Capital punishment in Arkansas

Capital punishment is legal in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Since 1820, a total of 504 individuals have been executed. According to the Arkansas Department of Correction, as of May 24, 2006, a total of 36 men were under a sentence of death in the state.

History

All but four executions carried out before 1913 were by hanging. Four guerillas were shot on July 29, 1864.

On July 25, 1902 seven men were hanged, the most executions in one day in the state.

Almost all executions were for crimes that involved murder. A number of people were also executed for rape and there was one execution for espionage on January 8, 1864.

In 1913 the method used was changed to the electric chair. The electric chair was constructed from the wood that had previously made up the state gallows. This electric chair would be used for all electrocutions up until 1964. Four more people were hanged in the state — one in 1913, two in 1914 and one in 1930.

The last execution in the state before "Furman v. Georgia", ussc|408|238|1972, was that of Charles Fields on January 24, 1964 for rape. New capital punishment laws were passed in Arkansas and came into force on March 23, 1973. The first execution would not come until 18 June 1990 when John Swindler was electrocuted. His was the first and only execution so far on the new electric chair constructed by the state in the 1970s.

According to Michael L. Radelet of the University of Colorado there have been two instances of executions that did not go to plan in Arkansas since "Furman". On January 24, 1992 the execution of Ricky Ray Rector was delayed by 50 minutes after the medical staff were unable to find a suitable vein in his arm. The curtain over the witness area was not drawn, and witnesses heard Rector moan loudly eight times. State officials attributed the difficulties to his size and use of antipsychotic medication. The execution of Christina Marie Riggs faced similar delays on May 3, 2000 when staff were unable to locate a vein in her elbow. They eventually found one in her wrist.

Method

For all people sentenced after July 4, 1983, the method used is the lethal injection. Under state law::"The punishment of death is to be administered by a continuous intravenous injection of a lethal quantity of an ultra-short-acting barbiturate in combination with a chemical paralytic agent…"If the person was sentenced before that date, they have the choice of the electric chair or lethal injection.

If lethal injection is ever ruled unconstitutional, the electric chair can be used for all death sentences.

Clemency rests with the governor of Arkansas, who receives a non-binding report from the Arkansas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Executions in Arkansas are currently performed at the Cummins Unit.

Capital offenses

*murder while committing or attempting to commit arson, terrorism, rape, kidnapping, carjacking, robbery, burglary, a felony violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, involving an actual delivery of a controlled substance, or first degree escape
*premeditated murder of an on-duty law enforcement officer, jailer, prison official, firefighter, judge or other court official, probation officer, parole officer, any military personnel, or teacher or school employee
*premeditated murder
*premeditated murder of any holder of any public office or candidate for public office
*premeditated murder while in prison
*contract killing
*murder of a person under the age of 14
*Death resulting from discharging a firearm at a vehicle, conveyance, or a residential or commercial occupiable structure that is knowingly occupied
*Treason (defined solely as levying war against the state or adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort)

List of individuals executed since "Furman"

All of the following individuals have been executed for murder since the "Furman" decision. All but John Swindler were executed by lethal injection. Swindler's execution was on the electric chair.

See also

* Capital punishment in the United States

References

*Arkansas Code § 5-10-101. Capital murder
*Arkansas Code § 5-51-201. Treason
* [http://users.bestweb.net/~rg/execution/ARKANSAS.htm Executions in Arkansas 1820–1964]
* [http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=8&did=478 Post-Furman Botched Executions] from Death Penalty Information Center
* [http://www.arkansas.gov/doc/deathrow.html Death row inmates] from Arkansas Department of Correction
* [http://users.bestweb.net/~rg/Electric%20Chairs/Arkansas%20Electric%20Chair.htm Arkansas's Electric Chairs]
* [http://www.arkansas.gov/doc/pdf/facts_brochure2007.pdf 2007 Facts Brochure] . "Arkansas Department of Correction". Retrieved on 2007-11-13.