Resources

People are asking…

From cost to innocence to unfairness, here are answers to some of the toughest questions about the death penalty.

The Death Penalty in the United States

The death penalty fails, at every level, to bring true justice. What it doesn’t do is heal those impacted by violence (including the person who acted violently), or create accountability that repairs harm.

The Closure Myth

Proponents claim that the death penalty brings closure to the families of murder victims. But countless families of murder victims experience greater trauma at the hands of this lengthy and complex process.

How Geography and Race Influence the Death Penalty

Are individuals sentenced to death truly the “worst of the worst” – or simply those with the worst lawyers, the wrong geographic location, or the wrong skin color?

Wasteful & Inefficient

Many believe that the death penalty is a cost-effective approach to justice. In reality, the death penalty’s complexity, length, and finality drive costs through the roof, making it much more expensive.

New report finds spike in Republican opposition to the death penalty

Surging numbers of Republican lawmakers are championing death penalty repeal. This report by Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty examines this gradual shift in conservative views on the policy.

Racial Inequity and the Death Penalty

Race plays a decisive role in who lives and who dies in the United States. But these racial inequities are nothing new.

The Dying Death Penalty

More and more people are realizing that the death penalty is a failure, and believe that we should end it.

Poverty and Poor Legal Defense

The high costs of legal teams often leave poor defendants with grossly inadequate legal representation, preventing them from receiving a fair trial.

Latinos and the Death Penalty

Latino people are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system, and the death penalty is no exception. It’s no wonder the Latino community is speaking up in growing numbers to say this broken policy needs to end.

Plea Bargains

Some say we need the death penalty to secure confessions and plea deals to get life without parole. But this isn’t necessarily the case.

‘I Am Troy Davis’ Discussion and Study Guide!

This guide is an invitation to engage, providing questions to promote critical thinking about the Troy Davis case and a deeper exploration of the death penalty and criminal justice system at large.