Missouri

See the number of executions since 1976 -  (see Death Row USA, above, for the race of defendant and race of victim breakdown)

Minimum Age to Receive the Death Penalty: 18

Does Missouri Forbid the Execution of the Mentally Retarded: Yes

Death Row Location:

Men: Mineral Point, MO

Women: Fulton, MO

Method of Execution:
Missouri authorizes the use of both lethal injection and lethal gas; the statute leaves unclear who decides what method to use, the inmate or the Director of the Missouri Department of Corrections. (Denno, Deborah W.: "Getting to death: Are executions constitutional?"; 82 Iowa Law Review 319 (1997))

Date Death Penalty Was Reenacted after Furman: 9/ 28/ 75

Year of First Execution: 1989

Does Missouri Have Life Without Parole: Yes

Clemency Process:

The Governor is required by statute to get a non-binding recommendation from the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole before granting or denying clemency in a death penalty case

Capital Offenses:

First Degree Murder (565.020 RSMO)

Is Felony Murder a Capital Crime: No

Who Decides Sentence: Jury, but a judge decides if the jury is deadlocked.

E-mail Contacts:

Amnesty International State Death Penalty Coordinator
Eastern Missouri Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Western Missouri Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Missouri Department of Corrections
ACLU of Eastern Missouri
ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri
Missourinet
Eastern Missouri Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Western Missouri Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty