Ministry Against the Death Penalty
Ohio Report Aug-Nov. 2012
Donald Palmer and Brett Hartman were executed. Brett claimed innocence until the end.
The 2012 State Elections did little to change the power in either the House or Senate. Both had been
controlled by the Republican Party and will be so again. The district are so gerrymandered that the
chance of power changing is minimal. There is a chance that there will be new chairs for the Criminal
Justice Committees in both chambers. The death penalty was not an issue in the election.
Political talk has already begun for the 2014 Governor’s race.
The Taskforce to Review the Administration of the Death Penalty appointed by the Chief Justice of
Ohio’s Supreme Court continues to meet. No monies have been appropriated for its work so the
necessary research isn’t being done. Ex. Everyone agrees race is a factor in executions but no study has
been done to find out the degree. Each of the 88 counties has its own record system. That is 88
prosecutor offices, 88 coroner offices, etc. that have possibly useable data.
The taskforce will meet for another year.
There are 6 executions scheduled for 2013 and 5 for 2014.
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