Court Cases

In Hamilton County cases where the death penalty is sought, a black defendant with at least one white victim is 5.33 times more likely than other defendants to be sentenced to death. The ACLU of Ohio submitted an amicus brief in support of removing the sentence and a new trial for Mr. Raglin.

In 1978 the US Supreme Court found Ohio's death penalty process unconstitutional. Individuals who had previously been sentenced to death were resentenced, often to life with the possibility of parole. The Ohio Parole Board has a practice of denying these people parole, regardless of circumstance.