Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 10, 1985)
«T Port and Observer, April 10, 1985, Page 9 State executions on the increase since 1983 by Robert Lothian The Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Since then, 38 states, including Oregon, have ap proved laws which allow capital pun ishment , , In addition, polls show that a large majority o f Americans approve of the death penalty. No one has been executed yet under Oregon's new law, approved by vot ers in November It allows for death by lethal injection. The appeals process can take several years, but a "death wing" at one o f Oregon’s prisons is reportedly being built in anticipa tion. In other parts o f the country, death row prisoners are being executed at a rapidly accelerating rale. Between September, 1984. and February, 1985, 15 persons were exe cuted in the U .S ., an average o f about one every ten days. Before September, 1984, only seven executions occurred in the seven years since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty. The rapid increase in the rate o f ex ecutions has been helped by the Supreme Court: in 1983 it ruled that appeals courts can take short cuts to reject prisoner efforts to postpone executions. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist has denounced what he calls "endlessly drawn out legal pro ceedings" that he feels work to the benefit o f criminals and make a mockery o f the justice system. Streamlining o f court procedures has been welcomed by law enforce ment officials who argue that the death penalty deters major crimes. After the execution o f a man con- victed o f killing a Jacksonville, Flor ida, police officer earlier this year, a group o f officers Irom the Jackson ville Police Dept. cheered as the exe cuted man’s body left the prison in a hearse. An associated press survey at the end o f January showed that N0 per cent o f Americans approve o f the death penalty. But h alf o f those sur veyed also believe that the death pen alty is not always applied fairly from state to state. The possibility o f unfairness so concerned the Supreme Court in 1972 that it threw out the death penalty. The 1972 ruling said that slate death sentences were unconstitutional be A.M. PRINTING CO. cause they were sometimes appliqd nations, and many more executions capriciously. ' went unreporied, said the report. Death penalty opponents argue At the end o f 1983, according to I that new laws approved by the Court Amneyy. 1,289 prisoners in the U.S. have not remedied tlye situation. They » were under sentence o f death, the also report studies showyig (hat the highest figure ever recorded. The Jfcath penalty does not deter crime. number now exceeds 1,300. t One io f the abolitionist groups? < In Portland, local Amnesty co Amnesty International, is working to ordinator Susan Emmons said that end Ihc death penalty from all coun aettyisfs working to abolish the death tries in the world. penalty in Oregon were rethinking their strategy in light o f Oregon's By the end o f 1983, 26 nations had abolished the death penalty for all o f new la^ and polls which show over- 1 fenses and another 18 for all but ex wheknuig support for the death penalty. ceptional offenses, according to A m She reported, however, that a group nesty’s 1984 year-end report. o f doctors has voted to refuse to give During 1983, 1,699 people were the lethal injections should it’s mem known to have been executed in 39 bers be asked to do so. 1463 N.E. Killingsworth Phone: 283-2487 FOR ALL YOUR PRINTING NEEDS Office ft Bualnaaa Lattarhaads • Bualnaaa Carda Bullatlna • Prica Data • Chart a Newalettera • Forma • Flyara Envalopaa «ADS PLACED These F e a tu re G ro cery Ite m s A re Just An E xam p le O f W h a t You W ill Find In Y o u r "S a fe w a y S h o p p in g Guide Scholarships available Applications are now being accept ed for two independent living scholar ships to be awarded under the aus pices o f the Portland Community College Foundation. Two awards o f $1 ,(XX) each will be made to physically disabled students interested in continuing professional and academic studies at four year colleges and universities, according to Sherry Robinson, director o f Handi capped Student Services at PCC. Persons applying for the scholar ships must be full-time students at PCC and have been in attendance at the college as full-time students for at least one year. Applicants must have verifiable physical disabilities which limit one or more o f life’s ma jor activities. In addition, applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or better during attendance at PCC The scholarships are made possible through the contributions o f Tim Gilmer, a former PCC faculty mem ber Application deadline is April 19 and final selection will be made by Look l.i Your THIS WEEK Newspaper Today For Even More Selection And value For Your Dollar A t Safeway Rib Half Pork Loin May 10, 1985. For information, con tact Robinson at 244-6111, ext. 139. • ’ South Africa f* (Continued fro m Page I. Column 3) " I t ’s a very dangerous thing to interfere with the domestic life of another country. I think we are play ing with fire." If the legislature approves the bill, “ docs that mean we ban trade with England because of the Irish situa tion?," he asked. Bui G ro ff, who supports the bill, said divestment is long overdue. "O u r com panics supply the technology that helps maintain that system,” he said. " W e ’re involved, we’re involved in supporting the status quo, and I would like Io see that changed." G ro ff said both divesting and en gaging South Africa on a variety o f levels to end apartheid would send a positive signal to Afro-Americans. " W e ’ve had a problem with racism, with oppression o f people of color. For that reason I think the situation in South Africa is uniquely important to us," he said. Processed •/> t Tender Fresh Asparagus Revlon Flex Shampoo Serve With Cheese Sauce Save Up To 61* Lb., No Limit Flav-R-Pac Orange Juice Or C o n d itio n e r 1 5 -0 / B ottle You; C hoice 12 -0u nce Can. Frozen Case of 36 $31.49 c Ea. jfltHSOirs DDL RADIO, Mustard Greens Save Up To 77e. No Limit Bum ’ IV E RECORD CO. N o rth w eit I larg e»’ G o »pel Record A Topo Selection» Authorized Zenith Color <5. saus Ad Prices Cood 4 /10 Thru 4 /1 6 /8 5 At Safeways in Lloyd Center, St. Johns, At 5920 N.E. union & 6400 N. interstate. Sales Limited to Retail Quantities. No Sales To Dealers. SAFEWAY -12 óu/zz orni ó r nìfr a suYHi s »ne i m s W i l l T lACMSOH S I O w M t G A IT A JACRSOH Cart.fiW Twehaiai«" a s»r**a 4823 N. Vancouver Portland OR 97217 O ttica: 287 2042 » 4 . - « S • - t • ‘ M t ’ , - e ' 'a r a f f iM n s o a n a M • . . ’ . • S M E i •• «' I, ‘ ‘ ■ •■ ■ ■ • • > •' < •. ■ i v - . J*
