The Death Penalty in Washington Washington's current death penalty statute was enacted in 1981. If the prosecutor decides to seek the death penalty, there will be a two-part trial. At the close of the sentencing phase, the jury must decide whether or not to sentence the individual to life without parole or to death. The jury's decision must be final. Life without Parole is a new penalty in Washington state, different than what is normally called a life sentence.
Lethal injection is the presumed method of execution in Washington state.
Hanging is offered as an option, if chosen by the prisoner under sentence of death. If the prisoner does not make a choice, execution is by lethal injection. We are all concerned about crime, and would like the rate of crime to be reduced. The death penalty, however, is not an effective deterrent to crime. While the individual executed would certainly not commit another crime, research indicates the death penalty does not serve as a general deterrent to crime, that is, having the death penalty does not reduce the overall rate of crime.