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Texas procedures on death penalty reprieves

From Tony Clark
CNN National Correspondent

June 22, 2000
Web posted at: 10:23 a.m. EST (1423 GMT)

ALSO Texas parole board to consider fate of condemned man

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AUSTIN, Texas (CNN) -- Under Texas law, each death penalty case has one chance to be reprieved by a governor without the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

The board must recommend the second reprieve in order for it to be granted. All 18 members of the current board were appointed by Gov. George W. Bush.

Gary Graham was reprieved from execution by then-Gov. Ann Richards, leaving Bush unable to stop the execution without the board's recommendation.

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has three options in every case:

• It can recommend the governor commute the death sentence to a lesser penalty.
• It can recommend a reprieve and grant a hearing into any part of the process.
• It can decide not to recommend commutation of the death sentence, which would allow the execution to go forward.

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