Herald Leader-Kentucky  - -  10/31/01

Kentucky Death Sentences Reversed; Governor Supports Ban on Executing Juveniles

In the past year, appellate courts have reversed six Kentucky death sentences, citing issues such as inadequate representation and a lack of aggravating circumstances.  In the same time period, three new death sentences were imposed at trials.  Such reversals are not rare: since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976,  appellate courts have reversed the sentences of 43 of the 82 people sentenced to death in Kentucky.

    Kevin Stanford may be added to the list of sentence reversals if the state passes a law prohibiting the execution of juvenile offenders.  Kentucky Governor Paul Patton recently announced that he would support a bill to abolish the death penalty for those who commit crimes as 16- or 17-year olds, stating that he was uneasy about holding juveniles as responsible as adults for their actions.  Kentuckians tend to agree with Patton.  A survey last year found that 79% thought that prison, not death, was the appropriate sentence for juveniles convicted of murder.