Harris County leads Texas in life-without-parole sentences as death penalty recedes, By Keri Blakinger, Houston Chronicle

"Life without parole became an option because of a turnaway from the death penalty," said Elizabeth Henneke executive director of the Lone Star Justice Alliance. "It was considered a more humane option than the death penalty and increasingly juries seemed to be uncomfortable with death as the only option.

​https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-leads-Texas-in-life-without-parole-12491890.php