Why is Clark County a Death Penalty Outlier?

Clark County sentences more people to death than almost any other county in the nation — we come in fourth (fourth!)out of thousands. But as it turns out, we very rarely actually execute prisoners on death row. So why is that? Kim Foster, writer and friend of the pod, brought us this question when she saw the recent news about an 18 year old and a 20 year old facing the death penalty — would our county really put these young people to death? And if not, why seek the death penalty at all?

Kim and lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson talk with host Dayvid Figler (a longtime criminal defense attorney) about how the death penalty is used in the Clark County courts, why it’s so easy to deploy here, and what justice might look like. Come for the knowledge, stay for the Baretta and Princess Bride references.

Find Dayvid and Kim on Twitter at @OyVegas and @KimFosterNYC.

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