Thanks Kent, that's a very precise reply, I thought people were finding it too tricky a subject to answer. This I find surprising as people seem only too ready to reply with strong opinions on all kinds of things.

I was under the impression that most states used the Death Penalty and that a lot more than 37 people had been executed in 2008. My ignorance. I guess a lot are on Death Row but stay there for a long time while legal battles go on.

Does California use the Death Penalty? In most legal systems poor 'common' people get locked up and killed disproportionately, hence my other point.

Thanks again

L in C