This morning, religious leaders from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in Florida held a press conference to react to a report from Harvard’s Fair Punishment Project, branding the counties as “outliers” due to their overuse of the death penalty.
Press conference participants released a letter to the State Attorney’s Office signed by more than 75 local religious leaders demanding a halt to death penalty prosecutions in both counties. EJUSA’s Florida-based organizer, Christine Henderson (pictured at the podium), helped organize the sign-on letter and was on hand to speak about the national implications of the ‘outlier’ report.
“Given the host of problems plaguing the death penalty in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties – wrongful convictions, racial bias, disproportionate use against the mentally ill – we are united in calling for an end to this failed practice,” said Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson pastor of First United Church of Tampa.
The report found ongoing problems with overzealous prosecutors, ineffective defense lawyers, and racial bias, and that the impact of these chronic issues included convicting innocent people.
“In Hillsborough County, we have seen three people wrongfully sentenced to death and later exonerated,” said The Most Reverent Robert Lynch, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg. “The death penalty clearly is prone to error and, moreover, unnecessary today where there are alternative means to protect society. It is imperative that our officials promote a culture of life and stop pursuing the death penalty.”
Religious Leaders Call for Immediate Suspension of Death Penalty in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties
We are religious leaders of Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, Florida, who have come together to call on our officials to change course in their use of the death penalty. Our counties have gained the dubious distinction of sentencing individuals to death at some of the highest rates in the country. That troubles us, especially given that our corrections system today can keep society safe without needing to resort to executions. None of us deny the need for accountability and severe consequences for those guilty of grave crimes. At the same time, our criminal justice system must recognize the dignity of every person, and not close off hope and the possibility for redemption.
For this reason, we are deeply concerned by a new report documenting Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties’ overreliance on the death penalty. Of the over 3,000 counties nationwide, Hillsborough and Pinellas are among only 16 counties to produce five or more death sentences between 2010 and 2015. The State Attorneys’ Offices in these counties have zealously pursued the death penalty, which has put us out of step with the rest of Florida and the nation.
There is evidence that the death penalty prolongs the suffering of many murder victims’ families, since capital cases involve years of legal uncertainty, hearings, and frequent media headlines that can reopen old wounds. Victims’ families spend years and often decades waiting for an execution that may never come.
The death penalty’s racial disparities suggest that it is being applied unjustly. From 2010 to 2015, a majority of those sentenced to death in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties were African American. This disproportionate use of the death penalty against African Americans perpetuates a long legacy of racial bias. A criminal justice system that fails to treat everyone equally erodes trust between the community and its officials.
In sum, excessive use of the death penalty in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties reflects an attitude that we cannot accept – that certain offenders are beyond redemption. No matter what someone did, they remain God’s creation and have intrinsic value. When holding offenders accountable, our justice system cannot lose sight of the dignity of every individual. Reforms are needed in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties to reflect this truth.
Therefore we, the undersigned, call on the State Attorneys’ Offices for the 6th and 13th Judicial Circuits covering Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties to immediately suspend use of the death penalty.
Deacon John Alvarez
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Deacon Peter Andre
Director of Prison Ministry for the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Director of Prison Ministry for the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Rev. Andy Bell
Director of Lakewood Methodist Counseling Center, St. Petersburg, FL
Director of Lakewood Methodist Counseling Center, St. Petersburg, FL
Pastor Moses Brown
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Deacon John Buckley
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Sabrina Burton Schultz
Director of Life Ministry for the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Director of Life Ministry for the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans
Hyde Park UMC, Tampa, FL
Hyde Park UMC, Tampa, FL
Deacon Elix Castro
Nativity Catholic Church, Brandon, FL
Nativity Catholic Church, Brandon, FL
Rev. C. Timothy Corcoran
St. Mary Catholic Church, Tampa, FL
St. Mary Catholic Church, Tampa, FL
Pastor George Corrigan, OFM
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Tampa, FL
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Tampa, FL
Deacon Raymond Dever
St. Paul Catholic Church, Tampa, FL
St. Paul Catholic Church, Tampa, FL
Rev. Willie Dixon
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Fr. Kazimierz Domek
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Pastor Gary Dowsey
Our Lady of Lourdes, Dunedin, FL
Our Lady of Lourdes, Dunedin, FL
Fr. Dermot Dunne
St. Cecelia Catholic Church, Clearwater, FL
St. Cecelia Catholic Church, Clearwater, FL
Pastor James Favorite
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Rabbi Carla Freedman
Beth Israel Congregation of Sun City Center, FL
Beth Israel Congregation of Sun City Center, FL
Pastor Robert Gibbons
St. Paul’s Church, St. Petersburg, FL
St. Paul’s Church, St. Petersburg, FL
Pastor Paul Gibson
Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg, FL
Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg, FL
Deacon Steven Girardi
Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor, FL
Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor, FL
Deacon James Grevenites
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Pastor Mel Harris
Valrico, FL
Valrico, FL
Rabbi Garson Herzfeld
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Bishop Charles Leigh
Communion of Synodal Churches, Tampa, FL
Communion of Synodal Churches, Tampa, FL
Deacon David Lesieur
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Pastor Jacquie Lewis
Trinity United Church of Christ, St. Petersburg, FL
Trinity United Church of Christ, St. Petersburg, FL
Fr. John Lipscomb
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Deacon William Lovelace
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, St. Petersburg, FL
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, St. Petersburg, FL
Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch
Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Rev. Mike MacMillan
Faith United Church of Christ, Dunedin, FL
Faith United Church of Christ, Dunedin, FL
Pastor M. Richard Malivuk
Lutz, FL
Lutz, FL
Deacon James Manzi
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Rev. John Marino
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Clearwater, FL
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Clearwater, FL
Pastor Guillermo Marquez-Sterling
Pass-A-Grill Beach Community Church, FL
Pass-A-Grill Beach Community Church, FL
Deacon Theodore Martin
Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, Temple Terrace, FL
Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, Temple Terrace, FL
Rev. Roy Mathis
New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, Tampa, FL
New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, Tampa, FL
Elder Michael McDaniels
River of Life Church Ministries, Brandon, FL
River of Life Church Ministries, Brandon, FL
Pastor Terry McMillan
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Deacon Michael Menchen
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Rev. Russell Meyer
Executive Director of the Florida Council of Churches, Tampa, FL
Executive Director of the Florida Council of Churches, Tampa, FL
Pastor Waldemar Meyer
Temple Terrace, FL
Temple Terrace, FL
Pastor Craig Morley
Holy Family Parish, St. Petersburg, FL
Holy Family Parish, St. Petersburg, FL
Rev. Msgr. Robert Morris
Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Fr. Michael Muhr
St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Tampa, FL
St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Tampa, FL
Pastor Clarence Nathan
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Elder Tommy Neal
River of Life Church Ministries, Brandon, FL
River of Life Church Ministries, Brandon, FL
Rev. Jerry Nealy
Friendly Missionary Baptist Church, Tampa, FL
Friendly Missionary Baptist Church, Tampa, FL
Theology Professor Stephen Okey
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Rev. Leonard Piotrowski
Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor, FL
Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor, FL
Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson
Trinity, FL
Trinity, FL
Rev. Sally Purvis
St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg, FL
Bishop Steven Rosczewski
Communion of Synodal Catholic Churches, Safety Harbor, FL
Communion of Synodal Catholic Churches, Safety Harbor, FL
Rabbi Jason Rosenberg
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Deacon Richard Santello
Saint John Vianney Parish, St. Pete Beach, FL
Saint John Vianney Parish, St. Pete Beach, FL
Bishop Robert Schaefer
Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Tampa, FL
Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Tampa, FL
Pastor Robert Schneider
St. Stephen Catholic Church, Valrico, FL
St. Stephen Catholic Church, Valrico, FL
Pastor Andre Shaw
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Rev. Susan Sherwood
St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg, FL
Rev. Michael Smith
Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Temple Terrace, FL
Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Temple Terrace, FL
Deacon Cris Stout
St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Tampa, FL
St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Tampa, FL
Minister Sharon Streater
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Pastor Clethen Sutton
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Theology Professor Mathew Tapie
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Rabbi Betsy Torop
Largo, FL
Largo, FL
Deacon Michael Waldron
St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, Palm Harbor, FL
St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, Palm Harbor, FL
Rev. Vicki Walker
Hyde Park United Methodist Church, Tampa, FL
Hyde Park United Methodist Church, Tampa, FL
Rev. Kathleen Walter
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Clearwater, FL
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Clearwater, FL
Elder Rodney Watkins
River of Life Church Ministries, Brandon, FL
River of Life Church Ministries, Brandon, FL
Sr. Marlene Weidenborner
Vicar for the Religious of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Vicar for the Religious of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL
Pastor Kim Wells
Lakewood United Church of Christ, St. Petersburg, FL
Lakewood United Church of Christ, St. Petersburg, FL
Deacon Rick Wells
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Clearwater, FL
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Clearwater, FL
Apostle Tony Woods
El Shaddai International Ministries, Plant City, FL
El Shaddai International Ministries, Plant City, FL
Pastor Bruce Wright
Refuge Ministries, St. Petersburg, FL
Refuge Ministries, St. Petersburg, FL
Deacon Richard Zeitler
St. Stephen Catholic Church, Valrico, FL
St. Stephen Catholic Church, Valrico, FL
Deacon Joe Zucchero
St. Cecelia Catholic Church, Clearwater, FL
St. Cecelia Catholic Church, Clearwater, FL
