[HopeydaFish]

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The families do - during the sentencing phase.

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No, they don't. They have a voice in the sentencing phase, but if you believe the family decides whether he gets the death penalty or not, you are absolutely incorrect.

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Yeah, the family gets to say their piece during the sentencing phase, but they don't decide on the sentence. The more grief-stricken they appear, the more likely it is for the jury to sentence to impose the death penalty. So, if you're a convicted murderer and your victim's family has an attractive young blond girl who cries easily, you're pretty much toast.

In Saudi Arabia, they let the family decide on the death penalty. What usually ends up happening is it comes down to whether the victim's family is willing to cough up enough $$$ to give to the victim's family to save the condemned man's life.

If your family is poor, you're done for. Actually, come to think of it, that's pretty much how things work in the US too.