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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Time for a Change in the Death Penalty?

Because death is the ultimate penalty—the one that cannot be revoked--the administration of capital punishment is always under review. The US Supreme Court has created a de facto moratorium for the next few months in most states by taking up the constitutionality of states' standards of lethal injection.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

Because death is the ultimate penalty—the one that cannot be revoked--the administration of capital punishment is always under review. The US Supreme Court has created a de facto moratorium for the next few months in most states by taking up the constitutionality of states' standards of lethal injection. The American Bar Association says this is the time to review other problems with capital punishment, ranging from investigation to trial and conviction. It's completed a three-year study of eight sample states and concluded that the death-penalty process is "deeply flawed" and "rife with irregularity." Are cops, prosecutors, judges and juries biased in favor of death? Is there racial discrimination? Do poor defendants get good lawyers? We look at the pros and cons.

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    Carina Miller

    Assistant Producer, To the Point

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    Christian Bordal

    Managing Producer, Greater LA

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    Dan Konecky

    Producer, To the Point

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    Adam Liptak

    New York Times

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    Ronald Tabak

    Steering Committee Member, ABA's Death Penalty Moratorium Implementation Project

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    Joshua Marquis

    Vice President, National District Attorneys' Association

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