Capital punishment in Arkansas

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Capital punishment is legal in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Since 1820, a total of 504 individuals have been executed. According to the Arkansas Department of Correction, as of May 24, 2006, a total of 36 men were under a sentence of death in the state.

Contents

[edit] History

All but two executions carried out before 1913 were by hanging. Four guerillas were shot on July 29, 1864. Usually the sentence is cutting of private parts

On July 25, 1902 seven men were hanged, the most executions in one day in the state.

Almost all executions were for crimes that involved murder. A number of people were also executed for rape and there was one execution for espionage on January 8, 1864.

In 1913 the method used was changed to the electric chair. The electric chair was constructed from the wood that had previously made up the state gallows. This electric chair would be used for all electrocutions up until 1964. Four more people were hung in the state — one in 1913, two in 1914 and one in 1930.

The last execution in the state before Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238 (1972), was that of Charles Fields on January 24, 1964 for rape. New capital punishment laws were passed in Arkansas and came into force on March 23, 1973. The first execution would not come until 18 June 1990 when John Swindler was electrocuted. His was the first and only execution so far on the new electric chair constructed by the state in the 1970s.

According to Michael L. Radelet of the University of Colorado there have been two instances of executions that did not go to plan in Arkansas since Furman. On January 24, 1992 the execution of Ricky Ray Rector was delayed by 50 minutes after the medical staff were unable to find a suitable vein in his arm. The curtain over the witness area was not drawn, and witnesses heard Rector moan loudly eight times. State officials attributed the difficulties to his size and use of antipsychotic medication. The execution of Christina Marie Riggs faced similar delays on May 3, 2000 when staff were unable to locate a vein in her elbow. They eventually found one in her wrist.

[edit] Method

For all people sentenced after July 4, 1983 the method used in the lethal injection. Under state law:

"The punishment of death is to be administered by a continuous intravenous injection of a lethal quantity of an ultra-short-acting barbiturate in combination with a chemical paralytic agent…"

If the person was sentenced before that date, they have the choice of the electric chair or lethal injection.

If the lethal injection is ever ruled unconstitutional, the electric chair can be used for all death sentences.

Clemency rests with the governor of Arkansas, who receives a non-binding report from the Arkansas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Executions in Arkansas are currently performed at the Cummins Unit.

[edit] Capital offenses

[edit] List of individuals executed since Furman

All of the following individuals have been executed for murder since the Furman decision. All but John Swindler were executed by lethal injection. Swindler's execution was on the electric chair.

Executed person Date of execution Victim(s) Under Governor
1 John Edward Swindler* 18 June 1990 Randy Basnett on September 24,1976 Bill Clinton
2 Ronald Gene Simmons 25 June 1990 Rebecca Simmons, Gene Simmons, Barbara Simmons, Loretta Simmons, Eddy Simmons, Marianne Simmons, Becky Simmons, Renata Simmons, Trae Simmons, Sheila McNulty, Dennis McNulty, Michael McNulty, Sylvia Simmons, Kathy Kendrick, and James D. Chaffin. Bill Clinton
3 Ricky Ray Rector 24 January 1992 Robert Martin. Bill Clinton
4 Steven Hill 7 May 1992 Robert Klein. Bill Clinton
5 Edward Charles Pickens 11 May 1994 Wesley Noble. Jim Guy Tucker
6 Jonas Whitmore 11 May 1994 Essie Mae Black. Jim Guy Tucker
7 Hoyt Franklin Clines 3 August 1994 Don Lehman. Jim Guy Tucker
8 Darryl Richley 3 August 1994 Don Lehman. Jim Guy Tucker
9 James William Holmes 3 August 1994 Don Lehman. Jim Guy Tucker
10 Richard Wayne Snell 19 April 1995 William Stumpp. Jim Guy Tucker
11 Barry Lee Fairchild 31 August 1995 Marjorie Mason. Jim Guy Tucker
12 Frank Parker 8 August 1996 James Warren and Sandra Warren. Mike Huckabee
13 Paul Ruiz 8 January 1997 Marvin Richie and Opal James. Mike Huckabee
14 Earl Von Denton 8 January 1997 Marvin Richie and Opal James. Mike Huckabee
15 Kirt Wainwright 8 January 1997 Barbara Smith. Mike Huckabee
16 Billy Wayne Waldrop 10 January 1997 Thurman Donahoo. Mike Huckabee
17 Wilburn A. Henderson 8 July 1998 Willa Dean O'Neal. Mike Huckabee
18 Johnie Michael Cox 16 February 1999 Marie Sullens, Margaret Brown, and Billy Brown. Mike Huckabee
19 Marion Albert Pruett 12 April 1999 Bobbie Jean Robertson. Mike Huckabee
20 Mark Gardner 8 September 1999 Joe Joyce, Martha Joyce, and Sara McCurdy. Mike Huckabee
21 Alan Willett 8 September 1999 Eric Willett and Roger Willett. Mike Huckabee
22 Christina Marie Riggs 2 May 2000 Justin Riggs and Shelby Alexis Rggs. Mike Huckabee
23 David Dewayne Johnson 19 December 2000 Leon Brown. Mike Huckabee
24 Clay King Smith 8 May 2001 Misty Erwin, Shelley Sorg, Sean Sorg, Taylor Sorg, and Samantha Rhodes. Mike Huckabee
25 Riley Dobi Noel 9 July 2003 Marcell Young, Malak Hussian, and Mustafa Hussian. Mike Huckabee
26 Charles Laverne Singleton 6 January 2004 Mary Lou York. Mike Huckabee
27 Eric Randall Nance 28 November 2005 Julie Heath Mike Huckabee

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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