NCJ Number
141117
Date Published
1993
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This report documents 20 years of the death sentencing of female offenders under modern death penalty statutes in the United States.
Abstract
The current American death penalty era began when new death penalty statutes were enacted following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in "Furman" in 1972, which struck down all then-existing death penalty statutes. A total of 94 females have been sentenced to death in this current era, only 2 percent of the 4,741 death sentences for all offenders. Despite some fluctuations, particularly in the early years of this period, the death sentencing rate for female offenders was typically about five per year, beginning in the 1980's. In 1989, this annual death sentencing rate doubled for reasons unknown. In 1990 and 1991, the sentencing rate seemed to have returned to just above the pre-1989 levels. Then the rate surged to 10 in 1992, portending an annual rate nearly double that of the 1980's. This is apparently approximately 4 percent of the death sentences imposed in 1992, suggesting that a significant increase in the rate of the death sentencing of female offenders may be occurring. Of the 94 death sentences for female offenders, only 40 sentences remain in effect. One appendix provides a detailed listing of name, race, jurisdiction, dates of crimes and sentences, and current status for each female death sentence. Another appendix presents case summaries for current female death row inmates (December 31, 1992). 2 tables