Rep. Adam Miller Gives Sponsor Testimony on Bipartisan Legislation to Repeal Ohio's Death Penalty
COLUMBUS – State Rep. Adam Miller (D-Columbus) today testified before the House Finance Committee on his bipartisan legislation, House Bill (HB) 259, which would abolish the death penalty in Ohio.
“We need to focus on crime prevention, violence de-escalation, and do more to support victim families. The death penalty is a failed policy that has not worked,” said Rep. Miller. “It's time to move on. Retire the death penalty. Let's take Ohio forward.”
Since 1999, Ohio has had 56 executions. Currently 122 people are on Ohio’s Death Row. Ohio has also had 11 people exonerated for the crime in which they were sentenced to death. In addition, depending on the cost estimate used, Ohio could save millions of dollars if these prisoners were given life without parole instead of the costly.
Governor Mike DeWine declared an “unofficial moratorium” on executions in December of 2020 and stated that lethal injection is no longer an option for Ohio executions.
HB 259 now awaits further hearings in the House Finance Committee.