Georgia refused to listen. Share your outrage.

Thank you so much for your letter last week to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. Thanks to people like you, we generated over 650 letters to stop an execution tainted by racial bias and a sleeping lawyer. Georgia refused to listen. Kenneth Fults was executed last night for the 1997 killing of Cathy… Continue reading Georgia refused to listen. Share your outrage.

Violence & crime victims’ trauma are a public health issue: A new message for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

Apply public health values to a broken criminal justice system Contact: Jon Crane Phone/Email 203-982-4575 jon@criticalpr.com Sunday April 10th will mark the start of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (April 10-16) and this year’s theme – Serving Victims, Building Trust, Restoring Hope – is intended to highlight the need for victims services that will promote… Continue reading Violence & crime victims’ trauma are a public health issue: A new message for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

Recommended: 60 Minutes explores Germany’s transformative approach to justice

This weekend, CBS’s 60 Minutes aired a segment on prisons in Germany. The German approach emphasizes healing and rehabilitation. There’s no punishment for punishments’ sake. Loss of freedom is punishment enough, and the goal is to help those who commit harm to change their lives. Corrections officers are trained in psychology, communications, and de-escalation. Even… Continue reading Recommended: 60 Minutes explores Germany’s transformative approach to justice

Another Family harmed by murder and the fight over the death penalty

Shelby Farah was a bright, compassionate, determined 20-year-old when she was shot to death during a robbery at the Metro-PCS store where she worked. Shelby’s murder shocked the community in Jacksonville, Florida, and her family has spent the last two and a half years grieving their loss. The death penalty has added to this trauma,… Continue reading Another Family harmed by murder and the fight over the death penalty

Death penalty repeal gains momentum in Utah

Utah Senators approved legislation to repeal the death penalty last night by a vote of 20-9! The Republican sponsor of the bill, Senator Steve Urquhart, used to support the death penalty. Just last year, he joined most of his Republican colleagues (only 5 of the 29 Senators in Utah are Democrats) in a vote to bring… Continue reading Death penalty repeal gains momentum in Utah

Why I Joined the EJUSA Associate Board

by Sam Kuhn, EJUSA Associate Board When my friend Erin Ellis approached me with the prospect of joining the EJUSA Associate Board, I jumped at the opportunity. EJUSA’s work to make the criminal justice system more fair, effective, and responsive is right in line with the values my work at the National Network for Safe… Continue reading Why I Joined the EJUSA Associate Board

Halt executions during Year of Mercy, says Pope Francis

by Megan Ward, Catholic Mobilizing Network Pope Francis has become a torchbearer of peace and justice, not just for Catholics, but also for many people around the globe. Last week, he appealed directly to public officials, especially those who are Catholic, to “make a courageous and exemplary gesture by seeking a moratorium on executions during… Continue reading Halt executions during Year of Mercy, says Pope Francis

Huge strides made in repeal efforts in Delaware

Lawmakers in Delaware allowed a bill to repeal the death penalty to get a full debate on the House floor for the first time. The bill had been stuck in the House Judiciary Committee for the last several years. The growing coalition in Delaware is fired up at having broken through the logjam. Though the… Continue reading Huge strides made in repeal efforts in Delaware