Post by Anja on Jun 15, 2006 16:00:22 GMT -5
Texas' lethal injections
In a Monday decision, the Supreme Court set a precedent making it easier
for inmates to challenge lethal injection by filing special federal court
claims saying the chemicals in the execution are too painful, possibly
amounting to cruel and unusual punishment.
Although 3 executions were halted in Missouri and Florida while the
Supreme Court debated the constitutionality of lethal injection, Robert
Neville Jr. was still put to death last Wednesday in Texas. The Supreme
Court ruling wouldn't have affected the constitutionality of the Neville
execution, but the high court is trying to set an example of consistency
in policy for the lower courts.
This inconsistency wasn't just seen last week. Since mid-January, more
than 10 Texas inmates attempted to challenge the 3-chemical death potion,
but none were granted stays.
In that same time frame, Florida heard 2 similar complaints and spared
both executions. Tennessee, Delaware, Ohio, North Carolina, Maryland and
Missouri also granted stays to inmate complainants.
There is a confused patchwork of stays and executions in this country, and
Texas has been the most eager to ignore the stays. Supporters of the death
penalty will attribute the large number of executions in Texas to the need
to clear out the prison system.
The numbers below could justify trying to limit funding involved in
holding inmates, when execution is an option. But Monday's decision will
only give inmates a new avenue for appeals, therefore keeping them on
death row even longer.
While we commend the side benefit of the justices' ruling that could
stretch out the appeals process and come closer to assuring that no inmate
will be wrongly executed, it will add considerable death row legal costs.
With these costs continuing to rise, it makes us wonder why Texas, a state
so hell-bent on cutting taxpayer expenses, is so eager to put its citizens
on death row.
Though Monday's Supreme Court ruling is non-binding, and Texas is free to
continue using lethal injections should it so desire, we urge the state to
rethink the death penalty: If not for the ethical ramifications, at least
for the tax money.
--by the numbers
4--Number of executions in Texas between 1977 and 1984, the 7 years
following the reinstatement of the death penalty in the U.S.
167--Number of executions in Texas since 1999.
$61.58--Cost per day to hold an inmate on death row in Texas, as of 2002.
399--Number of Texans currently on death row.
10.43--Average number of years on death row prior to execution, as of
2003.
$86.08--Cost of drugs per execution.
The 3 steps of lethal injection, first used by Texas in 1982:
1. Sodium piothental, an anesthetic, puts the inmate into a deep sleep. As
many as 5 grams may be administered, in comparison to a dose of 100 to 150
milligrams for a surgical operation.
2. Pancuronium bromide, a muscle relaxant, stops breathing by paralyzing
the diaphragm and lungs. Conventionally, this drug takes effect in 1 to 3
minutes.
3. Potassium chloride, a toxic agent not used in all states, induces
cardiac arrest by interrupting electric signaling essential to heart
functions.
(source: The Daily Texan)
In a Monday decision, the Supreme Court set a precedent making it easier
for inmates to challenge lethal injection by filing special federal court
claims saying the chemicals in the execution are too painful, possibly
amounting to cruel and unusual punishment.
Although 3 executions were halted in Missouri and Florida while the
Supreme Court debated the constitutionality of lethal injection, Robert
Neville Jr. was still put to death last Wednesday in Texas. The Supreme
Court ruling wouldn't have affected the constitutionality of the Neville
execution, but the high court is trying to set an example of consistency
in policy for the lower courts.
This inconsistency wasn't just seen last week. Since mid-January, more
than 10 Texas inmates attempted to challenge the 3-chemical death potion,
but none were granted stays.
In that same time frame, Florida heard 2 similar complaints and spared
both executions. Tennessee, Delaware, Ohio, North Carolina, Maryland and
Missouri also granted stays to inmate complainants.
There is a confused patchwork of stays and executions in this country, and
Texas has been the most eager to ignore the stays. Supporters of the death
penalty will attribute the large number of executions in Texas to the need
to clear out the prison system.
The numbers below could justify trying to limit funding involved in
holding inmates, when execution is an option. But Monday's decision will
only give inmates a new avenue for appeals, therefore keeping them on
death row even longer.
While we commend the side benefit of the justices' ruling that could
stretch out the appeals process and come closer to assuring that no inmate
will be wrongly executed, it will add considerable death row legal costs.
With these costs continuing to rise, it makes us wonder why Texas, a state
so hell-bent on cutting taxpayer expenses, is so eager to put its citizens
on death row.
Though Monday's Supreme Court ruling is non-binding, and Texas is free to
continue using lethal injections should it so desire, we urge the state to
rethink the death penalty: If not for the ethical ramifications, at least
for the tax money.
--by the numbers
4--Number of executions in Texas between 1977 and 1984, the 7 years
following the reinstatement of the death penalty in the U.S.
167--Number of executions in Texas since 1999.
$61.58--Cost per day to hold an inmate on death row in Texas, as of 2002.
399--Number of Texans currently on death row.
10.43--Average number of years on death row prior to execution, as of
2003.
$86.08--Cost of drugs per execution.
The 3 steps of lethal injection, first used by Texas in 1982:
1. Sodium piothental, an anesthetic, puts the inmate into a deep sleep. As
many as 5 grams may be administered, in comparison to a dose of 100 to 150
milligrams for a surgical operation.
2. Pancuronium bromide, a muscle relaxant, stops breathing by paralyzing
the diaphragm and lungs. Conventionally, this drug takes effect in 1 to 3
minutes.
3. Potassium chloride, a toxic agent not used in all states, induces
cardiac arrest by interrupting electric signaling essential to heart
functions.
(source: The Daily Texan)