Ohio - Proposal To Abolish Death Penalty Appeals To Cost-Conscious

OHIO PUBLIC RADIO

Democratic State Representative Nickie Antonio is one of the bill’s sponsors. She says the death penalty needs to be banned because it currently is levied disproportionately upon African Americans and poor Ohioans. And she says it costs many times more to prosecute death penalty cases. This isn’t the first time a bill to scrap the death penalty has been introduced but Antonio is hoping majority Republicans will embrace it this time around because it is fiscally responsible and respects life.

Antonio - “It’s important for us to focus on the political reality of the state of Ohio. The death penalty is expensive. So if we have fiscal conservatives among us – this is the bill for them. This should be a bill they can support. We have people who believe in the sanctity of life. This is a bill that they should definitely support. Even the most conservative among us should support this bill then.”

Antonio notes those convicted in wealthier counties are more likely to receive the death penalty than those who commit the same crimes in poorer counties. Antonio’s bill would allow for a sentence of life in prison for the most heinous crimes. Her bill is supported by some faith leaders but so far, no Republican has signed on to the legislation