Bill could abolish the death penalty in Pennsylvania, ‘Sanctity of life’

A lawmaker in the House of Representatives announced plans to introduce legislation that would abolish the death penalty in the Commonwealth.

The bill, authored by Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon County), would abolish the death penalty, which aligns with “pro-life” values. Diamond argued that states should not take life as punishment, even in response to the gravest of crimes. The role of the government “should not be to decide” who lives and who dies, the legislation reads.

Diamond added in his legislation that the death penalty is “inconsistent with the sanctity of life” and fails to meet the “practical and moral standards” of justice and equality. The bill outlined five specific points where it is believed the death penalty fails to meet said standards.

• Risk of Wrongful Execution -“The irreversible nature of the death penalty magnifies its tragic consequences,” Diamond wrote. Over 190 individuals nationwide have been exonerated from death row since 1973, with some coming within days of execution.  According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 13 individuals who had been sentenced to death in Pennsylvania were later exonerated, including one in 2024, the legislation reads.
• Perpetuation of Violence – Capital punishment “perpetuates a cycle of violence” that devalues human life and “undermines our efforts to build a culture of life and hope.”
• Bias and Inequities Persist – The application of the death penalty disproportionately affects people of color, those with limited financial resources, individuals with mental illness and those with intellectual disabilities, according to the bill.
• Deterrence is a Myth – “Decades of research show no evidence that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than life imprisonment without parole,” Dimond wrote.
• Economic and Ethical Costs – The death penalty “burdens taxpayers with excessive costs, diverting resources away from victim support and crime prevention offices.”

According to the legislation, a recent student found that since Pennsylvania enacted the death penalty in 1978, it has cost the state about $816 million dollars more than the cost of life without parole. Diamond argued that the money would be better spent on initiatives that uplift life and community well-being.

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