Death Penalty / Exoneration Updates

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DPIC Releases Year End Report: Historic Declines in Death Penalty Use Continue

Posted: December 21, 2016

Death sentences, executions, and public support for the death penalty continued their historic declines in 2016, according to DPIC's annual report, 'The Death Penalty in 2016: Year End Report,' released on December 21.

The 30 death sentences imposed this year are the fewest in the modern era of capital punishment in the U.S.—since the Supreme Court declared all existing death penalty statutes unconstitutional in 1972—and declined 39% from 2015's already 40-year low.

Just 20 people were executed in 2016, the fewest executions since 1991. Both death sentences and executions were increasingly geographically isolated. Two states—Georgia and Texas—accounted for 80% of executions, and more than half of all death sentences were imposed in just three states—California, Ohio, and Texas.

Election results reflected America's deep divisions about the death penalty, as voters in three states decided to retain the death penalty or add it to the state constitution, while voters in five of the highest-use death penalty counties replaced prosecutors who strongly supported the death penalty with candidates who promised reform and reductions in capital prosecutions.

Courts struck down practices in Arizona, Delaware, Florida, and Oklahoma that had contributed to disproportionately high numbers of death sentences.

'America is in the midst of a major climate change concerning capital punishment. While there may be fits and starts and occasional steps backward, the long-term trend remains clear,' said Robert Dunham, DPIC’s Executive Director and the author of the report. 'Whether it’s concerns about innocence, costs, and discrimination, availability of life without parole as a safe alternative, or the questionable way in which states are attempting to carry out executions, the public grows increasingly uncomfortable with the death penalty each year.'”

Federal Jury Awards Illinois Death Row Exoneree $22 Million in Damages

Posted: December 20, 2016

A federal jury awarded $22 million in damages to Nathson Fields, who was wrongfully convicted of a gang-related murder and sentenced to death in 1986. Fields was exonerated in 2009.

The jury found that two Chicago police detectives violated Fields' civil rights by hiding critical evidence that suggested he did not commit the crime of which he was convicted.

For many years, the Chicago police department maintained a practice of keeping secret 'street files' on potential suspects. That policy was officially terminated in 1983, after exposure by a whistleblower. The secret files were hidden in a storage basement where they would not be subject to subpoena.

Despite the department's claims that it was no longer keeping such files, the jury found that at the time Fields was arrested and charged, the city had a pattern and practice of keeping the secret street files in homicide investigations even though it had officially disavowed the practice.

Hundreds of street files were discovered in 2011, including one relating to Fields. Fields' file contained handwritten notes on alternate suspects and lineup cards that had been withheld from his attorneys at his trial.

In addition to the $22 million award for which the city of Chicago is liable, the jury also assessed a total of $40,000 in punitive damages against Sgt. David O'Callaghan and Lt. Joseph Murphy personally, which the men may be required to pay themselves.

At a press conference after the ruling, Fields described the despair he had felt during his time on death row, especially as he saw other prisoners taken to their executions. 'I had times that I was under so much stress I didn't think I could take any more, so this day is very humbling, and I'm so happy,' he said."