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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Texas law lets juries give life without parole

Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas – Gov. Rick Perry signed a law Friday to give juries the option of sentencing murderers to life without parole – a measure some foes of capital punishment believe will lead to fewer executions in the No. 1 death penalty state.

Up until now, juries in capital murder cases in Texas had two options: the death penalty, or life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years. The new law takes away any chance of parole.

“I believe this bill will improve our criminal justice system because it gives jurors a new option to protect the public with the certainty a convicted killer will never roam our streets again,” said Perry, a Republican.