Colorado Becomes 22nd State To Abolish The Death Penalty

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Governor Polis signed the bill Monday evening. He also commuted the sentences of the three killers on death row.

They will serve life prison sentences without the possibility of parole.

The Governor said “The commutations of these despicable and guilty individuals are consistent with the abolition of the death penalty in the State of Colorado, and consistent with the recognition that the death penalty cannot be, and never has been, administered equitably in the State of Colorado,”

According to a 2019 Pew Research Data report, support for the death penalty has dropped nationally. Many cite concerns where inmates have been exonerated. The percentage of minorities who received death sentences was also an issue. Many states who still have the death penalty on their books have not used it for over a decade.

Republicans attempted to put the issue on the 2020 ballot but failed.

Only one person has been executed in Colorado since a federal moratorium was lifted in 1976.

George Brauchler, Arapahoe County District Attorney, called the signing of the bill a win for criminals.

State Senator Julie Gonzales, one of the bill's sponsors called the moment 'solemn' and said: "it is an important acknowledgment that every life has dignity no matter how heinous their actions, the crimes, they may have committed".

The bill states the death penalty cannot be given for crimes committed on or after July 1st.