---
title: 'Race Plays Powerful Role in Washington State Death Penalty Cases'
description: 'Race plays a significant role in who receives the death penalty in Washington. Research compiled by the Washington Death Penalty Assistance Center…'
canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/race-plays-powerful-role-in-washington-state-death-penalty-cases'
section: news
date: '2003-11-04T22:46:56-05:00'
updated: '2025-03-14T14:23:23-04:00'
source: 'Death Penalty Information Center'
---

Race plays a significant role in who receives the death penalty in Washington. Research compiled by the Washington Death Penalty Assistance Center, revealed that death notices have never been filed in a case with a white defendant and a black victim, while such notices have been filed in 42% of murder cases with a black defendant and a white victim. Of the 10 individuals currently on death row in Washington, nine cases involved a white victim and none involved a black victim. In addition, every juror that convicted and sentenced the black defendants was white. (Washington Death Penalty Assistance Center, May 2003) See [Race](/race-and-death-penalty?did=105&scid=5).