Death Penalty in Florida

The death penalty has existed as the most severe form of punishment in the state of Florida for many years. Hanging was the first means of execution used in the state. In 1923, the legislature selected electrocution as the official means, and an oak electric chair was constructed by inmates. Then, in 1998, the old chair was replaced by a new three legged chair built by the Department of Corrections personnel. In 2000, legislation was passed to allow lethal injection as an alternative mode of execution in Florida.

Executioner

The executioner is a private citizen. They are paid $150 per execution, and the law permits the identity of executioner to be anonymous.

Statistics

Prisoners stay an average of 12 years on death row before execution. The average time between the offense and execution is 14 years. No juveniles are placed on death row. If a person is younger than 16 at the time of the crime, they may not be tried as adults. The oldest inmate executed was 72 and the youngest inmate was 16. However, there is an inmate who is 81 on death row currently. There are several prisoners who have been on death row for more than 40 years. The first woman was executed in the state of Florida in 1998.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime, it is imperative to have a good defense team working on your behalf. Contact a West Palm Beach criminal attorney of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 561-353-2800 for more information.