COLUMBUS, Ohio — A bipartisan proposal was introduced at the statehouse to end the death penalty in Ohio. No executions have occurred in Ohio since Gov. Mike DeWine took office.

What You Need To Know

  • The proposed bill would make it so the death penalty would become illegal in Ohio 
  • This year, the bill has five Republican and seven Democratic sponsors

  • AG Yost issued a statement announcing support for the death penalty, but looks forward to conversation

The state’s last execution was in 2018, under governor John Kasich. Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nicki Antonio said she has introduced this proposal for several years and this year seven Democrats and five Republicans are supporting this legislation.

Antonio said death row has not recently been active in Ohio, and she believes it is a system that fails to have any real impact on violent crime in Ohio.

"It's a punishment that's been shown to be administered with disparities across racial and economic lines," State Sen. Nickie Antonio, Senate Minority Leader, (D-Lakewood) said. "It has failed as a deterrent to violent crime and has prolonged victimization to murder family victims and loved ones through the lengthy appeal process."

Sponsors of this legislation from both sides of the aisle say their goal is to have people on death row sentenced to life without parole. 

"Often the death penalty is not closure for the family, and you think that it is at times," State Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) said. "But when that family member or group of family members has to go back to court for 20, 25 years and relive whatever horrible event that their family member went through that was murdered."

Huffman also noted that putting someone on death row is two to three times more costly than sentencing them to life in prison.

“The public is worried about rising crime and increasing violence in our communities, and instead of finding ways to increase public safety, help us secure justice for victims, and find a pathway to justice for the victims of Ohio’s most horrific crimes, we have legislators who want to cut Ohio’s worst criminals a break," Louis Tobin, Executive Director of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Association said in a statement issued to Spectrum News. "It’s unfortunate. It’s dangerous, and it’s out of touch.” 

This bill has not been assigned a number yet, and will be filed at the Clerk's Office this week. 

"Ohio’s death penalty is a farce, and a broken promise of justice, and it must be fixed," Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in part in an official statement. "This discussion has been a long time coming, so let’s have it now. If Ohio chooses to end capital punishment, let it own the decision in the full light of day. I will stand on the other side, with the families of the slain."