The Texas Observer reports that Bill White does not support a moratorium on executions, but Farouk Shami does support a moratorium. The Texas Democratic Party platform endorsed a moratorium in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Farouk Shami understands that a moratorium is the best way to ensure that Texas does not execute an innocent person and can enact reforms to protect innocent people from being executed, “If elected Governor, Farouk Shami would place a moratorium on the death penalty to evaluate these issues and convene a panel of experts to make recommendations on how to reform the death penalty to make it truly fair, if it can indeed be reformed.”
Seriously Evaluate the Use of the Death Penalty
The death penalty, as it is currently implemented, has a number of serious problems. The most important of these problems is the potential that an innocent person could be put to death. We must absolutely ensure, at every stage of appeal, potentially exculpatory evidence, particularly forensic and DNA evidence, is admissible and taken very seriously. We must expand the power of the Governor’s office to act as a check on the judicial system and convert the sentence to life in prison with no chance of parole. Another problem with the death penalty as it currently is used in Texas is the racial bias in its sentencing. A black or Hispanic male is far more likely to receive the death penalty than a white male is for committing the same crime. If elected Governor, Farouk Shami would place a moratorium on the death penalty to evaluate these issues and convene a panel of experts to make recommendations on how to reform the death penalty to make it truly fair, if it can indeed be reformed.
