Capital punishment in Oregon

Capital punishment is one of two possible penalties for aggravated murder in the U.S. state of Oregon, with it being required by the Constitution of Oregon.[1]

In November 2011, Governor John Kitzhaber announced a moratorium on executions in Oregon, canceling a planned execution and ordering a review of the death penalty system in the state.[2] Kitzhaber's successor, Governor Kate Brown, affirmed her commitment to the moratorium.[3]

Oregon no longer allows for non-unanimous juries in felony cases, and all felony (including capital) cases in Oregon require a unanimous jury verdict.[4]

In case of a hung jury during the penalty phase of the trial, a life sentence is issued, even if a single juror opposed death (there is no retrial).[5]

The governor of Oregon has sole authority over clemency, including capital cases.[6]

Executions are carried out by lethal injection in Oregon.

The men's death row is located, and executions are carried out, at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem. Women on death row are held at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility until shortly before their execution.[7]

  1. ^ Oregon Constitution, Art. I, Sec. 40
  2. ^ Jung, Helen (November 22, 2011). "Gov. John Kitzhaber stops executions in Oregon, calls system 'compromised and inequitable'". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  3. ^ Mapes, Jeff (February 26, 2015). "Kate Brown says she opposes death penalty but refuses to rule out executions on her watch". The Oregonian/OregonLive. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  4. ^ Ramos v. Louisiana, 590 U.S. ___ (2019).
  5. ^ OR Rev Stat § 163.150 (2015).
  6. ^ Oregon Constitution, Art. V, Sec. 14
  7. ^ "Oregon Death Penalty". Oregon Department of Corrections. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.