Imposition of Death Sentences Upon Female Offenders, January 1, 1975 through December 31, 1988

• NCJ Number: 116057
• Author(s): V L Streib
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Research into the imposition of death sentences and on the execution of female offenders indicates that both are quite rare.

Abstract

Since the first execution of a woman in 1632, only 397 documented executions have occurred. Consistent with this relative rarity of female executions, the imposition of the death sentence has continued to be rare in the modern era. The number of death sentences imposed on females have been three in 1975, one in 1976, none in 1977, four in 1978, four in 1979, two in 1980, three in 1981, five in 1982, four in 1983, eight in 1984, five in 1985, three in 1986, three in 1987, and six in 1988. These female death sentences comprise only 1 to 2 percent of the total death sentences for these years. Brief information on the 50 women receiving death sentences between 1975 and 1988 is provided that includes offender name, date of crime and sentencing, race, State, and current status.