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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

56 Killers Were Put To Death In ‘95, Nearly Twice As Many As Last Year No One Has An Explanation Of Why Number Of Executions Is At Highest Level In Four Decades

Diane Hirth Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

Fifty-six murderers were put to death in the United States in 1995 - nearly twice as many as the year before, and the largest number in nearly four decades.

Of 16 states that executed prisoners last year, Texas was first, with 19. Missouri was second, with six.

In Florida, where the death penalty is so popular that opposing it is akin to political poison, there were three.

The state has averaged two executions a year since it re-enacted the death penalty in 1979.

But 1996 will bring a push to shrink the time allowed by Florida for capital punishment appeals.

The cases, though, still will be subject to federal appeals.

“If we’re going to have capital punishment, let’s have a system that works,” said Democratic Florida state Rep. Ron Klein.

“There should be an appeal, and once that appeal is complete, that should be it.”

Although death warrants are signed by governors, the executions can be carried out only after all appeals are exhausted.

No one has a definitive explanation for why the national total of 56 executions is comparatively so high.

There were 31 executions in 1994, 38 in 1993, 31 in 1992, 14 in 1991 and 23 in 1990.

Throughout the 1950s, there was an average of 72 per year.

But not since 1957, when 65 people were put to death, have so many prisoners been executed in a single year.

With more than 3,000 men and women on Death Rows nationwide, the prospect for 1996 is an even higher total.