An analysis of the death penalty in Utah shows how rarely it has been used in recent years. Prosecutors have sought it in only 7 cases in the last 5 years, and none has resulted in a death sentence. Utah has had only 1 execution in the past 13 years. Experts have offered several reasons for the declining use: the alternative sentence of life without parole is now avaialble; the appeal of a death sentence is costly and slow; and many victims’ families wish to see a more timely end to the criminal case. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sam Gill said the death penalty should be used sparingly, and only with great consideration: “What you want is a prosecutor who struggles with the death penalty, because it’s a decision to take somebody’s life. It shouldn’t be something we do arbitrarily. It’s not something that we should be cavalier about. It is not something we should reach to with indiscretion.” Prosecutors also said they consider the wishes of the victim’s family when deciding whether to seek a death sentence. Mark Anderson, whose cousin was murdered, said he believed life without parole was an appropriate punishment in that case. “When you have a crime that’s committed, you need to protect two entities. You need to protect the victim and the public in general, and in both of those situations justice was satisfied,” Anderson said.
The majority of those executed in Utah since 1976 (4 of 7 inmates) waived all or parts of their appeal.
(E. Morgan, “Is the death penalty dead in Utah?,” Deseret News, September 30, 2013). See Sentencing and New Voices.
Victims' Families
Nov 26, 2024
