Nationally, between 1973 and 2011, what percentage of initial convictions or sentences in capital cases were overturned on appeal

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the amount of overturned sentences vs the total amount of sentences for capital punishment represented around 17% in 1973. This percentage gradually grew as it came closer to the end of the century, reaching around 45% in the year 2000. However, from there on, the amount of overturned punishments has surpassed the admitted punishments, with the latter representing around 37% of the total punishments. It is also important to mention that there has been a gradual decrease in the number of capital punishment cases during the period from 1973 to 2011.