Capital Punishment
Latest Capital Punishment News
Only 58 countries in the world still regularly impose the death penalty, but it is widely accepted in the United States. Public opinion polls show that between 60 and 60 percent of Americans approve the use of the death penalty in some cases. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, about 85 percent of executions occur in the south - half of them in Texas.
Amnesty International reports that 52 people were executed in the United States in 2009 - the bulk by lethal injection. In the summer of 2010, Utah put Ronnie Lee Gardner, convicted of murdering a bartender and an attorney during an escape attempt, to death by firing squad, the first time the method was used since 1996. The case reopened the debate about the use of the death penalty and whether or not some methods are inhumane.
Death penalty cases are notoriously expensive to prosecute because of the number of appeals involved. CBS "Sunday Morning" recently reported that since the advent of DNA evidence, 17 prisoners on death row had been found innocent and released.
So why do so many Americans support the death penalty?
New York Law School professor Robert Blecker told "Sunday Morning" it is because "some people deserve to die, and we have an obligation to kill them."
Whether you are interested in reading more about death penalty controversies or high-profile cases where capital punishment is a factor, check out the latest reports and video below.
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More Headlines
- Study: Very small number of counties responsible for most executions
The death penalty is far from a widely practiced means of punishment, even in states that allow it, study finds
- James Holmes' lawyers file new death penalty challenges
Lawyers for Colo. theater shooting defendant file new constitutional challenges, say execution is cruel and unusual punishment
- Texas prison system running out of execution drug
Nation's most active death penalty state "exploring all options" amid shortage; other states have turned to compounding pharmacies
- Seeking death penalty against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev would be a long road
19-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to make first appearance at public court house on Wednesday in Boston
- Jodi Arias says she prefers death penalty
After she was convicted of first-degree murder in the case involving her one-time boyfriend, Arias said that "death is the ultimate freedom"
- Maryland Governor signs repeal of death penalty
Maryland becomes first state south of the Mason-Dixon line to abolish the death penalty
- Md. lawmakers vote to repeal death penalty
If the measure is signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley, it will make Maryland the 18th state in the nation to do away with the death penalty
- First U.S. prisoner execution in 2013 happens in Virginia
Robert Gleason Jr. had asked for the electric chair after murdering his cellmate, promising to kill again otherwise
- Inmate-chosen electric chair execution looms
Robert Gleason Jr., slated to die in Va. Wednesday, opted for chair over injection; Lawyers battle to save him, against his wishes
- Despite cost, Calif. votes to keep death penalty
Slim majority rejected Proposition 34, despite recent polling that showed growing concern over the cost of capital punishment
- Donnie Lee Roberts executed in Texas for killing girlfriend Vicki Bowen in 2003
Ex-convict took items from girlfriend's home to sell, trade to support his drug habit after shooting her to death
- South Dakota executes first inmate since 2007
Eric Robert put to death for killing guard during escape try; Foes, backers of death penalty gather outside during execution
- U.N. experts ask Iran to stop executions
Three top U.N. human rights experts appealed Friday to Iran to halt 11 executions they say are scheduled to take place Saturday
- Texas executes inmate convicted of killing 12-year-old girl
Jonathan Green proclaims his innocence on death gurney; Lawyers had argued he was mentally ill, incompetent for execution