Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, has announced his support for abolishing the death penalty in his state. DeWine, who helped reinstate the death penalty in Ohio 45 years ago, now believes it no longer serves as a deterrent to violent crime.

DeWine’s Change of Heart

DeWine pointed to data showing that the death penalty does not effectively deter violent crime. He noted that the number of death sentences and executions has declined over the years, and that many inmates on death row die of natural causes or by suicide before they can be executed.

DeWine also emphasized the pain and suffering caused to victims’ families due to the lengthy appeals process and the impact on the mental health of state employees involved in executions. He urged the legislature to abolish the death penalty or put it to a state-wide vote.

National Context

The issue of the death penalty is a contentious one, with 27 states currently allowing it and 23 states, plus Washington D.C., having abolished it. The federal government has also been involved in the debate, with President Donald Trump pushing to expand executions during his term.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.