Mt. Vernon, VA – The Senate of Virginia and the House of Delegates passed SB 1165, which repeals the death penalty in Virginia and saves almost $4 million per year that the Commonwealth spends defending people from the death penalty. Governor Northam has stated that he plans to sign this bill into law which would make Virginia the first Southern state to abolish the death penalty. Senator Scott Surovell (D-Mt. Vernon) patroned the legislation.
In the U.S. and Virginia, studies have shown that the most common groups to receive the death penalty are poor and minority defendants. The use of the death penalty in Virginia dates back to 1608 in Jamestown. Since 1976, Virginia has executed 113 people which is more than any other state but Texas during that period.
“I cannot think of anything that’s more awful, unspeakable and wrong for a government to do than to use its power to execute somebody who didn’t commit the crime they’re accused of. As a 12th generation Virginian, I am proud to be part of bringing our Commonwealth in line with the rest of the developed world and making us a leader again on the right to due process,” Surovell said.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 22 states no longer practice death penalty. Five states have abolished the death penalty in the past decade, including Maryland which passed legislation to abolish capital punishment in 2013 (Nebraska additionally voted to abolish the death penalty in 2015, but it has since been reinstated).
In the United States, 18 people have been post-humously exonerated after being wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to death since 1989. There is no conclusive evidence that perpetrators of violent crime consider the potential statutory consequences of the crime in advance.
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Senator Scott A. Surovell represents parts of Fairfax, Prince William, and Stafford Counties since 2015. Prior to his time in the Senate, Surovell served six years in the House of Delegates. Surovell lives in Mt. Vernon with his wife and four children. He practices law and has dedicated his legislative career to fighting for Northern Virginia’s fair share, protecting consumers, and preserving our environment for future generations.