Another very important discussion: Global experts discuss the decline of the death penalty in America (TheGuardianU.S.)

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/19/decline-death-penalty-america-live-chat

Global experts discuss the decline of the death penalty in America

Reporter Ed Pilkington and Richard C Dieter of the Death Penalty Information Center discussed the decline of executions in the US today. They were joined by experts around the world — here is the chat transcript 

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• • Ed Pilkington http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/19/decline-death-penalty-america-live-chat
  • theguardian.com,              Thursday 19 December 2013 14.19 GMT

The Texas death chamber where death row inmate Gary Graham was put to death by lethal injection. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Executions are on the decline in the US, even though the majority of Americans still support capital punishment.

The reason for the decline comes from a European-led boycott against medical drugs used by US corrections departments during the execution process. A report published by the Death Penalty Information Center indicates that a major factor behind the slump has been the difficulty states are encountering in finding a consistent means of ending life.

Summary

• The year-end report for 2013 Washington-based organization shows that there were 39 executions this year – only the second time since 1994 that the number has fallen below 40.
• Though 60% of Americans support the death penalty, according to Gallup’s annual poll, it’s the lowest level in more than 40 years.
• Activity continues to be centered around a small number of states, even as others abolish the measure – 82% of executions are carried out in the south.

Live chat transcript

Reporter Ed Pilkington and report author Richard C Dieter in a live chat about the state of the death penalty in the US Thursday. Among their guests was Maya Foa, who runs Reprieve’s Stop the Lethal Injection Project. Here is the transcript:  if You cannot watch here, please, go to o-link above, thank You!