November 27, 2015
2k
2k
2k
Dear <first name>,
As an attorney, you know far better than most people how imperfect our
criminal justice system is. It is inherently limited by the flaws of its
participants. Prosecutors overreach, defense attorneys make mistakes, and
judges err.
My opposition to the death penalty arose out of my work with felons ina
furlough program in Cleveland, Ohio. Getting to know people who had
committed crimes, often terrible crimes, was an eye-opening experience.
These were fundamentally good people. Often they were mentally ill,
usually they were addicts. In every case they were complex human beings
who could not fairly be judged by their worst moments.
I worked with one inmate, Thomas, who had served over 25 years for a
murder he committed as a young man. Thomas was one of the humblest,
most decent, caring people I’ve ever met. For years after I worked with
him, Thomas would return to my office to talk, to bring me gifts, to thank
me for helping him, and to learn how he could help other people in his
situation.
I started to ask myself why someone like Thomas could be afforded a chance
to rehabilitate himself, to become the person he was capable of being, while
others who committed similar crimes would be written off by society
entirely and killed by the state.
My more recent work with The Innocence Project has shown me that the
system fails, and that it does so more often than any of us would like to
believe. In my view, it is unconscionable to allow such an imperfect system
to make the ultimate, irreversible decision to end a human life.
I will continue to support VADP until we abolish the death penalty once and
for all. I encourage you to join me and to make a generous donation today.
Sincerely,
Matthew Engle, Esq.
VADP Board Member
