Despite today's verdict, fewer death sentences in Harris County

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The jury in the Harlem Lewis case took 6 times as long to decide on his death sentence than his guilt. It may show just how difficult these decisions are. Texas statistics also show that juries are handing down far fewer death sentences than they used to. Ted Oberg Investigates collected the statistics form the Texas Department of Criminal Justice from the year 2000 through now.

Including today's verdict, there is a dramatic drop off in Texas death sentences after 2005.

In 2000, 36 death sentences were handed down by Texas juries, last year just 9. Even in Harris County - which the Huffington Post recently called, "the most execution-friendly county in America," the numbers are down against 2000. Harris County jurors sent 8 convicted murders to death row in 2000, last year none.

It is in large part due to a change in Texas law in 2005. That's when the numbers drop. Texas lawmakers adopted the life in prison without the possibility of parole statute in 2005. Prior to that convicted capitol murders could be released on parole after lengthy sentences - now life in prison means just that - life. It's given juries a sentencing option that keeps convicted murderers in prison forever without having to sentence them to death.