Capital punishment in Idaho
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Capital punishment is legal in the U.S. state of Idaho.
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[edit] Current development
Capital punishment was reinstated in Idaho on July 7, 1973[1], after United States Supreme Court strucked down all death penalty statutes across the country in 1972 Furman v. Georgia decision. 1976 case Gregg v. Georgia lifted almost ten-years moratorium of executions in the United States, but Idaho waited until 1994 to execute their first inmate.
[edit] Capital crimes
Three crimes in Idaho are punishable to death[2]:
- First-degree murder with aggravating factors
- Aggravated kidnapping
- Perjury resulting in death
[edit] Sentencing and clemency
Sentence is determined by jury. Currently 19 inmates (including one woman) awaiting execution on death row, locating in Boise (for women in Pocatello)[3].
Idaho is one of the very few states, where commutation of the death sentences is determined solely by Board, where Governor of Idaho is not even sit[4]. This making unusual situation, where Governor have no influence of commutation process (by having exclusively right, receiving non-biding or biding recommendation or sitting in the Board).
Only two other states (Georgia and Connecticut) sharing the same system, while in Nebraska, Utah and Nevada Governor sitting in a board[5].
One person received a commutation of death sentence since 1973 (Donald Paradis in April 1994). His sentence was later overturned and he was freed due to innocence)[6].
[edit] Executions method
Lethal injection is the sole method of executions in Idaho. Firing squad, however, is authorized if injection is "impractical"[7].
[edit] List of executed individuals
Only one inmate was executed in Idaho after 1977.
| Executed person | Date of execution | Method | Victims | Under Governor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keith Wells | 6 January 1994 | lethal injection | John Justad and Brandis Rains | Cecil D. Andrus |
[edit] Historical
In pre-Furman period Idaho executed 26 men between 1864 and 1957. 14 of these execution were prior to Statehood, 12 since. Idaho had never executed a woman and all executions were carried out by hanging[8].
[edit] Rerefences
[edit] External links
- List of Idaho's pre-Furman executions
- Death Sentences. Idaho Department of Correction. Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
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