Death-row list ranks Philly high
As of Jan. 1, only two U.S. counties had put more people on death row than Philadelphia, according to a new report.
As of Jan. 1, only two U.S. counties had put more people on death row than Philadelphia, and both were east of the Mississippi, according to a new report from the Death Penalty Information Center.
The latest numbers, though, might drop Philly from No. 3 to fifth, since the count of those sentenced to death in Phillly dropped from 88 at the start of the year to 75 as of Oct. 1, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
"Capital convictions there are frequently reversed on appeal and later reduced to life sentences because the county did not provide adequate representation to many defendants," notes the report, titled "The 2% Death Penalty: How a Minority of Counties Produce Most Death Cases at Enormous Costs to All," while citing a 2011 Philadelphia Inquirer article.
The last person executed in Pennsylvania was Philadelphia serial killer Gary Heidnik in 1999.
U.S. Counties With Most Death-Row Inmates
As of Jan. 1, 2013.
1. Los Angeles, Calif., 228.
2. Harris , Texas, 101 (No. 1 in executions since 1976 with 115).
3. Philadelphia, Pa., 88.
4. Maricopa , Ariz., 81 (No. 2 in executions since 1976 with 11).
5. Riverside, Calif., 76.
6 (tie). Clark, Nev., 61.
6 (tie). Orange, Calif., 61.
8. Duval, Fla., 60
9. Alameda, Calif., 43
10. San Diego, Calif., 40
11. San Bernardino, Calif., 37
12. Sacramento, Calif., 35
13. Shelby, Tenn., 33
14 (tie). Dallas, Texas, 31
14 (tie). Miami-South Dade, Fla., 31
16. Jefferson, Ala., 30
17 (tie). Hamilton, Ohio, 28
17 (tie). Oklahoma, Okla., 28 (No. 3 in executions since 1976 with 38).
19 (tie). Santa Clara, Calif., 28
20. Pima, Ariz., 26
See more "Philly Lists." Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.
Nearly half
(43%) of Pennsylvania’s death row
comes from Philadelphia County
.
However, capital convictions
there
are frequently reversed on appeal
and
later
reduced to life sentences
because the county did not
provide adequate representation
to
many
defendants
.
According to
a 2011 study by the
Philadelphia
Inquirer
,
69
Philadelphia
death