Apparently, there is a large controversy in Oregon over the application of its death penalty. According to this article, there are difficult issues surrounding who gets the death penalty and why in the State of Oregon. My impression, after reading the article, is that the state's application of the death penalty is horribly arbitrary and unfair. Its clear that prosecutors will let a convicted murderer avoid the death penalty by taking a plea bargain. However, if you maintain your innocence and refuse to take the plea, you get a death sentence (or a sentencing trial anyway). That's a pretty screwed up system. If you are innocent, you're sunk either way. You either get death if you refuse to plea or you end up spending your life in prison with no option of appeal. Obviously, it is not often that an innocent person would be put in this position, but what of his or her constitutional rights if they are? I guess those rights have already been stomped on so much by this time that it doesn't matter either way...6 of one, half dozen of another. At least with the death sentence, you don't admit guilt and you have the option of appeals. Nice first choice eh?

Killers' deals to avoid death put Oregon's system on trial