Seven Indiana newspapers spent a year examining the...

Seven Indiana newspapers spent a year examining the fairness of the state's capital punishment system. Among the findings is that the decision to seek the death penalty is often arbitrary, depending on the personal views of the prosecutor and whether or not a county can afford a death penalty trial. Additional findings cited in the series include: Two Indiana counties, Marion (Indianapolis) and Lake, have produced almost as many death sentences as all other counties combined. In 2 cases, defendants who did get the death penalty were just days away from being executed, but received a stay, and were later exonerated at re-trial. In one case (John Stephenson), taxpayers spent $760,000 for the defence at trial. In another case (Perry Miller), the costs of the defence were $12,000. Miller's case was recently overturned because of ineffective representation. Currently, a study commission, formed by Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon, is reviewing the state's capital punishment laws and trial procedures. A preliminary version of its report revealed that race of the role of the victims play a role in the death penalty sentencing. It also indicates that it costs the state 35% more to have the death penalty than it would if life without parole were the most severe punshment available.