End The Death Penalty? Prosecutors Working Limit The Practice Across America

NBC News

18 Feb 202202:08

Summary

TLDRA group of 56 elected prosecutors, part of the 'Fair and Just Prosecution' network, are advocating for the abolition of the death penalty in the United States. They argue that the system is flawed, with past instances of wrongful executions, racial bias, and attorney misconduct. With executions resuming post-pandemic, these prosecutors from 11 death penalty states have significant influence in their jurisdictions to shape jury decisions and work with victim families, potentially impacting the future of capital punishment.

Takeaways

📉 Nearly half of the states in the U.S. have abolished the death penalty, with several doing so recently.
🔍 A group of 56 prosecutors, part of the 'Fair and Just Prosecution' network, are advocating for the end of the death penalty in America.
🤔 The push for change is driven by a need for accountability, as these prosecutors have historically supported tough-on-crime laws and have been involved in executions where guilt was later questioned.
🔍 Issues like racial bias, attorney misconduct, and wrongful convictions in death penalty cases have prompted this reevaluation.
🚫 They argue that the death penalty system is irreparably broken and should be eliminated, or at least certain individuals, like those with intellectual disabilities, should be exempt from it.
🏥 The pandemic pause in executions has ended, with states resuming death penalty practices, including one execution in Oklahoma and more planned across the country.
⚖️ Prosecutors have significant influence within their jurisdictions, including the power to sway juries, negotiate deals, and consult with victims' families.
🗽 These prosecutors represent 11 states where the death penalty is still legal, including populous cities like Dallas and Austin, as well as rural areas.
📜 Their pledge to limit or eliminate the death penalty in their states is a significant commitment that will be closely watched.
📈 The power of these prosecutors could potentially shift the landscape of capital punishment in the U.S., depending on their success in upholding their pledge.
📱 The transcript encourages viewers to stay updated with top stories and breaking news by downloading the NBC News app.

Q & A

How many states in the U.S. have abolished the death penalty?
-Nearly half of the states in the U.S. have abolished the death penalty.
What is the reason behind the push by prosecutors to end the death penalty?
-The prosecutors believe that the death penalty system is broken and that accountability needs to happen. Historically, they promoted tough on crime laws which led to some executions where guilt was later questioned due to racial bias, attorney misconduct, or other factors.
What is the name of the network that these prosecutors are part of?
-These prosecutors are part of a network called 'Fair and Just Prosecution'.
Why are the prosecutors making this push now?
-They are making this push now because states have been resuming executions after a pause during the pandemic, and they believe the system cannot be fixed without eliminating the death penalty or at least not applying it to certain groups, such as those with intellectual disabilities.
What is the significance of the group of 56 prosecutors in this context?
-The group of 56 prosecutors represents a significant force advocating for the end of the death penalty, as they are part of a network that aims to reform the justice system.
What is the role of prosecutors in influencing the death penalty in their jurisdictions?
-Prosecutors have a lot of power within their jurisdictions. They can influence juries, cut deals, and work with victims' families to get their input, which can affect the application of the death penalty.
How many states still authorize the death penalty according to the script?
-The script does not provide an exact number, but it implies that more states still authorize the death penalty than do not.
Which states are represented by these prosecutors?
-The prosecutors represent 11 states with the death penalty on the books, including Texas, with representation from both big cities like Dallas and Austin and right-leaning rural areas.
What is the recent development regarding executions mentioned in the script?
-The script mentions that there was one execution in Oklahoma and a dozen more are planned across the country in the coming months.
What is the potential impact of these prosecutors' pledge on the death penalty?
-The pledge by these prosecutors could have a significant impact, as it represents a commitment to not seek the death penalty in their jurisdictions, which may influence the overall application of capital punishment in the states they represent.
How can viewers stay updated with top stories and breaking news from NBC News?
-Viewers can stay updated by downloading the NBC News app.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Prosecutors' Push to Abolish Death Penalty

A significant group of 56 prosecutors from across the United States, part of the network 'Fair and Just Prosecution,' are advocating for the end of the death penalty. Historically, these elected officials have supported tough crime laws and have been involved in executions where the guilt of the condemned was later questioned due to racial bias, attorney misconduct, or other factors. They believe the death penalty system is irreparably flawed and that its abolition or significant limitation, such as not executing those with intellectual disabilities, is necessary. The push comes at a time when states are resuming executions after a pandemic-induced hiatus, with recent and planned executions in states like Oklahoma. These prosecutors hold considerable power within their jurisdictions to influence juries, negotiate deals, and consult with victims' families, making their stance a potentially influential one in shaping the future of capital punishment in states where it is still legal, including populous and influential regions like Texas.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Death Penalty

The death penalty refers to the legal process whereby a person is sentenced to death as a punishment for a serious crime, typically murder. In the video's context, it is the central theme as it discusses the movement to abolish this form of punishment in the United States, with nearly half of the states having already done so.

💡Prosecutors

Prosecutors are legal representatives of the state who bring a case against an individual in a criminal matter. In the script, a group of 56 prosecutors are highlighted as advocates for ending the death penalty, illustrating a shift in perspective from their traditional role in upholding tough crime laws.

💡Accountability

Accountability refers to the obligation to report, explain, and be responsible for one's actions. The video mentions that these elected prosecutors are pushing for the end of the death penalty due to a sense of accountability for previously promoting laws that led to executions, some of which were later questioned due to doubts about guilt or issues of racial bias.

💡Fair and Just Prosecution

Fair and Just Prosecution is a network mentioned in the script that consists of prosecutors who advocate for a justice system that is fair and equitable. The group of 56 prosecutors who are pushing to end the death penalty are part of this network, indicating a collective effort to reform the criminal justice system.

💡Intellectual Disabilities

Intellectual disabilities refer to a range of cognitive impairments that affect a person's ability to learn, communicate, and function in daily life. The script points out that these prosecutors are advocating for the exclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities from being subjected to the death penalty, emphasizing a need for a more compassionate and just approach.

💡Executions

Executions are the act of carrying out a death sentence. The script discusses a recent uptick in executions after a period of inactivity during the pandemic, with one execution in Oklahoma and more planned, which adds urgency to the prosecutors' push to end the death penalty.

💡Jurisdictions

Jurisdiction refers to the legal authority of a court or official to make decisions in specific cases. The script explains that these prosecutors have significant power within their jurisdictions, which includes influencing juries and making deals, and this power can be used to limit or eliminate the death penalty.

💡Victims Families

Victims families are the relatives of those who have been harmed or killed in a crime. The script mentions that prosecutors work with victims' families and consider their input, indicating that the push to end the death penalty is not only a legal but also a deeply personal and emotional issue.

💡Racial Bias

Racial bias refers to the unfair treatment of individuals based on their race. The script cites racial bias as one of the reasons for questioning past death penalty cases, suggesting that the justice system has historically been flawed in its application of the death penalty.

💡Attorney Misconduct

Attorney misconduct involves unethical or illegal behavior by a legal representative. The script indicates that in some death penalty cases, misconduct by attorneys has been uncovered after the fact, leading to doubts about the integrity of the legal process and the fairness of the death penalty.

💡Pandemic

A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. The script mentions that the pandemic led to a halt in executions, which has now ended, prompting the prosecutors to push for the end of the death penalty in light of the resumption of these executions.

Highlights

Nearly half of the states in the U.S. have abolished the death penalty.

A group of prosecutors is pushing to end the death penalty across America.

Prosecutors are part of the network 'Fair and Just Prosecution'.

Historically, prosecutors promoted tough on crime laws.

Some death row inmates were later found to have questionable guilt or racial bias.

Prosecutors are calling the death penalty system broken.

Prosecutors believe the only fix is to eliminate the death penalty.

Prosecutors are advocating not to execute people with intellectual disabilities.

States are resuming executions after a pandemic pause.

There are planned executions in the coming months.

Prosecutors have significant power in their jurisdictions.

Prosecutors can influence juries and work with victim's families.

More states authorize the death penalty than do not.

Prosecutors represent diverse areas including urban and rural regions.

The pledge by prosecutors is considered a significant promise.

The impact of the prosecutors' actions will be closely watched.