Dead wrong
Speeding up Pa. death penalty worsens class, race issues

On Jan. 4, Jesse DeWayne Jacobs was executed by lethal injection in a Texas jail. Before his death, Jacobs called his fate "premeditated murder." Although it is not uncommon for a man in Jacobs' position to proclaim his innocence, ironically, he was right.

Despite the fact that his case was taken to the U.S. Supreme Court, the state found forensic evidence proving Jacobs' innocence and Jacobs' prosecutor said that he was convinced Jacobs did not kill Etta Ann Urdiales, the state of Texas murdered Jacobs anyway.

That is the reality of the death penalty. It is unjust in this so-called system of justice. And Gov. Tom Ridge wants to speed up the process.

In an effort to kill 'em quicker, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently approved a major part of Ridge's anti-crime bill that requires the governor to sign death warrants within 90 days after the state Supreme Court upholds a death sentence. After he signs the death warrant, he must set a date for execution no later than 30 days after the warrant is signed.

By speeding up due process, the state will only make it easier and more likely that more inmates such as Jacobs will be put to death. And unfortunately, Ridge's plan only worsens an already flawed system.

Most people see the death penalty as a way to get "tough on crime" -- it is used as a deterrent. Although Texas has had more executions than any other state, its crime rate is still one of the highest. Despite the fact that many states have the death penalty, crime and murder are still perceived as major problems.

But Rep. Albert Masland (R-Carlisle) admitted that deterrence is secondary. He said during the recent debates that the death penalty serves to give criminals their rightful end. His basic sentiment is they simply deserve to die.

The most obvious flaw in that death march is the racial bias present on death row. In Pennsylvania, there are 186 people on death row -- 112 are black. And blacks account for only 12 percent of the state's population. Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, 39 percent of those executed were black, according to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Aside from being a racist system, the death penalty also sees class before killing. Simply put, those with the money stay alive. Those with deep pockets hire the best lawyers and stay off death row. Most suspected criminals are stuck with court-appointed attorneys or are stuck representing themselves.

Before Jacobs was murdered, he stated, "I hope in my death, that I am that little bitty snowball that starts to bury the death penalty." Unfortunately, Ridge is content on plowing through justice.