According to a new study -the first of its kind in Ohio -The Associated Press has shown that Ohio's death penalty laws have been inconsistently applied since the law's passing in 1981. The study has concluded that factors like race, plea bargaining and the crime location all affect whether or not individuals would face the death penalty or receive lesser sentences like life in prison. The trend, exposed by the Associated Press, points to a major problem that the Ohio Legislature needs to address before the state executes any more death row inmates.
A moratorium on executions is Ohio's only viable option until the state is able to study these trends and draft legislation that would prohibit lawyers and judges from using unchecked discretion in determining who can be sentenced to death.
After establishing the needed moratorium, the Legislature should not reinstitute the practice until it can be assured that death penalty laws would be enforced fairly across lines of race and social class. In the past few years Illinois has taken similar action, and Ohio would be wise to follow its precedent.
When questions about discrimination -in any aspect -are raised, the government has a responsibility to pursue measures to secure equality for all its citizens. All individuals -no matter one's personal beliefs on the death penalty -should support this action to be taken by the state. The establishment of a moratorium on executions can appease both sides of the fence: for the anti-death penalty advocates it does stop executions for a period of time and for pro-death penalty advocates it does not outlaw the current practice. All political debate aside, the establishment of a moratorium would allow the state to improve upon its legislation and ensure equal treatment under the law. Until the government can ensure equality, it must not proceed with any more executions to give all individuals -regardless of alleged crimes -fair treatment.
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