Post by janet on Jan 26, 2006 8:46:54 GMT -5
The government is seeking the death penalty for Zacarias Moussaoui, who has pleaded builty to 6 couonts of conspiracy in connection with the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
A jury in Alexandria, Virginia, will determine whether Moussaoui gets the death penalty or life imprisonment in a trial schedued to begin next month.
In general, the number of executions in the United States has been falling in recent years, even while the federal death penalty expands in scope.
"The states are cutting back on their use of the death penalty, while the federal government is expanding," said Richard Dieter of the Death Penalty Information Center.
... Critics argue that the federal death penalty is racially biased against minorities. If the 3 executions go forward in May, 5 of the 6 people put to death would have been either black or Hispanic.
A Department of Justice study released in 2000 found that 80% of the cases submitted by prosecutors for death panalty review were against minorities.
(source: Reuters)
A jury in Alexandria, Virginia, will determine whether Moussaoui gets the death penalty or life imprisonment in a trial schedued to begin next month.
In general, the number of executions in the United States has been falling in recent years, even while the federal death penalty expands in scope.
"The states are cutting back on their use of the death penalty, while the federal government is expanding," said Richard Dieter of the Death Penalty Information Center.
... Critics argue that the federal death penalty is racially biased against minorities. If the 3 executions go forward in May, 5 of the 6 people put to death would have been either black or Hispanic.
A Department of Justice study released in 2000 found that 80% of the cases submitted by prosecutors for death panalty review were against minorities.
(source: Reuters)