Racial Bias Persists in US Executions, Study Finds

A new study by Reprieve reveals that racial bias significantly increases the odds of a botched execution, with Black people having a 220% higher chance of experiencing one than white people. The study analyzed 73 botched executions out of 1,407 total executions between 1977 and 2023, finding that Arkansas, Georgia, and Oklahoma had the highest racial disparities. Researchers call for a moratorium on lethal injection and the repeal of secrecy laws, citing the inhumane and prolonged nature of botched executions.

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