Restoring the Death Penalty in DC Act

This bill would add a death penalty to the District of Columbia's criminal code for certain crimes, including first-degree murder, murder of a law enforcement officer, first-degree child sexual abuse, acts of terrorism, and distributing drugs to a minor that results in the minor's death. A jury, or a judge in some cases, would hold a separate sentencing hearing and weigh listed aggravating and mitigating factors; aggravating factors must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt and found unanimously. Death sentences would be reviewed by the D.C. Court of Appeals. Executions would be carried out by electrocution unless the person chooses lethal injection, firing squad, lethal gas, or nitrogen hypoxia, and could not be carried out on pregnant women, people under 18, or people who lack the mental capacity to understand the penalty. The law would apply only to offenses committed on or after it is enacted.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Nancy Mace Republican sponsor
• 0 cosponsors