Criminal Justice: The Dying Death Penalty

In 1935, the U.S. hit an alltime recorded high in executions: 199 people were put to death for crimes ranging from rape to armed robbery to murder. In 1966, the country hit an alltime low: only one American was executed last year. He was James D. French, 30, an Oklahoma life prisoner who was electrocuted for strangling a cellmate.

Thirteen states have now abolished the death penalty, in whole or part. But while the rest of the country is reluctant to discard it, endless appeals as well as commutations now commonly delay or prevent executions. At the beginning of last year 331 prisoners lingered on death rows across the country, but few if any of them are likely to join the 3,856 Americans (including 32 women) executed since 1930. The Federal Government has carried out only one execution in ten years, now has only one pending (Nebraska Bank Robber-Murderer Duane E. Pope). Says Michigan’s Senator Philip A. Hart, sponsor of a bill to abolish capital punishment for federal crimes: “The death penalty is a symbol of a dying order of vengeance.”