The Capital Case Data Project of the American Judicature Society announced their count of 125 new death sen­tences in 2005, one less than in 2004. In addi­tion, AJS count­ed 14 death sen­tences imposed through new sen­tence pro­ceed­ings after appel­late rever­sals. Those sen­tenced to death includ­ed 63 white defen­dants, 57 black defen­dants, and 15 Hispanics. The largest num­ber of death sen­tences were imposed in California (19) and Florida (16). Texas had 14 death sen­tences, down con­sid­er­ably from 24 in 2004. The Bureau of Justice Statistics will release their data on death sen­tences in 2005 lat­er this year. (BJS report­ed 125 new death sen­tences in 2004.) (U.S. Newswire, Press Release, American Judicature Society, March 27, 2006). For AJS sum­maries of all the cas­es, click here.

CORRECTION: DPIC had ear­li­er report­ed an unof­fi­cial count of 106 death sen­tences in 2005 based on its own research. There was an error in the cal­cu­la­tion for the first quar­ter of the year and it now appears that the cor­rect count is that described above. We regret any inconvenience.

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