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Alaska's political leaders talking up a return of the death penalty

By Douglas A. Berman

As detailed in this local article, a number of notable political leaders in Alaska are talking about trying to bring the death penalty back to the state.  Here are some of the details: Incoming state House speaker Mike Chenault is pushing to reinstate the death penalty in Alaska, and Gov. Sarah Palin is all for it. So is state Rep. Jay Ramras, who says "hang 'em high," and that he would pass a death penalty bill out of the House Judiciary Committee, which he chairs. But opponents, including influential members of the state Senate, say the death penalty is ineffective, expensive and racist.... Chenault's bill would allow the death penalty in cases of first-degree murder. But he has also talked about possibly including child molesters under it as well...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on January 11, 2009 (boomark / email).