Maricopa County Death Penalty Process Lacks Transparency, $289 Million Defense Costs, Juries Reject Sentences Nearly Half the Time

An investigation by ProPublica and ABC15 into Maricopa County's handling of death penalty cases reveals a lack of transparency in the decision-making process. The county uses a little-known Capital Review Committee to vet capital cases, but the county attorney’s office has declined to disclose details about the panel’s membership, voting procedures, or case reviews. From 2004 to 2023, juries in Maricopa County rejected the death sentence nearly half the time it was an option in capital cases. Since 2007, the county has spent approximately $289 million on defense costs related to death penalty cases. A former county attorney noted that allegations of death penalty charges significantly increase the resources allocated to these cases. Meanwhile, states are reportedly turning to more archaic execution methods, such as firing squads, due to challenges in carrying out capital punishment.