A political cartoon, describing the execution of a man whose state appointed defense attorney was SLEEPING during his trial, where in he received the Death Penalty. 3 criminals whose Lawyers were sleeping in the prosection have been denied a reprieve.
| The American Bar Association and numerous scholars have concluded that it is not the facts of the crime, but the quality of the legal representation that distinguishes cases in which the death penalty is imposed from similar casse in which it is not imposed. Also an overwhelming amount of people on death row received substandard legal representation at trial. |
| Innocence - The number of innocent defendants released from death row has been steadily increasing over recent years. Between 1973 and October 1993, there was an average of 2.5 innocent defendants released. Since then, the average has increased to 4.6 released per year. Also, since 1973, over 80 people have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence. Researchers have found 23 cases since 1900 wheere innocent people have been executed. What do all these numbers mean? Basically, they are showing that trial attorneys and juries are, and have been, making mistakes. As evident by the increase in releases, the trials and juries are making more mistakes. |
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