NCJ Number
59897
Date Published
1979
Length
94 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT, ONE IN THE SERIES PUBLISHED UNDER THE NATIONAL PRISONER STATISTICS PROGRAM, PROVIDES INFORMATION ON PRISONERS UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH IN 1978 AND ON TRENDS REGARDING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
Abstract
THE TRENDS ARE TRACED FROM 1976 TO 1978, AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN DEATH PENALTY LAWS OF STATES ARE HIGHLIGHTED. INMATES UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH ARE DISTRIBUTED BY REGION AND STATE AND ARE DIFFERENTIATED BY AGE, SEX, RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, MARITAL STATUS AT TIME OF IMPRISONMENT, AND LEVEL OF EDUCATION. CRIMINAL JUSTICE MATTERS TREATED INCLUDE LEGAL STATUS AT TIME OF ARREST, PRIOR FELONY CONVICTIONS, OFFENSE, TIME SPENT ON DEATH ROW, AND FOR PRISONERS REMOVED FROM DEATH ROW DURING THE YEAR, BOTH THE METHOD OF REMOVAL AND STATUS AT YEAR END. APPENDIXES DISPLAY THE TABLES ON WHICH THE REPORT IS BASED AND THE BASIC QUESTIONNAIRE USED TO ELICIT DATA FROM CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITIES; THEY DESCRIBE THE DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES AND THE CHANGES MADE IN THE QUESTIONNAIRES OVER SEVERAL YEARS. OVERALL, THE DATA SHOW THAT MORE PEOPLE ENTERED THAN LEFT DEATH ROW IN THE U.S. DURING 1978, A YEAR CHARACTERIZED BY A SUBSTANTIAL TURNOVER OF PRISONERS UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH. NO ONE WAS EXECUTED DURING THE YEAR. HOWEVER, A SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER PROPORTION OF THE DEATH-ROW POPULATION APPEARED TO BE UNDER A MORE IMMEDIATE RISK OF EXECUTION THAN IN RECENT YEARS. MOST OF THE INMATES HAD BEEN SENTENCED UNDER LAWS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO MEET EVOLVING COURT STANDARDS ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF DEATH PENALTY LAWS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (DAG)