NCJ Number
208863
Date Published
July 2002
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study explored the consequences of granting clemency to death row inmates.
Abstract
Since the death penalty was reinstated in the United States in 1976, executive clemency has been granted 48 times on “humanitarian” grounds; this report focuses on the 19 clemencies that have been granted during the past 10 years (June 1992 through June 2002). The goal of the research was to examine whether governors experienced deleterious political outcomes following the granting of clemency to death row inmates. Data under examination included governor’s stated reasons for granting clemency and the political records of these governors. The results indicated that governors who have granted clemency during the past 10 years have not suffered politically. In fact, governors and President Clinton received high approval ratings of at least 55 percent following 15 of the 19 clemencies under examination. Moreover, the three most politically successful governors in this group of clemency-granters, granted clemency twice during their terms. As such, it appears that granting clemency to death row inmates neither results in low approval ratings nor threatens the chances of success in future elections. These findings have occurred in a climate marked by fairly high public approval of the death penalty under certain circumstances. Given the widespread acknowledgement of serious flaws in the use of the death penalty, governors are afforded a heightened degree of responsibility in reviewing and considering clemency appeals. Figures, appendix