Death Row and Parole in the US: Statistics and Analysis

Death Row Demographics and Trends

• Southern states account for 55% of death row inmates.
• Approximately 3,300 individuals are on death row.
• Over 100 death sentences are issued each year.
• More than 25 executions occur annually.
• Executions declined between 1935 and 1970.
• Inmate riots have remained stable over the past 30 years.
• About 56% of those executed are white, while 35% are Black.
• The percentage of Black Americans on death row is disproportionately high.
• The race of the victim is the largest factor in death penalty cases.
• 30 states have the death penalty.
• Electrocution is still used in Nebraska.
• Executing mentally ill individuals is considered cruel and unusual punishment under the 8th Amendment.
• As of 2020, only 9% of inmates have a college education.

Parole and Probation

• Parole boards have discretionary release in 90% of cases.
• Parole revocation often occurs due to non-compliance with the conditions of supervised release.
• Probation is an alternative sentence to incarceration.
• Parole is early release from prison, often for good behavior.

Correctional Equity

The majority of individuals who receive parole are white males (45%), while African Americans make up 60% of the prison population. These statistics suggest a disparity in parole rates.

Role of the Parole Officer

• Aid in the transition to community supervision.
• Provide a bridge of services prior to reentry.
• Ensure the individual has necessary support, information, and contacts.
• Track progress, with particular attention to the 6 months prior to release.

Prison Life and Culture

• Prison staff may engage in boundary violations.
• "Good time" can lead to mandatory release.
• "Trustee" pods and church services are part of prison life.
• Inmates may use secret communication methods, such as invisible ink or Morse code.
• Prison gangs, such as the Aryan Brotherhood (founded in 1964) and the Diamond Tooth Gang, exist within the system.
• Notable figures include "Terrible" Tom Silverstein, Tyler Bingham, and Robert Scully.
• The Italian Mafia may receive money orders from family members.

Arguments and Considerations

• Some argue that the death penalty is less expensive than life imprisonment.
• Furman v. Georgia established that the death penalty, as then applied, was unfair.
• Texas has the largest death row population.
• The utilitarian argument for the death penalty centers on maximizing pleasure while minimizing pain.
• Over 300 people are sentenced to death in the US each year.
• Selective incapacitation targets certain individuals for harsher sentences.
• Justice reinvestment involves redirecting savings from reduced incarceration to other programs.
• Executors may hold a utilitarian belief in deterrence.
• The death sentence involves a two-stage judicial process.
• Public executions are a historical practice.
• Between 2005 and 2010, 80% of those on death row were unsentenced.