Inmate's Rising I.Q. Score Could Mean His Death
This year a jury will have to come to a conclusion that to me, seems nearly impossible. They will have to decide if Daryl R. Atkins was mentally retarded at the time of his crime spree four years ago which resulted in the fatal shooting of Eric Nesbitt, 21, an airman from Langley Air Force Base.
At the time of Mr. Atkins' sentencing (1998), he scored 59 on an I.Q. test. The cutoff for retardation in Virginia is 70. He's recently been retested (twice) and scored 74 and then later 76.
There are several other reasons that Mr. Atkins's scores may have risen. I.Q. scores are rarely completely stable and can drift, though within a relatively narrow range, typically by five points up or down. Psychologists recognize that practice drives scores higher. And I.Q.'s tend to rise over time, by about three points a decade.He will be one of the first death row inmates to have a jury trial on the question of whether he is retarded. The jury's decision will determine whether his life will be spared.
The Death Penalty Information Center has plenty of good information on Mental Retardation and the Death Penalty.
Posted by katherine at 10:35 AM
Comments
ionolsen22 Your site is very cognitive. I think you will have good future.:)
Posted by: topicstarter at October 18, 2006 06:00 PM
