An array of fascinating death penalty materials

All the Blakely and Booker developments have kept me from covering some recent death penalty developments.  But today I can make up for lost time by spotlighting an array of fascinating new materials which provide a window into the current state of capital punishment.

First, just released this week is this lengthy report entitled “The Death Penalty in New York” which highlights the testimony of the 170 witnesses at public statewide hearings on the state’s death penalty law.  This press release provides some highlights, as does this account from the Death Penalty Information Center.

Second, I see that the Death Penalty Information Center has now available here on its website a lengthy examination of the “length of time prisoners spend on death row in the United States before their executions.” 

Third, thanks to this post from TalkLeft, I see that Amnesty International USA recently updated here facts and figures on the death penalty, including some interesting international items.