Municipal resolution

CALLING UPON THE GOVERNOR AND STATE LEGISLATURE TO IMPOSE A MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS IN [STATE] WHILE A FAIR, THOROUGH, AND IMPARTIAL STUDY OF THE DEATH PENALTY IS CONDUCTED AND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS, IF ANY, ARE CONSIDERED

WHEREAS the citizens of our city and state are increasingly concerned about the accuracy, fairness, and effectiveness of the death penalty;

WHEREAS the death penalty is irreversible; once a mistake is made, it cannot be corrected; and the execution of an innocent person would be a grave and tragic injustice;

WHEREAS studies have shown that the death penalty is applied in an uneven manner with regard to race, county of the crime, and socio-economic status;

WHEREAS experience with the death penalty over the last three decades has been marred by examples of inadequate defense;

WHEREAS our state allows execution of people with mental illness even though it can increase the chance of wrongful conviction, hinder adequate defense, and prevent those facing execution from understanding their situation;

WHEREAS there is not an unlimited pot of law enforcement dollars from which we can draw for public safety, and the death penalty has been shown to take considerably more time, energy, and money than life without parole cases;

WHEREAS many of the death penalty’s extra costs are borne locally by county governments and county prosecutors’ offices;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the [City/County of ______________] calls on the [STATE] Legislature and the Governor to impose a three-year moratorium on executions while a fair, thorough, and impartial study of these and other issues with the death penalty is conducted and the study commission's recommendations, if any, are considered.