Does anyone know how many innocent people are killed every year by the death penalty?

Question

Okay, a couple of people are saying that if we knew the criminals were innocent, we wouldn't put them to death. I know that, it's plain common sense. What I am asking is if anyone knows how many people are killed by the death penalty only to be proven they were innocent AFTER their execution because of new evidence or whatever. There have been cases where people thought the murderer DID the crime but find out after the "murderer's" execution that they were really innocent. Yes, I know it sounds confusing but thats the best I can do right now.

Answer 1

This is a very hard question to answer, because, once an execution is carried out the case is closed.
In the last year or so, however, there are four cases where there is significant evidence that an innocent person was executed.

1. Calvin Willingham- executed for setting a fire that led to the deaths of several people. The techniques of investigating fires in criminal cases have greatly advanced. They now show that the fire was an accident, not arson. Texas.

2. Carlos DeLuna- executed in Texas for a fatal stabbing. Sloppy police work, a failure to pursue a more likely suspect (who bragged of being the actual killer and about getting another man to pay for it.

3. Gary Graham. Texas. details available at Death Penalty Information Center
4. Calvin Griffiths. Missouri. details available at Death Penalty Information Center

More will certainly turn up. Death penalty supporters have always claimed that no innocent person has been executed in the modern era (1976-present.) We do know that over 120 people have been released from death row with hard evidence of their innocence. (That is over 10% of the number of executions)
It is likely that more than 4 innocent people were executed, but because executions normally close cases, we may never know for sure.

Note to carolinatinpan: You said usually people who were released from death row might have been innocent of the crime for which they were sentenced to death but otherwise were criminals. You should read about Kirk Bloodsworth, Ray Krone, Kerry Max Cook, Gary Gauger, George White and the many others, all law abiding citizens, thoroughly normal, average, but caught up in a horrible predicament. All good and decent men. You will find the same is true for most of the over 120 people released from death row.

Answer 2

Out of all the research I have done on innocent men possibly dying. I believe there was one out of all the people who been given the death penalty. And it was only a possibility. Not completely proven. The number 1 reason people die on death row. Old age. Yes over 50% die of old age. The death penalty has lost its sting because of our messed up court system. There is a 501C org that does testing to prove innocence of victims. Out of the 168 death penalty cases they proved 163 of them did it. 5 there was not enough information for proof or dismissal. 0 were found innocent. There has been people with life in prison found not guilty later (25 years).

Answer 3

No/ Because No One Knows For Sure if they Are Innocent Because Everyone would claim they are innocent but If the Court/State Have Proven them Guilty then that's all they can do Is Die and No one will ever know if they are innocent because they just say they are guilty :(

Answer 4

In the US or in other countries?

I appreciate the effort in the US to use genetic testing and other scientific evidence to avoid killing innocent people. It's not perfect yet. Neither is crossing the street - which kills more innocent Americans than the Death Penalty.

Answer 5

not a whole lot. personally i think there are way more that should have been given the death penalty and werent. n a lot of them are given the death penalty but die waiting to be executed. but im not sure of an exact number.

Answer 6

Probably not.

Reading the book Innocent Man by John Grisham, I think the answer may be rather shocking tho.

Answer 7

We hope none. But the ones that are truly guilty and on death row need to be hanged immediately. One felon was on death row for 31 years before he was put to sleep. That is ridiculous.

Answer 8

Not many. They don't pull out honest people and charge them with murder. Usually they are not innocent people even if they are innocent of that crime.

Answer 9

depends on who you ask the inmates say there all innocent the government says none are with the us court of appeals and as many appeals as they get i would say very few if any are or were innocent

Answer 10

most people in jail on death row are guilty. and to be honest more people need to be put to death. it would ave the American tax payers million of dollars every year.