Ohio's attorney general wants changes made to death penalty, calls system 'broken'
Ohio Attorney General David Yost says the state's current death penalty system is 'broken' and needs considerable changes to make it work. Ohio Attorney General David Yost has called for significant changes to the state's death penalty system, stating it is "broken" and needs substantial changes. Yost suggests using the nitrogen hypoxia method instead of lethal injection, which has only been used once in the U.S. The state hasn't executed anyone since July 2018 due to a shortage of drugs. Other lawmakers have proposed abolishing the death penalty, including Ohio Rep. Jean Schmidt.
Published : a month ago by http://www.facebook.com/wsyxabc6, WKRC, JAMES PILCHER in Politics General
CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Ohio Attorney General David Yost says the state’s current death penalty system is “broken” and needs considerable changes to make it work.
His office this week introduced its annual report on capital crimes and the death penalty. It highlights the fact that inmates convicted to be executed spent about 10 years on death row as of 2003.
Last year, that average number had risen to more than 21 years. Hamilton County currently has 16 inmates sentenced to death out of 121 statewide.
Yost wants to switch to a different form of execution using the controversial nitrogen hypoxia method instead of lethal injection. The state hasn’t executed anyone since July 2018, primarily because of a shortage of lethal injection drugs. He says it’s more readily available and more humane, although it has only been used once in the U.S. – an execution earlier this year in Alabama that some say was botched.
Other lawmakers have proposed abolishing the death penalty entirely, including Ohio Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Miami Township.
Topics: Crime