irisheyes66
04-17-2004, 08:08 PM
By John Hanna
Associated Press Writer
4/17/04
______________________________
TOPEKA -- Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed a bill Friday creating a sentence of life in prison without parole as an alternative to the death penalty in capital murder cases.
Until the law takes effect July 1, the state's harshest alternative to a death sentence remains 50 years in prison without parole. The "Hard 50" sentence will remain available, but only in non-capital cases.
Proponents of the sentencing alternative saw it as way to avoid costs associated with capital punishment by encouraging juries to recommend non-death sentences. Those supporters have said due-process requirements affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court create additional costs when a defendant faces execution.
Also, a survey last year of jurors in 11 states suggested many worry about a capital murder defendant being able to leave prison eventually -- however remote the possibility.
Thirty-eight states have capital punishment, but only Kansas, New Mexico and Texas lacked the alternative of life without parole.
"It's an improvement in Kansas criminal law to have it as an option for juries," Matt All, Sebelius' chief counsel, said in an interview.
Reprinted from DodgeGlobe.com
Associated Press Writer
4/17/04
______________________________
TOPEKA -- Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed a bill Friday creating a sentence of life in prison without parole as an alternative to the death penalty in capital murder cases.
Until the law takes effect July 1, the state's harshest alternative to a death sentence remains 50 years in prison without parole. The "Hard 50" sentence will remain available, but only in non-capital cases.
Proponents of the sentencing alternative saw it as way to avoid costs associated with capital punishment by encouraging juries to recommend non-death sentences. Those supporters have said due-process requirements affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court create additional costs when a defendant faces execution.
Also, a survey last year of jurors in 11 states suggested many worry about a capital murder defendant being able to leave prison eventually -- however remote the possibility.
Thirty-eight states have capital punishment, but only Kansas, New Mexico and Texas lacked the alternative of life without parole.
"It's an improvement in Kansas criminal law to have it as an option for juries," Matt All, Sebelius' chief counsel, said in an interview.
Reprinted from DodgeGlobe.com