The Case for Death Penalty Abolition
in Virginia
1.) No one has been sentenced to death in Virginina since September 2011, over seven
years ago. And the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court overturned that death sentence.
2.) In most of Virginia, the death penalty is no longer used. Over the 133 local jurisdic-
tions in the commonwealth:
* 18 localities have never had an execution (13%)
¢ 33 jurisdiction have not had an execution in over 100 years (25%)
* 69 localities have not had an execution in over 50 years (52%)
Number of Executions
1976-20
Seven jurisdictions (Chesterfield, Fairfax, Since 1976, just three jurisdictions
Hampton, Pittsylvania, Portsmouth, (Chesterfield, Prince William, and
Prince William, and Virginia Beach) account Virginia Beach) have had 23% of
for 41% of the executions. Virginia’s executions.
3.) While there has never been a
detailed cost analysis of Virginia’s Defense $395,762 $98,963
death penalty, studies in other Trial Court $72,530 $21,554
states consistently demonstrate Juries 40.13 days 16.79 days
that the death penalty costs Prison $49,380/year | $24,690/year
significantly more than life in
prison without parole. To the right
are details from a Kansas study |
that illustrate the gap in costs.
Defense $130,595 $64,711
Trial Court | $16,263 | $7,384
Source: “Report of the Judicial Council Death Penalty Advisory Committee,”
Judicial Council, Kansas Legislature, February 13, 2014
4.) In 2012 the prestigious National Research Council of the National Acadamies
concluded that there is no credible evidence that the death penalty deters homicide. In
fact, states without the death penalty have consistently had lower lower murder rates
than death penalty states.
5.) The punishment for life in prison without parole protects the public from dangerous
criminals at a significantly lower cost. The cost savings from abolishing the death
penalty could be used instead to investigate unsolved cold cases or provide financial
and counseling assistance to victims of violent crimes
6.) Public opinion polls have shown a consistent deacrease in support for the death
penalty over the past 13 years. Opposition to the death penalty is now the highest that it
has been since 1972.
A 2010 poll by Lake Research Partners found
that a clear majprity of voters (61%) would
7 choose a punishment other than the death
NO pinion Life with parole penalty for murder. When oresented with
= << alternatives to to the death penalty, similar
polls consistently show much less public
support for the death penalty.
Pole
ife without parole plus restitution
7.) One man sentenced to death in Virginia, Earl Washington, was proven innocent by
DNA testing. Others have been executed with serious doubts about their guilt. There is
no way to correct a wrongful conviction if an innocent person is executed.
8.) Human beings make mistakes - police, prosecutors, jurors, and defense attorneys.
Innocent people should not die when mistakes are made in the criminal justice system.
9.) There are only two men on Virginia’s death row, and both death senteces are under
review by federal courts. These sentences may be well reversed for the following
reasons.
* In one case, evidence showing the defendant did not commit the crime was
withheld.
* In the other case, a jury member committed perjury during the jury selection
process.
It’s time to abolish the death penalty in Virginia
Virginian’s for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
P.O. Box 12222 Richmond, VA 23241v
(434) 960-7779
www.vadp.org
