House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

Posted:	June 14, 2021 11:28 AM
From:	Representative Francis X. Ryan
To:	All House members
Subject:	Repeal Death Penalty in Pennsylvania

In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation that would repeal the death penalty in Pennsylvania. According to the Department of Corrections, there are currently 117 individuals on death row in Pennsylvania. A recent study found that since Pennsylvania enacted the death penalty in 1978, it has cost the state roughly $816 million dollars more than the cost of life without parole. However, since this time period only 3 individuals have been executed in the Commonwealth, all of which waived their appeals and asked for the execution to be carried out. In addition to its overwhelming cost, human error inherent in the criminal justice with respect to the death penalty has produced numerous unjust and tragic results. Specifically, six individuals who had been sentenced to death in Pennsylvania were later exonerated. In 2015, the governor placed a moratorium on all executions. Currently, Pennsylvania is the only northeastern state that still authorizes the use of the death penalty. Simply put, it is time that Pennsylvania joins its neighboring states and puts an end to this practice by repealing the death penalty. Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation.
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