Newline articles filtered by state

Yesterday, former corrections officer Bob Autobee, whose son Eric - also a corrections officer - was killed by a prison inmate the in 2002, offered powerful testimony supporting a

The University of Denver Sturm College of Law recently released two studies on the state of capital punishment in Colorado.

Dawn Mancarella and Vickye Coward both lost loved ones to murder. They also were key figures Connecticut’s successful repeal campaign.

State Senator Mike Johnston from Denver puts acts of violence in perspective in his response to the Colorado shooting, which he wr

All the staff at EJUSA were shocked and saddened by the horrible shooting that took place in Aurora, Colorado.

Looking back on this year, and the years that preceded it, I noticed a pattern. I realized that being a part of the movement to end the death penalty is a lot like making popcorn.

By a vote of 7-4, the Colorado House Judiciary Committee has passed a bill repealing the death penalty. The bill would also apply the savings from death penalty repeal to fund the investigation of cold cases. Congratulations Colorado!

What's next: The bill now moves on to the House Appropriations Committee before it can move to the full House.

Read more: "House committee approves bill banning death penalty"

Tim Masters, exonerated in late January in Colorado, is a real-life example of why DNA testing is so important. Despite the many problems with his case, when DNA testing was requested, Tim was told that the evidence needed for the tests was gone. Remaining hopeful, Tim's attorneys managed to get the victim's clothes sent to the Netherlands for advanced testing.

As strange as it sounds, Tim Masters is one of the lucky ones. Unlike hundreds and hundreds of others who have requested DNA testing, Tim ultimately was able to get the tests done and prove his innocence.

Since 1989, DNA testing has led to the release of more than 200 wrongfully convicted people, who have collectively spent more than 2,500 years in prison. 2,500 years! DNA testing is only available in a handful of cases, but it helps shine a light on how wrongful convictions happen and what we can do to reduce the risk. Yet two scathing investigative reports, Test of Convictions by the Columbus Dispatch and Trashing the Truth by the Denver Post, reveal that some states and their policing agencies are treating DNA like the enemy.

These newspapers found:

• Applications for DNA testing frequently ignored or denied without reason, though giving a reason for denial is required by Ohio law
• Evidence requested for testing lost or destroyed with chilling frequency - literally tens of thousands of DNA samples around the country gone missing
• "Destroyed" evidence later uncovered by inmates' lawyers
• Wait times of several years before approved testing is conducted

Montana: abolition bill passed Senate, lost in House committee by one vote

New Mexico: abolition bill passed House, lost in Senate committee by one vote

Nebraska: abolition bill passed committee, lost on floor by one vote

Colorado: abolition bill passed House committee

Washington: moratorium bill passed House committee