OTSE Press Release: OTSE Releases New Report: “A Crumbling Institution: Why Ohio Must Fix or End the Death Penalty”

March 30, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTSE Releases New Report: “A Crumbling Institution: Why Ohio Must Fix or End the Death Penalty”

COLUMBUS – Ohioans to Stop Executions (OTSE) today released its annual report on the status of Ohio’s death penalty, A Crumbling Institution: Why Ohio Must Fix or End the Death Penalty. The report highlights a continuing trend of decline in the use of the death penalty in Ohio. For the second year in a row, OTSE timed the release of its report to coincide with the annual Ohio Attorney General Capital Crimes Report.

“The information provided by the Attorney General’s report is important,” said Kevin Werner, Executive Director of the statewide anti-death penalty group. “What we see is the institution of the death penalty crumbling before our eyes.”

OTSE offers its report to provide context, detail, additional information and perspective beyond the statutory scope of the Capital Crimes Report.

Highlights include: Three new death row exonerations Historically low indictments New death sentences are down 25% Fewest executions since 2000 2014’s single execution led to an extended moratorium Recommendations by the Ohio Supreme Court Joint Task Force to Review the Administration of Ohio’s Death Penalty High costs of the death penalty Continuing execution protocol changes Prominent Ohioans expressing concern

OTSE invites the media, legislators, state leaders, and general public to view the report at www.otse.org