Understanding zane floyd's mitigating circumstances
Capital punishment has always been a deeply personal and emotional issue. Even now states across the union are contemplating death penalty abolition. At the same time, the state of Nevada is taking steps to move forward with the execution of Zane Floyd, a man with PTSD, FASD, a lifetime of trauma and abuse, and who honorably served his country as a Marine.
Much of his “mitigating evidence” — referring to circumstances in a court of law that offset defined aggravating circumstances in the penalty phase of a death penalty eligible case — has never been presented in Mr. Floyd’s case. Since fall of this year his current legal team has been asking the Board of Pardons to consider his clemency and ensure Zane Floyd finally receives his fair day in court. Our hope is to provide additional understanding of some of the issues that plague Zane Floyd to better understand his plea for mercy and compassion. Mr. Floyd has significant mitigating factors, many of which relate to his mental health.
Mr. Floyd’s struggles parallel the challenges many individuals in Nevada face, especially those facing the death penalty. Research has shown nearly a quarter of people on our death row have a mental illness, intellectual disability, or have experienced trauma and/or abuse. Across the United States, Veterans, like Zane Floyd, account for roughly 10% of the people on death row. Check out our series of articles explaining different aspects of Zane Floyd’s mitigating circumstances and please take action today to urge Nevada’s Board of Pardons to consider and grant Mr. Floyd clemency with the petition below.
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