Maryland’s death penalty has been repealed, making it the 18th state to abolish executions. Instead of the death penalty, the state’s harshest sentence will now be life without parole.

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley pledged to overturn the death penalty, citing a variety of reasons, reports The Washington Post. However, proponents of the death penalty argue that life imprisonment may not be enough in certain circumstances.

During legislative debates, lawmakers pointed to some specific flaws with Maryland’s death penalty. Here are five of the most signifcant:

Maryland’s death penalty repeal now heads to O’Malley’s desk for his signature. Since 2007, Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, and New Jersey have also repealed the death penalty, citing similar reasons to those mentioned above.

Related Resources:

  • Md. poised to be 18th state to ban death penalty (USA Today)
  • Analysis of Maryland Death Penalty Repeal (Maryland General Assembly)
  • Death Penalty Use Plummets to 35-Year Low (FindLaw’s Blotter)
  • State Capital Punishment Laws (FindLaw)

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