WWTBAM Bored

I have an idea for a new play, but it must take place in a state that currently has and USES the death penalty. It's not a polemic: I'm not taking a position, pro or con, although my characters will take varied positions. AND I DO NOT WANT THIS THREAD TURNING INTO A DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT, PLEASE.

I'm most comfortable writing about the tristate area, where I live, but that won't work in this case unless I set the play in the past. And there are various reasons I don't want to do that.

I also don't want to use Texas, because that's what everybody would expect. Plus, if a northeastern writer writes about executions in Texas, audiences will automatically read certain attitudes into the play. I'm not a political writer. (Besides, I don't feel qualified to write a play set in Texas, or anywhere in the South. There is a minefield of stereotypes to avoid.)

Ohio seems promising. (And maybe Pennsylvania?) But I don't want to make this decision based on mere Internet research. So if you live in any state north of the Maxon-Dixon line that has the death penalty, could you give me a more inside view? Is there a general consensus about it? Is there any type, nature, or circumstance of crime that is more likely to result in a death sentence? (I'm not talking racial stats here: my victim and perp are both white.) Any insights can be useful to me in making this decision.

Plan B is not to specify a setting. Which may be the correct route anyway.

Thanks in advance!

I'd vote for Plan B. Much easier to take the play out of USA.

They don't use it much, but Colorado has the death penalty.....

lb13

I would go for Plan B and keep the location generic. I wanted to add the thought to just keep it to a region but a quick check of death penalty states shows a limited number - especially in the NorthEast.

Are you sure that changing he timeframe would not work? Just because going back even a few years opens up a lot more death penalty state options.

I just think that if you get too specific a location on this topic that there will be no way to avoid the politics of the death penalty - to the point that it may overshadow whatever other message the play is about.

BTW, after reading the first line or two of your post my first thought was, "Texas".

littlebeast13 wrote:They don't use it much, but Colorado has the death penalty.....

lb13

Something that funny on a Sunday morning ought to be criminal.

Can I claim a "found it" on this one??

franktangredi wrote:
I also don't want to use Texas, because that's what everybody would expect. Plus, if a northeastern writer writes about executions in Texas, audiences will automatically read certain attitudes into the play. I'm not a political writer. (Besides, I don't feel qualified to write a play set in Texas, or anywhere in the South. There is a minefield of stereotypes to avoid.)

Thanks in advance!

LOL........I think I'd consider Texas a bottomless well from which to draw!

And on a little more serious note........the majority of the "stereotypes" that are probably running through your head are not are not stereotypes at all. They all pretty much live and breathe in Texas.........it's simply a way of life.

DevilKitty100 wrote:Can I claim a "found it" on this one??

I don't think anyone's going to stop you.... or if they are, they're damned fools!

lb13

littlebeast13 wrote:

DevilKitty100 wrote:Can I claim a "found it" on this one??

I don't think anyone's going to stop you.... or if they are, they're damned fools!

lb13

I wouldn't want to have to pitchfork somebody's nuts........well, maybe a few.

And with that, I've got to go buy a refrigerator.

Doesn't Virginia still have and use the death penalty? Admittedly it's south of the Mason-Dixon line, but (from 3000 miles away) I think it's shifted culturally in the last decade or so. --Bob

Is there any way to make yours a federal crime? Then you can put it anywhere you want. --Bob

Bob78164 wrote:Doesn't Virginia still have and use the death penalty? Admittedly it's south of the Mason-Dixon line, but (from 3000 miles away) I think it's shifted culturally in the last decade or so. --Bob

When was the last time California executed someone?

Bob Juch wrote:

Bob78164 wrote:Doesn't Virginia still have and use the death penalty? Admittedly it's south of the Mason-Dixon line, but (from 3000 miles away) I think it's shifted culturally in the last decade or so. --Bob

When was the last time California executed someone?

It's been at least three years. I don't actually remember it but I think it's been considerably longer. --Bob

LB is correct -- Colorado has the death penalty, but it's almost never used.

No, there's no consensus. The only group I know of which generally favors it comprises law enforcement people, and I think it's safe to say they can all point to a particular case or two to support their position.

littlebeast13 wrote:They don't use it much, but Colorado has the death penalty.....

lb13

That is a horrible avatar. It will not win.

Bob78164 wrote:Is there any way to make yours a federal crime? Then you can put it anywhere you want. --Bob

No, it's just an ordinary, completely senseless murder of a completely ordinary person by a complete nonentity.

Kansas has the death penalty, but to date, no one has been executed since reinstatement in 1994. Kansas could give you a little historical and entertaining tie-in to the 'In Cold Blood' murders at those were in Kansas and the perps were executed in Kansas by hanging in 1965 (the last year Kansas actually executed someone though I don't think those guyes were the last), pre-moratorium.

Also, of all the states currently with the Death Penalty, Kansas was the last to reinstate. Attempts were made earlier, but always vetoed by the governor 4 times.

Also, Kansas is the site of the Federal Death Row (Levenworth).

Bob78164 wrote:

Bob Juch wrote:

Bob78164 wrote:Doesn't Virginia still have and use the death penalty? Admittedly it's south of the Mason-Dixon line, but (from 3000 miles away) I think it's shifted culturally in the last decade or so. --Bob

When was the last time California executed someone?

It's been at least three years. I don't actually remember it but I think it's been considerably longer. --Bob

Has it been that long? I thought that Crip dude was just a couple of years ago. I'm trying to remember his last name, maybe Smith? His first name was something like Stanley or Sidney but he went by a nickname. I think it was Tookie, but it might have been Sookie.

Vague enough for you? Ha!

SportsFan68 wrote:

littlebeast13 wrote:They don't use it much, but Colorado has the death penalty.....

lb13

That is a horrible avatar. It will not win.

I'm wondering what MBRS had to do that she has dollar signs on her mind!

Sistine Fanny wrote:

Bob78164 wrote:

Bob Juch wrote: When was the last time California executed someone?

It's been at least three years. I don't actually remember it but I think it's been considerably longer.

Has it been that long? I thought that Crip dude was just a couple of years ago. I'm trying to remember his last name, maybe Smith? His first name was something like Stanley or Sidney but he went by a nickname. I think it was Tookie, but it might have been Sookie.

Vague enough for you? Ha!

Stanley "Tookie" Williams was executed in late 2005. Another guy was executed in early 2006. A bit later that year, it was decided that the lethal injection used here may be painful. There is still a moratorium on that procedure.

franktangredi wrote:I have an idea for a new play, but it must take place in a state that currently has and USES the death penalty. It's not a polemic: I'm not taking a position, pro or con, although my characters will take varied positions. AND I DO NOT WANT THIS THREAD TURNING INTO A DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT, PLEASE.

I'm most comfortable writing about the tristate area, where I live, but that won't work in this case unless I set the play in the past. And there are various reasons I don't want to do that.

I also don't want to use Texas, because that's what everybody would expect. Plus, if a northeastern writer writes about executions in Texas, audiences will automatically read certain attitudes into the play. I'm not a political writer. (Besides, I don't feel qualified to write a play set in Texas, or anywhere in the South. There is a minefield of stereotypes to avoid.)

Ohio seems promising. (And maybe Pennsylvania?) But I don't want to make this decision based on mere Internet research. So if you live in any state north of the Maxon-Dixon line that has the death penalty, could you give me a more inside view? Is there a general consensus about it? Is there any type, nature, or circumstance of crime that is more likely to result in a death sentence? (I'm not talking racial stats here: my victim and perp are both white.) Any insights can be useful to me in making this decision.

Plan B is not to specify a setting. Which may be the correct route anyway.

Thanks in advance!

My home state might be a good setting. Indiana has the death penalty, has tinkered with it over the years to accommodate the US Supreme Court, but doesn't have an assembly line like Texas. This site has some interesting facts about Indiana and its attitudes toward the death penalty. The last execution in Indiana (in 2009) was a multiple murder committed by a disgruntled ex-husband, and the crime was committed less than 2 miles from my house, so needless to say I was interested in the outcome. In Indiana, there must be aggravating circumstances, and in most cases (just going by memory here, which may be faulty) the circumstances most likely to receive a death penalty are either having multiple victims, especially if young; or if a sex crime is committed in the course of the murder.

Good luck -- it's a fascinating topic, and since I live in a divided household (I'm against the death penalty, my wife is for it) it's one of profound interest to me.

Estonut wrote:

Sistine Fanny wrote:

Bob78164 wrote:It's been at least three years. I don't actually remember it but I think it's been considerably longer.

Has it been that long? I thought that Crip dude was just a couple of years ago. I'm trying to remember his last name, maybe Smith? His first name was something like Stanley or Sidney but he went by a nickname. I think it was Tookie, but it might have been Sookie.

Vague enough for you? Ha!

Stanley "Tookie" Williams was executed in late 2005. Another guy was executed in early 2006. A bit later that year, it was decided that the lethal injection used here may be painful. There is still a moratorium on that procedure.

Damn, it was that long ago? Gun to my head (so to speak), I would have said maybe 2010, 2009 at the earliest....

You do bring up another point that might be of interest to Frank, the methods employed by each state. Whether that could have anything to do with the actions of his characters' behaviour I don't know, but it's something to maybe consider.

mrkelley23 wrote:

franktangredi wrote:I have an idea for a new play, but it must take place in a state that currently has and USES the death penalty. It's not a polemic: I'm not taking a position, pro or con, although my characters will take varied positions. AND I DO NOT WANT THIS THREAD TURNING INTO A DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT, PLEASE.

I'm most comfortable writing about the tristate area, where I live, but that won't work in this case unless I set the play in the past. And there are various reasons I don't want to do that.

I also don't want to use Texas, because that's what everybody would expect. Plus, if a northeastern writer writes about executions in Texas, audiences will automatically read certain attitudes into the play. I'm not a political writer. (Besides, I don't feel qualified to write a play set in Texas, or anywhere in the South. There is a minefield of stereotypes to avoid.)

Ohio seems promising. (And maybe Pennsylvania?) But I don't want to make this decision based on mere Internet research. So if you live in any state north of the Maxon-Dixon line that has the death penalty, could you give me a more inside view? Is there a general consensus about it? Is there any type, nature, or circumstance of crime that is more likely to result in a death sentence? (I'm not talking racial stats here: my victim and perp are both white.) Any insights can be useful to me in making this decision.

Plan B is not to specify a setting. Which may be the correct route anyway.

Thanks in advance!

My home state might be a good setting. Indiana has the death penalty, has tinkered with it over the years to accommodate the US Supreme Court, but doesn't have an assembly line like Texas. This site has some interesting facts about Indiana and its attitudes toward the death penalty. The last execution in Indiana (in 2009) was a multiple murder committed by a disgruntled ex-husband, and the crime was committed less than 2 miles from my house, so needless to say I was interested in the outcome. In Indiana, there must be aggravating circumstances, and in most cases (just going by memory here, which may be faulty) the circumstances most likely to receive a death penalty are either having multiple victims, especially if young; or if a sex crime is committed in the course of the murder.

Good luck -- it's a fascinating topic, and since I live in a divided household (I'm against the death penalty, my wife is for it) it's one of profound interest to me.

Thanks for the link. I'm going to check that out carefully. I've run across the aggravated circumstances thing in my own research, and it may prove a stumbling block for me. But I can usually find a way to work things out.

Frank, I thought there was a lot of debate about the death penalty in CT because of the Cheshire home invasion murders. Very recent.

So looking at the news articles, it was only April-ish when Malloy signed the bill outlawing it.

Move back a couple of years and CT would work and would clearly be close enough to be an area you are familiar with.

franktangredi wrote:Thanks for the link. I'm going to check that out carefully. I've run across the aggravated circumstances thing in my own research, and it may prove a stumbling block for me. But I can usually find a way to work things out.

I think that's going to be the case no matter where (in the U.S.) you set your play. If I remember correctly, the Supreme Court requires aggravating circumstances to justify the death penalty. In other words, a "plain vanilla" murder is not eligible for the death penalty. --Bob