On November 25, 2008, the Jamaican parliament voted 34-15, with 10 abstentions, to resume the use of the death penalty. Advocates pushed for the measure following reports of high murder rates in the country, while opponents supported a stronger crackdown on criminals rather than reinstating the death penalty. Though the country's Offenses Against the Person Act [PDF] provides for the death penalty, an effective moratorium barring its imposition has existed since 1988. Use of the death penalty was reinstated in July 2009.

Flag of Jamaica

Learn more about the death penalty from the JURIST news archive.

Also on This Day at Law:


Federal appeals court ruled Ohio executions could resume
Pinochet assumed 'political responsibility' for regime actions