Does the U.S. execute the severely mentally ill?
• There is no death penalty statute in the U.S. that forbids the execution of the severely mentally ill. The execution of those with mental illness or “the insane” is clearly prohibited by international law. Virtually every country in the world except the U.S. prohibits the execution of people with mental illness. • The U.N. safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, adopted by the U.N. Economic and Social Council resolution of May 25, 1984, states: “. . . nor shall the death sentence be carried out . . . on persons who have become insane.” • Charles Singleton was executed by the State of Arkansas on Jan. 6, 2004. He suffered from serious mental illness. He was said to be ‘seriously deranged without treatment’ and ‘arguably incompetent with treatment.’ A Federal Appeals court had ruled that the Constitution’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment would not be violated if the authorities forcibly administrated antipsychotic medication
