From: Dudley Sharp, independent researcher, death penalty expert, former opponent, 832-439-2113, CV at bottom
N&O says the list of the exonerated from death row tells the tail of how inaccurate the death penalty is. Well, no. More likely, it tells us the poor state of fact checking in the media.
The term "exonerated", as the N&O knows, has been, highly misused by both the media and anti-death penalty folks (often the same).
The national death row "exonerated" list has grown to 135, but it has nothing to do with the actually innocent sent to and released from death row. Even the New York Times did an article on this obvious anti-death penalty deception. (1) Did N&O not get the memo?
The number is very likely much closer to 25, or about 0.3% of those so sentenced - meaning the actually guilty sent to death row is about 99.7%. The 25 (as well as the 135) have all been released. (2)
Maybe the N&O can do an article on what the difference is between 1) the alleged "exonerated" from North Carolina's death row and 2) for how many of those cases is there proof of actual innocence. It is the only relevant issue in the innocence debate. Why? First, to be clear and honest. Secondly, we can't execute the legally innocent- that is impossible. Therefore, only the actual innocent are the relevant issue.
Is the N&O aware of a more accurate criminal sanction than the death penalty?
The N&O only mentions that African Americans "are too often caught up in the wheels of the court system, and the chance that they will pay a price for flaws in that system is high."
Why the race baiting? It's unseemly.
In the modern era of the US death penalty, since 1973, whites represent, nationally, 57% of those executed, blacks 34%. In North Carolina, whites represent 28 (65%) of those executed, blacks 13 (30%). It is clear that whites are more likely to suffer the worst flaw- an innocent executed -the number one alleged concern of anti-death penalty folks, such as N&O. In reality, it is everyone's chief concern.
Why didn't NO point that out? However, let's try to agree that no one wants any innocent human beings convicted of a crime they didn't commit.
In a serious debate, it is ludicrous to imply discrimination because census data on population counts, for different races and ethnicities, is not consistent with the percentage counts of those races/ethnicities on death row. Instead of populations counts, try looking at who is committing capital, death penalty eligible murders, instead. It's a much better barometer.
The N&O completely blows it on their concern that the death penalty system can't catch ever mistake. We all know that no system can catch every mistake. The N&O overlooked the crucial, relevant issue - the death penalty is more likely to catch a mistake than is any lesser sanction. Put another way, innocents are more protected with the death penalty. (3)
Even N&O knows that the death penalty system has, by far, the most extensive due process protections in US law. That means that the actually innocent convicted are more likely in non-death penalty life cases and are more likely to die in prison, serving under that sentence, than it is that an actual innocent will be executed. (3)
The N&O gets really silly. The N&O states: "The (Racial Justice Act's) House champions know better than to swallow that kind of poison pill." For N&O, the "poison pill" is the Senate language to resume executions. Why is it a poison pill to implement the death penalty that judges and jurors felt was the most appropriate sanction for the crime committed? Because the NO's goal is to help stop any executions, just like their champions.
From a statistical standpoint, it is fitting that N&O agrees with US Supreme Court Justice Blackmun that we should no longer tinker with death's machinery.
That is one judge out of 110 that have served on SCOTUS, or less than 1%. The N&O is in perfect company.
Time for the N&O to get their act together, if it isn't already "Beyond Fixing".
It isn't. Simply honor the Fourth Estate, present honest and balanced coverage of the death penalty. Period.
1) "The Death of Innocents: A Reasonable Doubt", New York Times Book Review, p 29, 1/23/05, Adam Liptak, national legal correspondent for The NY Times. Excerpt: "To be sure, 30 or 40 categorically innocent people have been released from death row . . . ". That is out of the DPIC claimed 119 "exonerated", at that time, for a 75% error rate. NOTE: It's hard to understand how an absolute can have a differential of 33%. I suggest the "to be sure" is, now, closer to 25.
2) The 130 (now 135) death row "innocents" scam
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/03/04/fact-checking-issues-on-innocence-and-the-death-penalty.aspx
updated Nov. 2023
The Death Row "Exonerated"/"Innocent" Frauds
3) "The Death Penalty: More Protection for Innocents"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/05/the-death-penalty-more-protection-for-innocents.aspx
71-83% Error Rate in Death Row "Innocent" Claims,
Well Known Since 1998
3) "The Death Penalty: More Protection for Innocents"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/05/the-death-penalty-more-protection-for-innocents.aspx
updated Nov. 2023
The Death Penalty: Saving More Innocent Lives
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-death-penalty-do-innocents-matter.html
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-death-penalty-do-innocents-matter.html
and
Deterrence, Death Penalties & Executions
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Victim's Voices - These are the murder victims
From: Dudley Sharp, independent researcher, death penalty expert, former opponent, 832-439-2113, CV at bottom
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600+ pro death penalty quotes from murder victim's families &
3300+ from some of the greatest thinkers in history
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Victim Services
Victims' Voices
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Additional research, w/sources, w/fact checking/vetting & critical thinking, as required of everyone.
The Death Penalty: Justice & Saving More Innocents
and
Students, Academics & Journalists: Death Penalty Research
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Partial CV
