What We Do

Repealing the death penalty: EJUSA focuses our work to end the death penalty on the state level – where the majority of death sentences in the U.S. are handed down and carried out. Our core strategic approach is to partner with state organizations to build effective grassroots campaigns that increase public understanding of the death penalty’s flaws and translate that public understanding into concrete change.

We provide hands-on assistance and training in strategic planning, organizing, outreach to key stakeholders like law enforcement and victims’ families, lobbying, media and message development, campaign coordination, custom development of materials, board and organizational development, membership, fundraising, and more. When appropriate, we act as fully integrated campaign coordinators while state partners implement the day-to-day campaign on the ground.

Over the years we have developed a reputation for delivering savvy and sophisticated strategy to the grassroots while checking our egos at the door. We continually assess our contribution to the states at each phase of the campaign, identify critical holes or needs, and provide whatever support is required to fulfill those needs. Our unique approach to state-national relationships combines a deep level of trust with our state partners and emphasizes hands-on collaboration over armchair advising.

By expanding the capacity of local organizers and leaders to advocate for change, we are giving citizens the tools and the power to create a new paradigm for criminal justice – state by state and ultimately across the nation.

See a detailed list of EJUSA services to state partners.

Improving services for family members of murder victims: EJUSA's work to end the death penalty has taught us so much about what victims' families need in the aftermath of murder. We learned not only that the death penalty is often harmful to these families, but that their real needs for healing and support are largely ignored. EJUSA is working in a number of states to help increase services for these families as part of the larger effort to refocus criminal justice resources towards prevention and healing.