Geographic Disparities.

Geographic Disparities.

40. Likewise, geographic disparities contribute to the arbitrariness of Florida=s death penalty scheme.

In 2000, 20 percent of the death sentences imposed that year came from the panhandle, while in 2001, 30 percent of the death sentences imposed that year came from the panhandle. ABA Report on Florida at 9.

Thus, death sentences are significantly influenced by the county where a crime occurred. Geographic disparities clearly show that a factor unrelated to the circumstances of the crime or the character of the defendant are at work in the decision to seek and impose a death sentence.

In a state such as Florida, where race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, cultural background, age and political philosophies differ so drastically from county to county, the geographic disparity breaches the Furman promise that death sentences not be premised upon arbitrary factors.