Capital punishment in Hawaii
Capital punishment in Hawaii ended in 1957 when it was still an organized incorporated territory of the United States. At least 76 people were executed by the government, all for the crime of murder, and all by hanging. Additionally during and after World War II, at least seven U.S. servicemen were executed by the United States Armed Forces by order of a general court martial.
History
Under post-contact common law criminal justice, the penal laws of the Kingdom, Provisional Government, Republic, and U.S. incorporated Territory of Hawaii allowed for the execution of persons convicted of capital crimes. The Espy file[1] and historian Joseph Theroux[2] account for 76 individuals executed between the national and territorial governments, all for murder and all by hanging. Almost all death sentences were imposed on members of minorities (Polynesians, Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos).
During and a few years after World War II, at least seven U.S. servicemen were executed by the United States Armed Forces by order of a general court martial between 1942 and 1947 at Schofield Barracks, all the cases involving either murder or rape. The executions were mostly by hanging and at least one of the executed servicemen was shot by a firing squad.
In 1957, Hawaii, then still an organized incorporated territory of the United States, abolished the death penalty. Hawaii became a state in 1959. Aside from Alaska, it is the only U.S. state that has never had the death penalty while a state.
Modern Use
Naeem Williams, a discharged soldier, was taken to federal civilian court for beating his 5 year-old daughter to death; this crime took place on US Government property while Williams was on active duty. Under a federal court a death sentence was sought.[3] However, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole instead.[4]
References
- Executions is the U.S. 1608-2002: The ESPY File Executions by State https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/ESPYstate.pdf
- Theroux, J. (1991). A short history of Hawaiian executions, 1826--1947. The Hawaiian Journal of History, 25, 147-159. https://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10524/517/JL25153.pdf
- KELLEHER, JENNIFER. "Hawaii Set To Have Death Penalty Trial — Despite Abolishing Capital Punishment In 1957". Business Insider. Business Insider. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
- Austin, Henry (27 May 2015). "Mother of girl brutally murdered by her ex-soldier father successfully sues US government for $2m". Independent. Retrieved 8 January 2020.