Topeka — Legislators have scheduled hearings this week to review the cost and effectiveness of Kansas’ death penalty law.
The Senate Judiciary Committee begins its work Tuesday.
A bill was debated last year that would have prevented new death sentences after July 1, 2009, but the bill was sent back to committee for more work.
Kansas enacted its death penalty law in 1994, but there have been no executions since it took effect.
Many legislators say there appears to be little chance that the death penalty will be ended in Kansas.
But Judiciary Committee Chairman Tim Owens says there’s merit in periodically reviewing the law.
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FREESTATEFAN (anonymous) says…
Mr Owens,
You think there may be more important things to concentrate on right now than a death penalty statute that we HAVEN'T even used yet!
flux (anonymous) says…
Start with the Carr brothers
Eride (anonymous) says…
"freestatefan (Anonymous) says…
Mr Owens,
You think there may be more important things to concentrate on right now than a death penalty statute that we HAVEN'T even used yet!"
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Just because no one has been executed doesn't mean it isn't important to review it. Trying people for a capital crime is much more expensive then a non-capital offense. In the current budget crisis this is a wonderful way to potentially cut a large amount of cost for an already overstressed judiciary branch.
tennesseerader (anonymous) says…
In order for the death penalty to be useful we need a system like Texas; They have a fast lane.
mom_of_three (anonymous) says…
If the death penalty is abolished, the Carr Brothers and Justin Thurber would have a possible chance at parole. Even a small chance is worth keeping the death penalty. And yes, I wish Kansas had the fast lane like Texas.