How Have Homicide Rates Been Affected By Californias Death Penalty?
INTRODUCTION In more than three centuries since Daniel Frank became the first person to be lawfully executed in the New World for the crime of theft, there have been an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 persons put to death.[1] In California, the numbers of those executed are staggering. Since 1893, there have been a total of 504 executions in the state of California. In total executions since 1930, California is ranked fourth behind Georgia (383), Texas (368) and New York (329) at 294.[2] April 21, 1995 marks the three year anniversary of Robert Alton Harris’ execution. This was the first execution in California since Aaron Mitchell was put to death by lethal gas in 1967. At the age of 39, Harris ushered back CaliforniaUs era of capital punishment. Since 1977, when capital punishment was reinstated, California has sentenced 363 prisoners to die on death row, and in addition to Harris, has executed one other, David Mason.[3] With the reinstitution of capital punishment in California, one of t
