Push on to end Ohio death penalty

Nearly 30 former Ohio lawmakers who reinstated the death penalty 44 years ago now advocate for its abolition. Twenty-seven members of the 114th General Assembly signed a letter supporting Senate Bill 133, which aims to end capital punishment. Marge Koosed, a law professor, interviewed 44 of the 57 surviving members from the 114th General Assembly and found that only five continue to support the death penalty. Attorney General Dave Yost criticized the current system as costly and ineffective while proposing a new execution method involving nitrogen hypoxia. Governor Mike DeWine has imposed a moratorium on executions since 2019, stating he does not expect any to occur during his term, which ends in 2027.

The last execution in Ohio was in 2018, and since 1981, only 56 of 336 death sentences have been carried out. The letter from former lawmakers highlights the serious flaws in the death penalty system and its failure to achieve intended benefits. There are currently 119 inmates on death row in Ohio.