Florida & the Death Penalty

The Wrong Man: A True Story of Innocence on Death Row

"The Wrong Man is an important work on a critical subject. Mello exposes a system rotten to the core." Jack Lemmon

"Read and learn. Mello's passion sears the pages of this book, proving once again that justice, hard fought, will prevail." Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen

Florida and the Death Penalty*

Crimes punishable by the death penalty First-degree murder, felony murder, and capital drug trafficking

Minimum age to receive death penalty 17

Method of execution Lethal injection or electric chair; the state allows prisoners to choose between the two methods.

Who decides sentence Judge, who may override a jury's recommendation

Executioner A private citizen who is paid $150 per execution; state law allows for his or her identity to remain anonymous

"Ol' Sparky" The chair, known as "Ol' Sparky" is 78. On March 25, 1997, "Ol' Sparky" malfunctioned. Flame and smoke shot from a convicted killer's head during execution. On April 21, 1997, The Florida Supreme Court ruled that "Ol' Sparky" does not involve cruel and unusual punishment.

Current race figures of death row inmates White: 208 (54%), Black: 138 (36%), Other: 39 (10%). The current population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau list the current race figures as White: 196,929,000 (71%), Black: 33,619,000 (13%), Other: 45,511,000 (16%).

Number of Executions by race since 1976 White: 31, Black: 16, Other: 2

Average length of stay on Death Row prior to execution 11.3 years

Average age at the time of the offense 30 years old

Average age of inmates on Death Row 40.87 years old

Average age at time of execution 42.75 years old

2000 executions 6

2001 executions, as of 2/9/01 1

Youngest Death Row inmate (currently) Ronald Bell, DOB 4/1/81, sentenced from Okaloosa County in 2000.

Oldest inmate executed Charlie Grifford, 72, executed on 2/21/51

Youngest inmates executed Willie Clay (executed on 12/29/41) and James Davis (executed on 10/9/44), both were 16 yeas old

Inmate longest on death row Gary E. Alvord received his sentence on 4/11/74. He is still on Death Row.

Released from death row with evidence of their innocence since 1973 Of the 93 people who have been released in the entire U.S., 20 have been in Florida. 2 were acquitted in 2000.

Executions since 1976 By October 2000, Florida had executed 49 people since 1976 and had 385 inmates currently on Death Row.

U.S. rankings Florida is third in the nation in number of Death Row inmates (California is #1, Texas is #2) and third in the nation in number of executions since 1976 (Texas is #1, Virginia is #2).

*SOURCES: Unless otherwise indicated, all information was supplied by the Death Penalty Information Center or the Florida Department of Corrections.

Death Penalty Facts

Timeline of Joseph Spaziano's case

Crimes punishable by the death penalty	First-degree murder, felony murder, and capital drug trafficking
Minimum age to receive death penalty	17
Method of execution	Lethal injection or electric chair; the state allows prisoners to choose between the two methods.
Who decides sentence	Judge, who may override a jury's recommendation
Executioner	A private citizen who is paid $150 per execution; state law allows for his or her identity to remain anonymous
"Ol' Sparky"	The chair, known as "Ol' Sparky" is 78. On March 25, 1997, "Ol' Sparky" malfunctioned. Flame and smoke shot from a convicted killer's head during execution. On April 21, 1997, The Florida Supreme Court ruled that "Ol' Sparky" does not involve cruel and unusual punishment.
Current race figures of death row inmates	White: 208 (54%), Black: 138 (36%), Other: 39 (10%). The current population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau list the current race figures as White: 196,929,000 (71%), Black: 33,619,000 (13%), Other: 45,511,000 (16%).
Number of Executions by race since 1976	White: 31, Black: 16, Other: 2
Average length of stay on Death Row prior to execution	11.3 years
Average age at the time of the offense	30 years old
Average age of inmates on Death Row	40.87 years old
Average age at time of execution	42.75 years old
2000 executions	6
2001 executions, as of 2/9/01	1
Youngest Death Row inmate (currently)	Ronald Bell, DOB 4/1/81, sentenced from Okaloosa County in 2000.
Oldest inmate executed	Charlie Grifford, 72, executed on 2/21/51
Youngest inmates executed	Willie Clay (executed on 12/29/41) and James Davis (executed on 10/9/44), both were 16 yeas old
Inmate longest on death row	Gary E. Alvord received his sentence on 4/11/74. He is still on Death Row.
Released from death row with evidence of their innocence since 1973	Of the 93 people who have been released in the entire U.S., 20 have been in Florida. 2 were acquitted in 2000.
Executions since 1976	By October 2000, Florida had executed 49 people since 1976 and had 385 inmates currently on Death Row.
U.S. rankings	Florida is third in the nation in number of Death Row inmates (California is #1, Texas is #2) and third in the nation in number of executions since 1976 (Texas is #1, Virginia is #2).