Death Penalty Legislation

HB 160 – Death Penalty Abolishment Bill (2011-2012)

Link to Bill:

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_HB_160

Summary:

HB 160 seeks to abolish the death penalty in Ohio and replace it with prison time.

Primary Sponsors:

Rep. Antonio (D), Rep. Celeste (D)

Secondary Sponsors:

Rep. Blair (R), Rep. Boose (R), Rep. Foley (D), Rep. Garland (D), Rep. Heard (D), Rep. Letson (D), Rep. Lundy (D), Rep. Murray (D), Rep. R. Hagan (D), Rep. Ramos (D), Rep. Williams (D), Rep. Yuko (D)

Committee:

Criminal Justice (H)

Companion Bill:

SB 270

LSC Legislation Status:

http://lsc.state.oh.us/coderev/hou129.nsf/House+Bill+Number/0160?OpenDocument

Jurisdiction/Legislation Level:

State

Our take on this bill:

The ACLU of Ohio supports the efforts of HB 160 and its companion bill SB 270 to abolish the death penalty. With the death penalty’s history of arbitrary and unfair use, inaccuracy, and failure to deter crime or improve public safety, it is clearly a practice that has no place in the modern legal system. Adoption of this bill would help bring Ohio more in line with the Constitution’s guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment and toward a fairer legal system.