NCJ Number
19206
Date Published
1975
Length
66 pages
Annotation
INFORMATION ON PRISONERS UNDER SENTENCING OF DEATH DURING CALENDAR YEAR 1973, INCLUDING AGE, SEX, RACE, OFFENSE FOR WHICH SENTENCED, DURATION OF STAY ON DEATH ROW, MARITAL STATUS, EDUCATIONAL LEVEL, AND LEGAL STATUS AT ARREST.
Abstract
THIS REPORT, ONE IN THE SERIES ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT PUBLISHED AS PART OF THE NATIONAL PRISONER STATISTICS (NPS) PROGRAM, PROVIDES INFORMATION ON PRISONERS UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH DURING CALENDAR YEAR 1973. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SUCH PRISONERS IS PRESENTED ON A NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND STATE BASIS BOTH FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND FOR THE END. AS IN PAST ISSUANCES OF THIS SERIES, INMATES UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH ARE DIFFERENTIATED BY AGE, SEX, RACE, OFFENSE FOR WHICH SENTENCED, AND DURATION OF STAY ON DEATH ROW. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY ARE ALSO CATEGORIZED BY MARITAL STATUS, LEVEL OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, AND LEGAL STATUS AT THE TIME OF ARREST. THE REPORT ALSO GIVES DATA FOR 1973 ON THE NUMBER OF NEW DEATH SENTENCES METED OUT AND ON THE NUMBER OF SENTENCES DISPOSED OF BY MEANS OTHER THAN EXECUTION. IT ALSO INCLUDES INFORMATION SHOWING TRENDS IN EXECUTIONS DURING THE PERIOD FROM 1930 TO 1967, THE YEAR OF THE MOST RECENT EXECUTION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DATA ON DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THE LEGAL STATUS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT DURING 1973. TWO CHANGES IN FORMAT INITIATED IN THE REPORT COVERING THE YEARS 1971 AND 1972 WERE CARRIED OVER INTO THE 1973 STUDY. FIRST, THE VARIOUS TYPES OF TRANSACTIONS RESULTING IN THE REMOVAL OF THE DEATH SENTENCE, INCLUDING COMMUTATION, RESENTENCING, GRANT OF NEW TRIAL, AND REVERSAL OF JUDGMENT, ARE COMBINED INTO A SINGLE CATEGORY. SECOND, THE OFFICIAL COUNT OF INMATES UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH NOW INCLUDES ESCAPEES, PERSONS RETURNED TO THE COURTS FOR FURTHER ADJUDICATION, AND INMATES TRANSFERRED FROM DEATH ROW TO SUCH NONCORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS MENTAL HOSPITALS. (SNI ABSTRACT)