United to end the death penalty

After decades of progress for our movement, a coordinated effort now seeks to expand and normalize the death penalty. Our coalition of 50+ partners has a strategy to push back.

We need you with us.

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Stop the execution of Robert Roberson

In October, Texas is planning to end the life of an innocent man who was convicted on the basis of junk pseudoscience after losing his child to illness and medical error. There is still time to save him.

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Our strategy

In the last 25 years, our movement has radically reduced the use of the death penalty across the United States. Thirty-three states have either formally ended capital punishment or haven’t carried out an execution in more than 10 years. The number of new death sentences has dropped by nearly 90 percent. This progress has resulted from a unified strategy to shine a light on the death penalty’s failures.

Wherever possible, our movement seeks full abolition. Since 2004, 11 states have recognized the truth and abolished the death penalty and four more have implemented moratoriums. Other states have taken steps to prevent the most vulnerable from being executed, especially those with severe mental illnesses and intellectual disabilities. This has lead to a 44% percent decrease in the size of death row since 2001.

1

End the death penalty in as many states as possible

Republicans and Democrats have come together in dozens of states to work to end the death penalty. Twenty-three states and D.C. have formally ended the practice after recognizing capital punishment as an ineffective, costly, and deeply flawed public policy.

2

Prevent new death sentences and executions

Only a handful of outlier jurisdictions still impose the death penalty. By investing in strategies that reduce the use of the death penalty, we have seen a dramatic decrease in new death sentences, executions, and the size of death row.

3

Spread the truth about the death penalty

Shining a light on the risk of executing innocent people, racial bias and unfairness in the system, the high cost of the death penalty, and the harm that the process inflicts on victims’ families and everyone touched by capital punishment is an essential part of exposing the death penalty as a failed public policy.