Death Penalty Rarely Used In Maryland

Efforts to repeal capital punishment in Maryland may have gained momentum, but such punishment has become very rare.

Once considered politically risky, repealing the death penalty now may come easily to politicians in Annapolis, who are likely to debate the issue in Session 2013.

Death row has only a handful of inmates, and prosecutors and juries have turned away from it, WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team lead investigative reporter Jayne Miller reported.

While the death penalty in Maryland is on the books, in practice, the lethal injection chamber is in storage. Its use was shelved in 2006 by Maryland's highest court because of legal technicalities, and the governor's public safety officials have yet to issue required new regulations to put it back online.
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