Capital punishment in Alabama

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The capital punishment is legal and using by the U.S. State of Alabama.

Contents

[edit] Current development

The death penalty in Alabama was reinstated on March 5, 1976[1], when Alabama's legislature passed a new death penalty statute (In 1972 Furman v. Georgia case, the United States Supreme Court ruled that current statutes are unconstitutional, which results effective ban on the capital punishment until Gregg v. Georgia, which overturned Furman in 1976. After Furman every death sentences in country were commuted, but number of states passed a new statutes, although no execution was carried out until 1977) and Governor George Wallace signed it.

[edit] Methods

From 1927[2] until 2002 electric chair was the only method of executions in Alabama. From July 2002 lethal injection became the primary method. Inmates still could chose electrocution[3].

After injection was introduced, every inmates chose this over electric chair. The last person executed involuntary in the chair in Alabama (and, to date, last in the U.S.) was Lynda Lyon Block.

Executions are carried out in Holman Prison.

[edit] Statistics

38 people were executed by the state of Alabama from 1983. 24 of them were electrocuted and 14 executed by lethal injection[4][5].

Currently there are 195 people on the death row[6]

That's includes 91 black males, 103 white males, 2 other males, 2 black females and 2 white females[7].

[edit] Capital crimes

Intentional murder with 18 aggravating factors[8].

[edit] Clemency

Governor of Alabama has a sole authority to grant a commutation of a clemency in capital cases[9].

There was only one commutation of a death sentence after 1976. Judith Ann Neeley's death sentence was commuted to life in prison with possibility of parole by outgoing Governor Fob James in January 1999[10].

[edit] Controversies

Alabama death penalty system is criticized for ineffective legal support for inmates facing death sentence. Also some cases are highly controversial. Brian K. Baldwin was executed in 1999 despite lack of evidences of his guilty and, many questions raised about his trial and investigations and other evidences which could claims his innocence[11].

Other controversial cases results execution were cased of Freddie Lee Wright and Cornelius Singleton[12].

Also some juveniles and mentally retarded person were put to death in Alabama[13].


[edit] People executed since 1983

Executed person Date of execution Method Victim(s) Under Governor
1 John Louis Evans III 22 April 1983 electrocution Edward Nassar George Wallace
2 Arthur Lee Jones 21 March 1986 electrocution William Hosea Waymon George Wallace
3 Wayne Eugene Ritter[1] 28 August 1987 electrocution Edward Nassar H. Guy Hunt
4 Michael Lindsey[2] 26 May 1989 electrocution Rosemary Zimlich Rutland H. Guy Hunt
5 Horace Franklin Dunkins, Jr.[3] 14 July 1989 electrocution Lynn McCurry H. Guy Hunt
6 Herbert Lee Richardson 18 August 1989 electrocution Rena Mae Callins H. Guy Hunt
7 Arthur James Julius[4] 17 November 1989 electrocution Susie Bell Sanders H. Guy Hunt
8 Wallace Norrell Thomas[5] 13 July 1990 electrocution Quenette Shehane H. Guy Hunt
9 Larry Gene Heath[6] 30 March 1992 electrocution Rebecca Heam H. Guy Hunt
10 Cornelius Singleton[7] 20 November 1992 electrocution Ann Hogan H. Guy Hunt
11 Willie Clisby, Jr. 28 April 1995 electrocution Fletcher Handley Fob James
12 Varnell Weeks 12 May 1995 electrocution Mark Batts Fob James
13 Edward Dean Horsley, Jr. 16 February 1996 electrocution Naomi Rolon Fob James
14 Billy Wayne Waldrop 10 January 1997 electrocution Thurman Donahoo Fob James
15 Walter Hill 2 May 1997 electrocution Willie Mae Hammock, John Tatum, and Lois Tatum Fob James
16 Henry Francis Hays[8] 6 June 1997 electrocution Michael Donald Fob James
17 Stephen Allen Thompson 8 May 1998 electrocution Robin Balarzs Fob James
18 Brian Keith Baldwin 18 June 1999 electrocution Naomi Rolon Don Siegelman
19 Victor Kennedy 6 August 1999 electrocution Annie Laura Orr Don Siegelman
20 David Ray Duren 7 January 2000 electrocution Kathleen Bedsole Don Siegelman
21 Freddie Lee Wright 3 March 2000 electrocution Warren Green and Lois Green Don Siegelman
22 Robert Lee Tarver, Jr. 14 April 2000 electrocution Hugh Sims Kite Don Siegelman
23 Pernell La'sha Ford 2 June 2002 electrocution Willie C. Griffith and Linda Gail Griffith Don Siegelman
24 Lynda Lyon Block 10 May 2002 electrocution Opelika police Sergeant Roger Lamar Motley Don Siegelman
25 Anthony Keith Johnson 12 December 2002 lethal injection Kenneth Cantrell Don Siegelman
26 Michael Eugene Thompson 13 March 2003 lethal injection Maisie Carlene Gray Bob R. Riley
27 Gary Leon Brown 24 April 2003 lethal injection Jack David McGraw Bob R. Riley
28 Tommy Jerry Fortenberry 7 August 2003 lethal injection Ronald Michael Guest, Wilbut T. Nelson, Robert William Payne, and Nancy Payne Bob R. Riley
29 James Barney Hubbard August 5, 2004 lethal injection Lillian Montgomery Bob R. Riley
30 David Kevin Hocker 30 September 2004 lethal injection Jerry Wayne Robinson Bob R. Riley
31 Mario Giovanni Centobie 28 April 2005 lethal injection Moody police officer Keith Turner Bob R. Riley
32 Jerry Paul Henderson 2 June 2005 lethal injection Jerry Haney in Talladega and for accepting $3,000 from Haney's wife for the killing Bob R. Riley
33 George Everett Sibley, Jr.
(common-law husband of
Lynda Lyon Block)		 4 August 2005 lethal injection Opelika police Sergeant Roger Lamar Motley Bob R. Riley
34 John W. Peoples, Jr. 22 September 2005 lethal injection Paul Franklin, Judy Franklin, and Paul Franklin, Jr. Bob R. Riley
35 Larry Eugene Hutcherson 26 October 2006 lethal injection Irma Thelma Gray Bob R. Riley
36 Aaron Lee Jones 3 May 2007 lethal injection Carl Nelson and Willene Nelson Bob R. Riley
37 Darrell B. Grayson 26 July 2007 lethal injection Annie Laura Orr Bob R. Riley
38 Luther Jerome Williams 23 August 2007 lethal injection John Kirk Bob R. Riley

[edit] Earlier history

Between 1812 and 1965 708 people were executed in Alabama[14].

Until 1927 hanging was a method of executions. One person was shot[15]).

Capital crimes includes: murder, rape, arson, robbery[16]. Alabama executed the last person convicted by crime other than murder in the U.S. (James Coburn in 1964 for robbery).

18 of these people executed in pre-furman era were women[17].

Most of people executed for rape were black[18]. Many of these cases were controversial.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Regional Studies The South
  2. ^ Alabama's Chair
  3. ^ Methods of Execution
  4. ^ Inmates Executed in Alabama
  5. ^ Death Penalty Information Center
  6. ^ Death Penalty Information Center
  7. ^ Inmates on Deathrow
  8. ^ Crimes Punishable by the Death Penalty
  9. ^ Clemency
  10. ^ Clemency
  11. ^ Brian K. Baldwin
  12. ^ Probably Innocent But Executed
  13. ^ Death Penalty Information Center
  14. ^ Regional Studies The South
  15. ^ Regional Studies The South
  16. ^ http://users.bestweb.net/~rg/execution/ALABAMA.htm
  17. ^ Regional Studies The South
  18. ^ http://users.bestweb.net/~rg/execution/ALABAMA.htm
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Capital punishment in the United States
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