Texas has a a sizable crime problem, a questionably effective law enforcement system and a “frontier justice” style mentality that permeates the state. That heady combination makes it easy for its residents to support an active death penalty system despite the objective reality that such a system does little to deter crime. read more
Simple, it isn't. Texas just happens to have a much larger population than other states with the death penalty. If you look at it on a per capita basis it is far behind some other states. read more
More generally, Steiker points out that Texas, unlike many other states, has worked out the statutory and procedural "kinks" in death penalty cases and appeals. In particular, Texas' 1995 law expediting state appeals has successfully cut down the time between conviction and execution. read more
The state’s 518 executions trump Florida (90 executions), California (13 executions), and New York (0 executions), all states with comparable populations, by a landslide. From 2001 to 2014 alone, Texas Governor Rick Perry oversaw 279 executions, more than any other politician in U.S. history. read more