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State Capitol

Bill To Prohibit Death Penalty For The Mentally Ill Advances

The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to prohibit the execution of anyone convicted of a capital crime who is deemed seriously mentally ill.  Similar legislation has failed to pass the full Senate twice in recent years.

Kentucky Mental Health Coalition Director Sheila Schuster testified and said people with these brain disorders are never cured of psychotic diagnoses. “They cannot think through the reality of what they are doing and the consequences of those actions.  I think the bill is very narrowly defined,” said Schuster.

Laurel and Knox Counties Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele expressed concerns.  He said documentation of mental illness remains a question mark. “Who does the documentation?  Is it a licensed medical provider that does that or is it family friend, is it a school counselor,” noted Steele.

Steele says mental illness is an issue being litigated for some current death row inmates in Kentucky.   The last execution in Kentucky took place in 2008 with the death of convicted murderer Marco Allen Chapman.

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