VIRGINIANS FOR
f ALTERNATIVES
TO THE DEATH PENALTY
2017 Annual Report
VADP helped Virginia religious leaders organize a press
conference near the state capitol in Richmond urging
clemency for death row inmate Ivan Teleguz. Thanks to
their advocacy and that of many other VADP supporters,
the Governor reduced his death sentence to life in prison
without parole. Now Mr. Teleguz and his attorneys have
time to prove his innocence claim.
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
P.O. Box 12222
Richmond, VA 23241
(434) 960-7779
office@vadp.org
www.vadp.org
Our Work Continues
Dear Abolition Champion,
VADP saw some significant victories and many
notable challenges throughout 2017 as we work
towards abolition in Virginia.
Another year passed with no new death sentences
imposed by Virginia juries. It is now over six
years since anyone was sentenced to death here!
Across the nation, only 39 death sentences were
handed down in 2017, the second lowest annual
total since the U.S. Supreme
Court declared the death pen-
alty unconstitutional in 1972.
It was the seventh year in a
row that fewer than 100 death
sentences were imposed.
In 2017 Virginia executed two
people, one of eight states to
carry out an execution. The
national total of 23 executions
is half the number carried out seven years ago, and
the second lowest total since 1991. Only the 20
executions in 2016 were lower.
While we were saddened by these two executions,
clemency was granted to two others, leaving
Virginia with just three souls on death row.
I want to thank our capital defense attorneys for
their crucial work. They are true warriors for an
improved criminal justice system.
In Virginia, we continue working towards our goal
of becoming the first Southern state to abolish the
death penalty. We currently are focusing our
efforts on legislation to ban the use of the death
penalty on individuals with severe mental illness.
This proposal lost in the 2017 Virginia General
Assembly session by a slim margin in committee.
During the legislative off-season, we targeted key
legislative districts as our new Field Director has
worked tirelessly to build support for our cause in
those areas of the Commonwealth.
A profound wave of change marked the November
2017 state elections. Its impact on abolition efforts
remains to be seen, but we are hopeful.
As an organization, VADP’s 2017 was marked by
a significant increase in donor support and by our
most successful annual awards luncheon ever. We
had a larger, younger, and more diverse group of
people attending and celebrating our work.
VADP thrives due to your support. You can send
a check in the mail or donate by phone or online.
We now are able to accept stock contributions.
You can also memorialize a friend or loved one or
remember VADP in your estate planning.
VADP is a small organization with a mighty
impact. Your generous support enables us to grow
and reach our goal of death penalty abolition.
Please accept our gratitude for your involvement
and support.
Sincerely,
Virginia Podboy, VADP Board President
Members of St. James Episcopal Church
in Richmond at a VADP education event.
VADP 2017 Annual
Accomplishments in 2017
Public Education
°
°
Provided death penalty abolition speakers for a
number of different audiences across the state:
— St. George Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg
— College of William & Mary in Williamsburg
— St. James Episcopal Church in Richmond
— ElderStudy Program in Fredericksburg
— Loudoun County Algonkian District Democrats
Organized a “Virginia Night” at the annual
death penalty abolition fast & vigil on the plaza
in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, featuring
speakers from the Commonwealth:
— Lawyer who worked to prove the innocence of a
Texas death row inmate
Co-author of a biography about the legendary
Virginia abolitionist, Marie Deans
— Attorney coordinating the clemency campaign
for Virginia death row inmate William Morva
— Mother of former death row inmate Justin Wolfe
— Former Virginia executioner
Provided death penalty information on VADP
website for a monthly average of 1,006 visitors.
Public Policy Advocacy
°
°
Worked with mental health organizations to
support legislation that would ban executions
of people with severe mental illness.
18 conservative and Libertarian leaders
endorsed legislation that would ban executions
of people with severe mental illness, including:
— Former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli
— Former Attorney General Mark Earley
— Former Congressman Tom Bliley
12 family members of murder victims endorsed
legislation that would ban executions of people
with severe mental illness.
VADP action alerts generated 1,217 messages
to the Governor, urging clemency for Ricky
Gray, Ivan Teleguz, and William Morva.
Media
od
Helped to organize a press conference of faith
leaders asking the Governor to grant clemency
to death row inmate Ivan Teleguz.
Worked to get op-eds supporting legislation to
ban executions of people with severe mental
illness published in the Bristol Herald Courier,
the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record, and the
Lynchburg News and Advance.
Organizing
°
od
od
Met with VADP supporters at five regional
meetings in Northern Virginia, Richmond,
Norfolk, Charlottesville, and Roanoke in both
the spring and autumn.
VADP supporters at an Arlington regional meeting
Worked with local leaders to host VADP
“friend-raising” events in Charlottesville and
Washington, DC that produced new donors and
identified potential board members.
Hosted the VADP annual awards luncheon at a
northern Virginia church. Over 80 supporters
heard legendary capital defense attorney David
Bruck speak about prospects for abolition.
Rob Lee, Director of the Virginia Capital
Representation Resource Center accepted the
Citizen Advocate of the Year award.
VADP 2017 Annual Rep: 5
VADP Finances
2016 2017 Income: $161,769
Income
Individuals $ 61,455.59 $ 81,522.03
Faith communities 13,154.38 10,247.00
Grants 38,000.00 70,000.00
TOTAL $ 112,609.97 | $ 161,769.03
Expenses
Staff $ 59,000.36 | $ 86,637.40
Travel 5,442.22 11,146.62
Telephone 448.20 747.00
Postage and printing 725.06 1,504.30
Fundraising 6,770.45 7,505.12
Technology 5,512.94 7,251.47
Contract services 21,208.72 20,447.50
Miscellaneous 2,168.53 2,868.59
TOTAL $ 101,276.48 | $ 138,108.00
Net Income
$ 11,333.49 | $23,661.03
President
Virginia Podboy | At Large Members
Richmond RJ Bee Washington
Vice President Nicholas Cote Alexandria
Paul O’Shea Theresa Dunleavy Norfolk
Fairfax Emma Johnston Lynchburg
Secretary Kristina Leslie Annandale
Mary Atwell Kamyle Li Vienna
Roanoke Carissa Phillips Charlottesville
Treasurer Kent Willis Matthews
Adam Northup Gerald Zerkin Rishinend VADP board members at a September
Richmond 2017 meeting in Ashland.
6 VADP 2017 Annual Report
