Current:Home > ContactTennessee governor OKs bill allowing death penalty for child rape convictions -WealthX
Tennessee governor OKs bill allowing death penalty for child rape convictions
View
Date:2025-04-18 12:20:34
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has approved legislation allowing the death penalty in child rape convictions, a change the Republican-controlled Statehouse championed amid concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court has banned capital punishment in such cases.
Lee, a Republican, quietly signed off on the legislation last week without issuing a statement.
The new Tennessee law, which goes into effect July 1, authorizes the state to pursue capital punishment when an adult is convicted of aggravated rape of a child. Those convicted could be sentenced to death, imprisonment for life without possibility of parole, or imprisonment for life.
Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis enacted a similar bill nearly a year ago. A few months after being enacted, Florida prosecutors in Lake County announced in December that they were pursuing the death penalty for a man accused of committing sexual battery of a minor under the age of twelve. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, the case is considered the first to be pursued under the new law.
Meanwhile, Idaho’s GOP-controlled House approved similar legislation earlier this year, but the proposal eventually stalled in the similarly Republican-dominated Senate.
While many supporters of Tennessee’s version have conceded that even though the Volunteer State previously allowed convicted child rapists to face the death penalty, the Supreme Court ultimately nullified that law with its 2008 decision deeming it unconstitutional to use capital punishment in child sexual battery cases.
However, they hope the conservative-controlled U.S. Supreme Court will reverse that ruling — pointing to the decades long effort that it took to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that legalized abortion nationwide but was eventually overruled in 2022.
“Maybe the atmosphere is different on the Supreme Court,” said Republican Sen. Janice Bowling last month while debating in favor of the law. “We’re simply challenging a ruling.”
Democratic lawmakers and child advocates worry that the law may instill more fear into child rape victims that speaking out could potentially result in an execution, warning that many children are abused by family members and close friends. Others have alleged that predators could be incentivized to kill their victims in order to avoid a harsher punishment.
Execution law in the U.S. dictates that crimes must involve a victim’s death or treason against the government to be eligible for the death penalty. The Supreme Court ruled nearly 40 years ago that execution is too harsh a punishment for sexual assault, and justices made a similar decision in 2008 in a case involving the rape of a child.
Currently, all executions in Tennessee are on hold as state officials review changes to its lethal injection process. Gov. Lee issued the pause after a blistering 2022 report detailed multiple flaws in how Tennessee inmates were put to death.
No timeline has been provided on when those changes will be completed.
veryGood! (5257)
Related
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- How Jada Pinkett Smith Is Supporting Husband Will Smith 7 Months After Separation Revelation
- City’s red-light camera program was lawful after all, North Carolina justices say
- Dashcam video shows Scottie Scheffler's arrest; officials say detective who detained golf star violated bodycam policy
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Ex Baltimore top-prosecutor Marilyn Mosby sentencing hearing for perjury, fraud begins
- 'The Masked Singer' winner Vanessa Hudgens reveals if she plans on returning to music
- New York will set aside money to help local news outlets hire and retain employees
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- A UK election has been called for July 4. Here’s what to know
Ranking
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Justice Department sues Live Nation and Ticketmaster for monopolizing concert industry
- 48-year-old gymnast Oksana Chusovitina won't make it to Paris for her ninth Olympics
- Singapore Airlines passenger says it was chaos as extreme turbulence hit flight with no warning
- Bodycam footage shows high
- Urban Outfitters' Memorial Day Mega Sale is Here: Score a $590 Sweater for $18 & More Deals Up to 97% Off
- Celine Dion gets candid about 'struggle' with stiff person syndrome in new doc: Watch
- Explorers discover possible wreckage of World War II ace Richard Bong’s plane in South Pacific
Recommendation
'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
Court overturns suspension of Alex Jones’ lawyer in Sandy Hook case that led to $1.4B judgment
Rapper Sean Kingston’s home raided by SWAT; mother arrested on fraud and theft charges
Norfolk Southern agrees to $310 million settlement in Ohio train derailment and spill
'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
Cassie breaks silence, thanks fans for support after 2016 Diddy assault video surfaces
AP Week in Pictures: North America
Caitlin Clark should listen to Jewell Loyd. Fellow top pick's advice could turn around rookie year.