Washington State Suspends Death Penalty

WPRO ^ | 2/12/14 | unattributed

[smokingfrog]

(OLYMPIA, Wash.) -- Washington became the latest state to place a moratorium on carrying out the death penalty after Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee openly questioned Tuesday whether "equal justice is being served."

In a written statement, Inslee remarked, "The use of the death penalty in this state is unequally applied, sometimes dependent on the budget of the county where the crime occurred."

Capital punishment laws in Washington have been in effect for the past 33 years but of the 32 convicts sentenced to die by execution, 18 had their sentences converted to life in prison while one death row inmate was eventually exonerated and released.

Inslee made it clear, however, that the nine men currently on death row in Washington won't get a free pass from him.

[MinuteGal]

The Governor just wants to make sure these death row felons can vote in the mid-term elections.

They can use their mug shots as voter ID.

Leni

[Graewoulf]

” - - - “equal justice is being served.” - - - “

Really?

Down here in TEXAS we really try to see to it that Justice is “equal.”

Comedian Ron White ‘splains it this way:

“In TEXAS, if you come down here and kill one of us, - - - we will kill you back.”

[Mark17]

In a written statement, Inslee remarked, "The use of the death penalty in this state is unequally applied

Translation: We are not executing enough white dudes.

[Mastador1]

Comedian Ron White ‘splains it this way: “In TEXAS, if you come down here and kill one of us, - - - we will kill you back.”

I believe he also says " That’s right, if you come to Texas and kill somebody, we will kill you back. That’s our policy. They’re trying to pass a bill right now through the Texas Legislature that will speed up the process of execution in heinous crimes where there’s more than three credible eye witnesses. If more than three people saw you do what you did, you don’t sit on death row for 15 years, Jack, you go straight to the front of the line."

That's reason enough to move to Texas right there!

[Spok]

The death penalty in Washington successfully leveraged many pleas to life without parole in the case of serial killers like Gary Ridgeway and Robert Yates. The death penalty is a useful tool for prosecutors even when rarely imposed. Inslee, as a lawyer, should know that.

[USNBandit]

WA state is all kinds of F’d up when it comes to criminal justice. It seems all the local criminals all have numerous convictions and keep getting released to commit more crimes.

[cherry]

I think overall, whites are executed more often than non whites, relatively...

this is not the citizens decision...this is just another of a long line of rat governors my state seems to elect....

[Mark17]

I think overall, whites are executed more often than non whites, relatively...

I am sure that is probably true. So what is it that the racist bastards want?

[Category Four]

I knew they’d be among the first this year.

[cynwoody]

Given we're talking about Washington state, "suspend" is probably a bad choice of verb.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11225694/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/prisoner-once-found-too-fat-hang-dies

[bigfootbob]

Actually, Washington has executed more whites than any other color. Inslee means more liberals than conservatives.

[21twelve]

“The death penalty in Washington successfully leveraged many pleas to life without parole in the case of serial killers like Gary Ridgeway and Robert Yates.”

Good point. On the other hand though, the defendent’s attorney now can say “My client does not deserve the death penalty for killing his wife and mother-in-law. Even Gary Ridgway, who killed xx amount of women, didn’t get the death penalty.”

[Heavyrunner]

Drastically more whites. 66 Caucasian, 7 Black, 2 Hisphanic, 2 Asian, and 1 Eskimo.

[ronnie raygun]

“The use of the death penalty in this state is unequally applied” We know what this really means. We must be fair with the deatah penalty to