<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 11.00.10586.20"></HEAD>
<BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000"
bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document
color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="DISPLAY: none"> </SPAN> <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStartT|**|-~--></DIV>
<DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid">
<DIV id=ygrp-mlmsg style="POSITION: relative">
<DIV id=ygrp-msg style="Z-INDEX: 1"><!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlEndT|**|-~-->
<DIV id=ygrp-text>
<P><BR>TEXAS FALLS OUT OF LOVE WITH THE DEATH PENALTY, EMBRACES LIFE WITHOUT
PAROLE<BR>BY ERIC NICHOLSON - Texas Observer THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17,
2015<BR><BR>For what it's worth, Texas is still the death-penalty capital of
the United<BR>States, which in turn employs capital punishment more frequently
than any<BR>other western country. Only Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and China —
none of<BR>them shining beacons of human rights and individual liberty — kill
more<BR>prisoners. In 2015, Texas executed 13 people, just less than half of
the 28<BR>put to death nationwide.<BR><BR>But there's another way to frame the
issue: In 2015, Texas executed just 13<BR>people, down from a peak of 40 in
2000. Even more striking, the state's<BR>courts handed out only three death
sentences for the entire year, the lowest<BR>number since Texas reintroduced
the death penalty in 1976, and went more<BR>than nine months without issuing a
single one. Dallas, Harris and Tarrant<BR>counties, collectively responsible
for about half of Texas' death row<BR>population over the past four decades,
didn't condemn a single person to<BR>death last year.<BR><BR>As highlighted by
a report released this week by the Texas Coalition to<BR>Abolish the Death
Penalty, this is part of a long-term decline. The causes<BR>are varied, says
Kathryn Kase, executive director of the Texas Defender<BR>Service.
High-profile exonerations like that of Anthony Graves, who spent<BR>nearly two
decades on death row after being wrongfully convicted of<BR>murdering six
people in Burleson County, have sowed doubts in the public<BR>mind about the
infallibility of the criminal justice system. Ditto for the<BR>expanding
recognition of deep flaws in forensic science, the unreliability<BR>of
eyewitness testimony, and racial disparity in prosecution and
sentencing.<BR><BR>Surprisingly enough, the death penalty in Texas is going
the way of the<BR>electric chair.<BR><BR>"Prosecutors understand there's a
great deal of sensitivity on the part of<BR>juries now in terms of innocence
issues and issues of lack of certainty,"<BR>Kase says. Case in point: Four of
the seven juries from whom Texas<BR>prosecutors sought the death penalty in
2015 opted for a lesser sentence, a<BR>sharp reduction from prosecutors'
historic batting average of about 80<BR>percent.<BR><BR>There's also the
matter of cost. Texas has become a leader in criminal<BR>justice reform in no
small part because smaller prisons saves the state<BR>money. So, for that
matter, does taking the death penalty off the table.<BR>Capital cases, with
their endless appeals pursued by taxpayer-funded defense<BR>lawyers, are
expensive, and prosecutors, particularly in smaller counties,<BR>have become
increasingly reluctant to burden their jurisdictions with
the<BR>cost.<BR><BR>But focusing only on bleeding-heart juries and
budget-minded prosecutors<BR>would miss the biggest factor driving Texas away
from the death penalty.<BR>Until a decade ago, Texas juries in capital cases
had two sentencing<BR>options: death or life in prison with the distant (40
years) possibility of<BR>parole. They almost invariably chose death. "I think
juries were looking for<BR>certainty in the punishment that someone that they
convicted of capital<BR>murder wouldn't harm anyone else," says Kristin Houlé,
TCADP's executive<BR>director. A guarantee of 40 years behind bars just wasn't
certain enough.<BR><BR>Then, in 2005, Governor Rick Perry signed a bill
creating a sentence of life<BR>without possibility of parole. The numbers
suggest that jurors have found<BR>this to be a much more palatable
alternative, with the increase in life<BR>without parole sentences more than
replacing the decrease in death<BR>sentences. Death sentences peaked in 1999
at 48, then bounced between about<BR>two and three dozen over the next five
years.<BR><BR>Life without parole took a couple of years to catch on, but
recent years<BR>have averaged about 100 such sentences, according to Texas
Department of<BR>Criminal Justice's annual statistical reports. (Note: TDCJ
doesn't report<BR>new sentences, just the total number of inmates with that
sentence at the<BR>end of the fiscal year. To find the number of new
sentences, we simply<BR>subtracted one year's population from the next. So
it's possible, in the<BR>case that prior inmates died in custody, that the
number of new sentences<BR>could actually be higher.)<BR><BR>Together with
Texas' declining violent crime rate during this period, the<BR>numbers suggest
that life without parole isn't merely being employed as a<BR>replacement for
the death penalty; it's also being used in place of more<BR>lenient sentences.
This raises its own set of issues. Many of the same<BR>factors that make the
death penalty so problematic — racial bias, shoddy<BR>science, overzealous
prosecutors — almost certainly apply to life sentences<BR>as well, the
difference being that life sentences receive less scrutiny and<BR>guarantee
fewer opportunities to appeal.<BR><BR>Death penalty opponents are OK with
that. "You have to look at what are our<BR>alternatives here and right now in
Texas," Kase says. To her, life without<BR>parole is the lesser evil. Houlé
acknowledges that the problems with the<BR>death penalty are the "tip of the
iceberg in terms of broader failings of<BR>the criminal justice system," but,
she says, "death is different." At least<BR>with a life sentence, the criminal
justice system has the ability to go back<BR>and correct its inevitable
mistakes.<BR><BR>http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/texas-falls-out-of-love-with-the-death-pe<BR>nalty-embraces-life-without-parole-7860819<BR><BR></P></DIV><!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStart|**|-~-->
<DIV style="HEIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #fff">__._,_.___</DIV>
<DIV style="CLEAR: both"></DIV>
<DIV id=fromDMARC style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">
<HR
style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: 2px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; COLOR: #e3e3e3; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e3e3e3">
Posted by: "Nancy Bailey" <nlbailey@earthlink.net>
<HR
style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: 2px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; COLOR: #e3e3e3; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e3e3e3">
</DIV>
<DIV style="CLEAR: both"></DIV>
<TABLE style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN-TOP: 10px; COLOR: #2d50fd"
cellSpacing=4>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; FONT-FAMILY: arial; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 7px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px"><A
title=https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/amnestyhouston/conversations/messages/6051;_ylc=X3oDMTJxN20wMXVlBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI0NzAyNjg1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTc2MTA3OQRtc2dJZAM2MDUxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3JwbHkEc3RpbWUDMTQ1MDM5MjYzMg--?act=reply&messageNum=6051
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: #2d50fd"
href="https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/amnestyhouston/conversations/messages/6051;_ylc=X3oDMTJxN20wMXVlBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI0NzAyNjg1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTc2MTA3OQRtc2dJZAM2MDUxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3JwbHkEc3RpbWUDMTQ1MDM5MjYzMg--?act=reply&messageNum=6051">Reply
via web post</A> </TD>
<TD>•</TD>
<TD
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; FONT-FAMILY: arial; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 7px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px"><A
title="mailto:nlbailey@earthlink.net?subject=Re: Texas falls out of love with the death penalty, embraces life without parole"
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: #2d50fd"
href="mailto:nlbailey@earthlink.net?subject=Re%3A%20Texas%20falls%20out%20of%20love%20with%20the%20death%20penalty%2C%20embraces%20life%20without%20parole">Reply
to sender </A></TD>
<TD>•</TD>
<TD
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; FONT-FAMILY: arial; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 7px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px"><A
title="mailto:amnestyhouston@yahoogroups.com?subject=Re: Texas falls out of love with the death penalty, embraces life without parole"
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: #2d50fd"
href="mailto:amnestyhouston@yahoogroups.com?subject=Re%3A%20Texas%20falls%20out%20of%20love%20with%20the%20death%20penalty%2C%20embraces%20life%20without%20parole">Reply
to group </A></TD>
<TD>•</TD>
<TD
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; FONT-FAMILY: arial; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 7px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px"><A
title=https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/amnestyhouston/conversations/newtopic;_ylc=X3oDMTJma21mbm8yBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI0NzAyNjg1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTc2MTA3OQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNudHBjBHN0aW1lAzE0NTAzOTI2MzI-
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: #2d50fd"
href="https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/amnestyhouston/conversations/newtopic;_ylc=X3oDMTJma21mbm8yBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI0NzAyNjg1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTc2MTA3OQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNudHBjBHN0aW1lAzE0NTAzOTI2MzI-">Start
a New Topic</A> </TD>
<TD>•</TD>
<TD
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; FONT-FAMILY: arial; COLOR: #2d50fd; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 7px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px"><A
title=https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/amnestyhouston/conversations/topics/6051;_ylc=X3oDMTM1bmhrcjVhBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI0NzAyNjg1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTc2MTA3OQRtc2dJZAM2MDUxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Z0cGMEc3RpbWUDMTQ1MDM5MjYzMgR0cGNJZAM2MDUx
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: #2d50fd"
href="https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/amnestyhouston/conversations/topics/6051;_ylc=X3oDMTM1bmhrcjVhBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI0NzAyNjg1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTc2MTA3OQRtc2dJZAM2MDUxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Z0cGMEc3RpbWUDMTQ1MDM5MjYzMgR0cGNJZAM2MDUx">Messages
in this topic</A> (1) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!------- Start Nav Bar ------><!-- |**|begin egp html banner|**| --><!-- |**|end egp html banner|**| --><!-- |**|begin egp html banner|**| -->
<DIV id=ygrp-vital
style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f2f2f2"><SPAN
id=vithd style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #333"><A
title=https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/amnestyhouston/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJmOTg1NmNoBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI0NzAyNjg1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTc2MTA3OQRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzE0NTAzOTI2MzI-
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"
href="https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/amnestyhouston/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJmOTg1NmNoBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI0NzAyNjg1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTc2MTA3OQRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzE0NTAzOTI2MzI-">Visit
Your Group</A></SPAN>
<UL
style="LIST-STYLE-TYPE: none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"></UL></DIV>
<DIV id=ft
style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; MARGIN-TOP: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; CLEAR: both; PADDING-RIGHT: 2px"><A
title=https://groups.yahoo.com/neo;_ylc=X3oDMTJlb2ZlaGRzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI0NzAyNjg1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTc2MTA3OQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTQ1MDM5MjYzMg--
style="FLOAT: left"
href="https://groups.yahoo.com/neo;_ylc=X3oDMTJlb2ZlaGRzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI0NzAyNjg1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTc2MTA3OQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTQ1MDM5MjYzMg--"><IMG
title=https://groups.yahoo.com/neo;_ylc=X3oDMTJlb2ZlaGRzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI0NzAyNjg1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTc2MTA3OQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTQ1MDM5MjYzMg--
style="BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px"
alt=https://groups.yahoo.com/neo;_ylc=X3oDMTJlb2ZlaGRzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI0NzAyNjg1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTc2MTA3OQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTQ1MDM5MjYzMg--
src="http://l.yimg.com/ru/static/images/yg/img/email/new_logo/logo-groups-137x15.png"
width=137 height=15></A>
<DIV style="FLOAT: right; COLOR: #747575">• <A
title=https://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/groups/details.html
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"
href="https://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/groups/details.html">Privacy</A>
• <A
title=mailto:amnestyhouston-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"
href="mailto:amnestyhouston-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe">Unsubscribe</A>
• <A title=https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"
href="https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/">Terms of Use</A>
</DIV></DIV><BR><!-- |**|end egp html banner|**| --></DIV><!-- ygrp-msg --><!-- Sponsor --><!-- |**|begin egp html banner|**| -->
<DIV id=ygrp-sponsor
style="WIDTH: 160px; BACKGROUND: #fff; FLOAT: right; CLEAR: none; MARGIN: 0px 0px 25px"><!-- Start Recommendations -->
<DIV id=ygrp-reco></DIV><!-- End Recommendations --></DIV><!-- |**|end egp html banner|**| -->
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 1px; COLOR: #fff; CLEAR: both">.</DIV></DIV><IMG
src="http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=24702685/grpspId=1705761079/msgId=6051/stime=1450392632"
width=1 height=1> <BR><IMG
src="http://y.analytics.yahoo.com/fpc.pl?ywarid=515FB27823A7407E&a=10001310322279&js=no&resp=img"
width=1 height=1>
<DIV
style="HEIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #fff">__,_._,___</DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>