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The US state of Virginia has abolished the death penalty. The measure was signed by Democratic Gov. Raplph Northam after it was approved by the Democratic-controlled local House and Senate in recent weeks. Virginia is the first US state to abolish punishment among the traditionally more conservative southern United States.
Additionally, Virginia is historically one of the states where the highest number of death sentences were carried out. It has carried out nearly 1,400 since its founding, including 113 since the Supreme Court reintroduced the death penalty in 1976. Associated Press notes that only Texas has carried out more death sentences since then.
However, in recent times something had changed. In 2002, a law passed by a large majority established an office to finance the defense of defendants who run the risk of being sentenced to death with specific public funds. the Washington Post writes that in the twenty years before the office was established there were 86 executions, up from 26 since. A Virginia court has not sentenced a defendant to death for about ten years, and only two prisoners remained in local jails . death.
However, the debate on the death penalty had resurfaced in recent months, when Democratic Governor Northam explored the issue after the summer of protests against police violence against African Americans and concluded that the death penalty is decided. disproportionately against people. belonging to ethnic minorities. Northam, who had previously voted to extend the death penalty for some crimes, said publicly that he had changed his mind and wanted to abolish it statewide, and the rest of the party supported him in his decision.
“I always knew it was going to be abolished while I was still alive, but I didn’t think it would happen so quickly,” said Republican Ken Stolle, who in 2002 was one of the promoters of the office that dealt with defendants at risk of a death warrant.
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