provided at http://www.mesj.info

Previous Commentsshow

Good column, freelance. Two of my brothers were killed. We sought no revenge at all. I'm free of hatred toward any of the killers because I refused to unnecessarily tie their lives and death to these people. The killers themselves are often very messed up people too which led them down the road to killing somebody in the first place. These Christians and other spiritual people who can't go on until the perpertator is killed too are crazy and deceived in my view. They're wasting valuable time hating. Hate is an ugly, damaging and self-defeating response. I refuse to even feel it. I pretend to feel it sometimes to make a point or to punish someone who has injured me, but I know too well how harmful it is. Revenge poses a never winning battle. The only way to avoid losing this game is to avoid it.

Ray Carter

Jul 13 2006

Ray, you should write us a column on that. 800 words?

DonnaLadd

Jul 13 2006

This would be hard for me. One of them was my oldest brother who adored and bragged on me constantly. The other one was probably my favorite brother as he was more like me than any of the others, and he was more naturally gifted than I am. However, he didn't have my longing to leave Louisville, and I failed to get him away before it was too late. There is probably a wonderful story here but I'm reticent to tell it all. I'll think about it though.

Ray Carter

Jul 13 2006

You don't have to tell it all. Tell what you're comfortable with. I'd love to publish the views of a man who defends prisoners on death row who also has felt the pain of being a victim. And people would want to read it.

DonnaLadd

Jul 13 2006