Death Penalty In Texas Essay

Texas Death Penalty Controversy
Introduction

Texas has a long history of using the death penalty as a form of punishment for serious criminal offenses. The state has carried out the most executions of any state in the United States since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976, with a total of 570 executions as of September 2021. This paper will examine the history of the death penalty in Texas, the process of imposing and carrying out a death sentence, and the controversies surrounding the use of the death penalty in the state's criminal justice system.

History of the Death Penalty in Texas

Texas has a long history of using the death penalty as a form of punishment. The state carried out its first execution in 1819 when George Brown

The state has executed more people than any other state in the U.S. since reinstating the death penalty. However, the number of executions has decreased in recent years, with only one execution in 2020 and none in 2021 as of September.

Imposing and Carrying Out a Death Sentence in Texas

The process of imposing and carrying out a death sentence in Texas is complex and involves several steps. First, a defendant must be convicted of a capital offense, which includes crimes such as murder, kidnapping, and treason. The trial then moves to a separate sentencing phase, where the jury decides whether to impose a death sentence or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
If the jury decides on a death sentence, the defendant can appeal the decision to a higher court. The appeals process can take several years and often involves numerous appeals at the state and federal levels.
Once all appeals have been exhausted, the state sets a date for the execution. The method of execution in Texas is lethal injection, which involves administering a series of drugs that cause death. The execution is carried out at the Texas State Penitentiary in

In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the execution of people with intellectual disabilities is unconstitutional, but the definition of intellectual disability varies from state to state. Texas has been criticized for using a narrow definition of intellectual disability, which has led to the execution of people with borderline intellectual functioning.
The use of the death penalty in Texas has also been criticized for its high cost. According to a report by the Dallas Morning News, the cost of a death penalty trial is three times higher than that of a non-death penalty trial. The cost of appeals and other legal proceedings also adds to the overall cost of the death penalty.
Furthermore, the use of the death penalty in Texas has been controversial due to the possibility of wrongful convictions. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976, 173 people have been exonerated from death row in the U.S., including 13 in Texas. The possibility of executing an innocent person has led to calls for the abolition of the death penalty in Texas and other