In 2002, the Supreme Court declared that executions of mentally retarded criminals are "cruel and unusual punishments". However the result of this case didn't require states to adopt mental capacity standards, allowing states like Texas to use their own, specifically the "Briseño Factors". Not used by any clinicians or scientists, they take into consideration factors like working.
Marvin Lee Wilson was able to work construction and meets other criteria, so they say he has no mental disability, even though he has an IQ below the legal standard and was diagnosed by a mental retardation specialist. Also, it is still not clear whether Wilson was the shooter or just a part of the group that committed the crime. Despite all of this, he is scheduled to be executed on August 7, 2012, for the murder of Jerry Robert Williams.
Please tell Gov. Perry to spare Wilson's life and enforce standards concerning mentally disabled criminals for Texas!
Dear Governor Perry,
In 2002 the Supreme Court said that executing mentally retarded criminals is a "cruel and unusual punishment".
Despite that and the fact that Texas uses standards that are too narrow for diagnosis, Marvin Lee Wilson is scheduled to be executed on August 7, 2012 for the murder of Jerry Robert Williams. Wilson has an IQ far below the legal standard and was diagnosed as mentally retarded by a mental retardation specialist, but because he was able to work construction and met other criteria, he's not being considered as mentally disabled by Texas.
Please spare Wilson's life and enforce standards for mentally disabled criminals when it comes to Texas.
Thank you for your time.
