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Communist Vietnam's secret death penalty conveyor belt: How country trails only China and Iran for 'astonishing' number of executions

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Prisoners are dragged from their cells at 4am without warning to be given a lethal injection Vietnam's use of the death penalty has been thrust into the spotlight after a real estate tycoon was on Thursday sentenced to be executed in one of the biggest corruption cases in the country's history. Truong My Lan, a businesswoman who chaired a sprawling company that developed luxury apartments, hotels, offices and shopping malls, was arrested in 2022.

California Plans New Death Row Costing $356 Million

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San Quentin's brand new execution chamber
San Quentin's brand new execution chamber
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has earmarked $136 million in additional funds to build a new death row at San Quentin State Prison.

In 2003, the California State Legislature had authorized $220 million for the same project, but the plans were put aside when cost estimates increased. The current estimate is $356 million to complete the construction of the 768 new cells needed to reduce San Quentin's significant overcrowding.

California already has the largest death row in the country, with approximately 660 inmates. In 30 years, the state has carried out 13 executions.

Many members of the legislature oppose spending such a large amount of money on death row facilities. Assemblyman Jared Huffman said he was "extremely disappointed" by the budget allocation, especially given that Gov. Schwarzenegger has also proposed budget cuts to social programs.

Steve Kinsey, Supervisor of Marin County, California, also noted, "At a time when the governor's budget is going to put children on the street, it is absurd to be spending $400,000 a bed for condemned prisoners."

Source: $136 million requested for new death row at San Quentin, Richard Halstead, Marin Independent Journal, January 10, 2008
Location: California, USA
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