Executions come down in US
By IANSWednesday, December 22, 2010
WASHINGTON - There have been fewer executions in the US this year compared to 2009, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
The 46 executions in 2010 constituted a 12 percent drop from last year’s 52, according to the Death Penalty Information Centre, which produces an annual report on execution trends.
The trend shows a marked drop compared to the 85 executions in 2000.
Jurors too were showing a “continuing preference” to punishing criminals with sentences of life without parole.
“There’s just a whole lot more concern about the accuracy of the death penalty, the fairness and even the costs,” said Richard C. Dieter, author of the report and executive director of the Washington-based group.
There are 3,261 people on the death row in the US. California has the largest number (697). A majority of Americans support death penalty.
