How Much Do You Know About The US Death Penalty?

1. Some states have laws keeping their lethal-injection drug suppliers and protocols secret.

True

False

Arizona, Tennessee, Missouri, Georgia and Oklahoma all have lethal injection secrecy laws. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jessica-s-henry/a-deadly-secret_b_5620238.html

Explanation

Arizona, Tennessee, Missouri, Georgia and Oklahoma all have lethal injection secrecy laws. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jessica-s-henry/a-deadly-secret_b_5620238.html

2. The Supreme Court rules that death row inmates can challenge the use of lethal injection as a method of execution.

True

False

According to oyez.org: "Clarence Hill was sentenced to death in Florida, which ordinarily uses a three-drug combination for executions. Hill claimed that this particular form of lethal injection was unnecessarily and gratuitously painful, and that it therefore violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. However, Hill had previously filed for a federal writ of habeas corpus challenging his conviction, and the federal district court ruled that his new challenge was the practical equivalent of a second habeas corpus appeal. Successive habeas corpus appeals are not allowed under 28 U.S.C. 2244, and so the district court rejected Hill's petition. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision."

Explanation

According to oyez.org: "Clarence Hill was sentenced to death in Florida, which ordinarily uses a three-drug combination for executions. Hill claimed that this particular form of lethal injection was unnecessarily and gratuitously painful, and that it therefore violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. However, Hill had previously filed for a federal writ of habeas corpus challenging his conviction, and the federal district court ruled that his new challenge was the practical equivalent of a second habeas corpus appeal. Successive habeas corpus appeals are not allowed under 28 U.S.C. 2244, and so the district court rejected Hill's petition. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision."

3. What groups of countries still have the death penalty?

Columbia, United States, New Zealand

Ireland, Venezuela, United States

United States, China, Saudi Arabia

Spain, United States, Italy

The United States ranked fifth for the highest number of executions.

The U.S. takes a spot behind China, Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia for the most executions in the world last year, sitting ahead of Yemen and the Sudan. (according to Amnesty International)

Explanation

The United States ranked fifth for the highest number of executions.

The U.S. takes a spot behind China, Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia for the most executions in the world last year, sitting ahead of Yemen and the Sudan. (according to Amnesty International)

4. Which state has had the highest execution rate overall since 1976?

Oklahoma

Texas

Florida

Virginia

With 518 executions in total since 1976 (as of January 2015), Texas is the state with the highest execution rate. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/number-executions-state-and-region-1976

Explanation

With 518 executions in total since 1976 (as of January 2015), Texas is the state with the highest execution rate. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/number-executions-state-and-region-1976

5. It is equally likely for an African American who killed a white person and a white person who killed another white person to recieve the death penalty.

True

False

Black people convicted of killing whites are more likely than other killers to receive a death sentence, and more likely to actually be executed. http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/dthrow.htm

Explanation

Black people convicted of killing whites are more likely than other killers to receive a death sentence, and more likely to actually be executed. http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/dthrow.htm

6. How many innocent people are estimated to be on death row?

None

0.03% of total death row inmates

0.002% of total death row inmates

4% of total death row inmates

"New research finds that almost four percent of U.S. capital punishment sentences are wrongful convictions, almost double the number of people set free, meaning around 120 of the roughly 3,000 inmates on death row in America are not guilty" as of April 2014, according to TIME

Explanation

"New research finds that almost four percent of U.S. capital punishment sentences are wrongful convictions, almost double the number of people set free, meaning around 120 of the roughly 3,000 inmates on death row in America are not guilty" as of April 2014, according to TIME

7. How many people have been executed between 1976-2015?

1,004

906

1,398

384

As of November 26, 2014, 1,392 people have been executed according to DeathPenaltyInfoCenter (DPIC)

Explanation

As of November 26, 2014, 1,392 people have been executed according to DeathPenaltyInfoCenter (DPIC)

8. The mentally ill can be executed in the United States.

True

False

Examples include: Andrew Brannan, diagnosed with PTSD, was executed Jan 13, 2015. John Ferguson was executed on August 5, 2013 in Florida. Garry Allen was executed in Oklahoma on November 6, 2012. Daniel Lee Bedford was executed in Ohio on May 17, 2011.

Explanation

Examples include: Andrew Brannan, diagnosed with PTSD, was executed Jan 13, 2015. John Ferguson was executed on August 5, 2013 in Florida. Garry Allen was executed in Oklahoma on November 6, 2012. Daniel Lee Bedford was executed in Ohio on May 17, 2011.

9. In what year did the Supreme Court rule that capital punishment was "cruel and unusual" and suspend the death penalty?

1980

1972

1946

1969

In 1972 the Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty statue in Georgia, which gave the jury complete sentencing discretion, could result in arbitrary sentencing and was therefore "cruel and unusual" and in violation of the 8th amendment. The court commuted all existing death sentenecs and suspended the practice. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/part-i-history-death-penalty

Explanation

In 1972 the Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty statue in Georgia, which gave the jury complete sentencing discretion, could result in arbitrary sentencing and was therefore "cruel and unusual" and in violation of the 8th amendment. The court commuted all existing death sentenecs and suspended the practice. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/part-i-history-death-penalty

10. The death penalty is a crime deterrent.

True

False

"We show that with the most minor tweaking of the [research] instruments, one can get estimates ranging from 429 lives saved per execution to 86 lives lost. These numbers are outside the bounds of credibility." (The Economists' Voice, April 2006).

Explanation

"We show that with the most minor tweaking of the [research] instruments, one can get estimates ranging from 429 lives saved per execution to 86 lives lost. These numbers are outside the bounds of credibility." (The Economists' Voice, April 2006).

11. In what year did the Supreme Court reinstate the death penalty?

1978

1976

1985

1990

In 1976 the Supreme Court recognized new death penalty statues written by a number of states that intended to prevent the arbitrary application of the death penalty, thus reinstating the practice. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/part-i-history-death-penalty

Explanation

In 1976 the Supreme Court recognized new death penalty statues written by a number of states that intended to prevent the arbitrary application of the death penalty, thus reinstating the practice. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/part-i-history-death-penalty

12. Which of the following states has abolished the death penalty?

Texas

Maryland

Oklahoma

California

The 18 states are the following according to deathpenaltyinfo.org:
Alaska (1957)
Connecticut** (2012)
Hawaii (1957)
Illinois (2011)
Iowa (1965)
Maine (1887)
Maryland*** (2013)
Massachusetts (1984) Michigan (1846)
Minnesota (1911)
New Jersey (2007)
New Mexico* (2009)
New York (2007)#
North Dakota (1973)
Rhode Island (1984)^
Vermont (1964) West Virginia (1965)
Wisconsin (1853)

ALSO
Dist. of Columbia (1981)

Explanation

The 18 states are the following according to deathpenaltyinfo.org:
Alaska (1957)
Connecticut** (2012)
Hawaii (1957)
Illinois (2011)
Iowa (1965)
Maine (1887)
Maryland*** (2013)
Massachusetts (1984) Michigan (1846)
Minnesota (1911)
New Jersey (2007)
New Mexico* (2009)
New York (2007)#
North Dakota (1973)
Rhode Island (1984)^
Vermont (1964) West Virginia (1965)
Wisconsin (1853)

ALSO
Dist. of Columbia (1981)

13. On average, in the state of Washington how much more does a death penalty case cost than a similar case where a death sentence is not sought?

$500,000

$1,000,000

$30,000

$75,000

"A Seattle University study examining the costs of the death penalty in Washington found that each death penalty case cost an average of $1 million more than a similar case where the death penalty was not sought ($3.07 million, versus $2.01 million)." http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/node/6003

Explanation

"A Seattle University study examining the costs of the death penalty in Washington found that each death penalty case cost an average of $1 million more than a similar case where the death penalty was not sought ($3.07 million, versus $2.01 million)." http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/node/6003

14. Which public figure said the following: "I do not think that God approved the death penalty for any crime, rape and murdered included. Capital punishment is against the best judgment of modern criminology and, above all, against the highest expression of love in the nature of God."

Pope John Paul II

Jean-Paul Sartre

Eleanor Roosevelt

Martin Luther King Jr

Martin Luther King Jr is the correct answer because he was a prominent public figure who advocated for nonviolence and justice. His statement aligns with his beliefs in equality, compassion, and the sanctity of human life. He believed that capital punishment goes against the principles of love and forgiveness, and that it is not an effective solution to crime. This statement reflects his strong opposition to the death penalty and his commitment to promoting peace and justice.

Explanation

Martin Luther King Jr is the correct answer because he was a prominent public figure who advocated for nonviolence and justice. His statement aligns with his beliefs in equality, compassion, and the sanctity of human life. He believed that capital punishment goes against the principles of love and forgiveness, and that it is not an effective solution to crime. This statement reflects his strong opposition to the death penalty and his commitment to promoting peace and justice.

15. Which was the first state to abolish the death penalty?

Mississippi

Vermont

Michigan

Illinois

In 1846, Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty for all crimes except treason. Later, Rhode Island and Wisconsin abolished the death penalty for all crimes.

Explanation

In 1846, Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty for all crimes except treason. Later, Rhode Island and Wisconsin abolished the death penalty for all crimes.