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Interesting information about LWOP instructions in capital cases

By Douglas A. Berman

Thanks to this new item at the Death Penalty Information Center, everyone can check out how "states apply a variety of conditions and use differing instructions to inform" a capital jury about life without parole as a sentencing alternative.  Here is the full posting from DPIC: New Resources: State Instructions for Juries Regarding Life Without Parole Sentences in Capital Cases In all states that use the death penalty, there are provisions for sentencing inmates to the alternative sentence of life without parole (LWOP).  Prior to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Simmons v. South Carolina (1994), some states with LWOP did not inform the jury of this alternative even when so requested by the defense.  Today, states apply a variety of conditions and use differing instructions to inform the jury about this alternative sentence...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on August 29, 2009 (boomark / email).