THE MORNING CALL - 09/09/01

U.S. has doubts over death row

By JEFF MILLER, Call Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Questions about the administration of the death penalty have led several states, including Pennsylvania, to consider giving more support to defendants in capital cases.

Now, momentum appears to be growing in Washington for federal legislation to improve legal representation for capital defendants and guarantee access to DNA evidence that has enabled several condemned prisoners to walk free.

 The aim is not to abolish the death penalty but to cut down on serious errors that could lead to innocent people being executed.

 Initially introduced last year, the Innocence Protection Act has gained broad bipartisan support in the House and Senate even among death penalty proponents, including Rep. Pat Toomey (news - bio - voting record).

Full story at The Morning Call