Executive orders denying commutation of a death sentence, 1947-1958.

ArchivalResource

Alabama. Governor. Executive orders denying commutation of a death sentence, 1947-1958.

Executive orders denying commutation of a death sentence, 1947-1958.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122498686

The Governor is the chief executive of the state whose function is to administer the laws of the state. "In all cases, except treason and impeachment, the governor has power, after conviction, and not otherwise, to grant reprieves, commutations, paroles and pardons." (Ala. Code, Chapter 202, Section 5127 [1927]). "When punishment of death is imposed, he may commute such punishment by substituting for it imprisonment in the penitentiary, or sentence to hard labor..." (Ala. Code, Chapter 202, Section 5129 [1923]). An executive order may grant or deny commutation of a death sentence. This series consists of executive orders denying commutation of a death sentence. Intermixed with these records are a few orders commuting a death sentence to life imprisonment or ordering a reprieve so that an individual can undergo psychiatic evaluation. The vast majority of the orders, however, are denials. Each order lists the prisoner's name, number, county, crime, date convicted, sentence, and most give a statement denying a commutation of sentence along with the governor's signature, the date, and the attesting mark of the secretary of state. These records were created by Governors James E. Folsom (1947-1951 and 1955-1959) and Gordon Persons (1951-1955).

3 folders.

Alabama Department of Archives and History