The Case for Death Penalty Abolition
in Virginia
1, No one has been sentenced to death in Virginia since 2011 (the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court overturned
that death sentence).
2. In much of Virginia, the death penalty is no longer used. Of the 133 local political jurisdictions:
+ 18 localities have never had an execution (13%)
¢ 33 jurisdictions have not had an execution in over 100 years (25%)
¢ 69 localities have not had an execution in over 50 years (52%)
Since 1976, just three jurisdictions (Chesterfield, Prince William and Virginia Beach) have had 23%
of Virginia’s executions. Six (Chesterfield, Fairfax, Hampton, Pittsylvania, Portsmouth, Prince William
and Virginia Beach) accounted for 41% of the executions.
Number of Executions
1976-2018
Source: VADP analysis of execution data from the Death Penalty Information Center
3. In 2012 the National Research Council concluded Gases rat ent en Non Copal
that there is no credible evidence the death penal- ot ases ases
ty deters homicide. In fact, states without the Defense $395,762 $98,963
death penalty consistently have significantly Trial Court $72,530 $21,554
lower murder rates than death penalty states. ings 40.13 days Tenouays
4. While there is no cost analysis of Virginia’s death Pabst $49,380/year_ | $24,690/year
penalty, studies in other states consistently Cases that did
demonstrate that the death penalty consumes not go to trial
significantly more tax dollars than life in Defense $130,595 $64,711
prison without parole. At right are details from ‘skill: $16,263 $7,384
a Kansas study that illustrate the gap in costs.
SOURCE: "Report of the Judicial Council Death Penalty
Advisory Committee," Judicial Council,
Kansas Legislature, February 13, 2014
5. Life in prison without parole protects the public from dangerous criminals, at a significantly lower cost.
The cost sayings from abolishing the dealt penalty can be used to investigate unsolved cold cases or
provide more fi ial and to victims of violent crimes.
6. Public opinion polls show a consistent decline in support for the death penalty over the past fifteen years.
Opposition is now the highest since 1972.
A 2010 poll by Lake Research Partners found that a clear majority of voters (61%) would choose a
punishment other than death for murder. When presented with alternatives, similar polls show much
less support for the death penalty.
Death penalty,
oo Te
No opinion
b%
ife without parole plus restitution
Source: Lake Research Partners 2010
7. The conviction and execution of wrongfully-charged individuals is irreversible. One man sentenced to
death in Virginia, Earl Washington, was proven innocent by DNA testing in 2000. Others were executed
despite serious doubts about their guilt.
8. Innocent people should not die when mistakes are made in the criminal justice system. Humans
make mistakes — police, prosecutors, judges, jurors, and defense attorneys.
9. There are two men on Virginia’s death row, and both death sentences are under review by federal courts.
These sentences may well be 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 is time to abolish the death penalty in Virginia.
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
P.O. Box 12222 ¢ Richmond, VA 23241
(434) 960-7779
www.vadp.org
June 2020
