ABOLISH
the DEATH
PENALTY
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty Statement
on the Narrow Defeat of Proposition 34 in California to End the Use of the Death Penalty
For all press inquiries, please contact:
Anita Grabowski
anita@ncadp.org
512-496-6695
November 7, 2012
Washington, DC—California’s Proposition 34, an initiative to end the death penalty and replace it with
life without parole was narrowly defeated by a margin of 53% to 47%. The millions of Californians who
voted in favor of this measure have made clear that keeping their communities safe and maintaining a
working justice system are their top priorities. We expect that California will eventually move beyond
the death penalty, following the momentum that is already evident in other states across the country.
The fact that such a large percent of the populace voted to end the death penalty in California is
testament to the fact that people are increasingly concerned about the fairness and effectiveness of
such a costly, broken system. The vote represents a dramatic shift away from support for the death
penalty and is a clear signal that many voters have changed their minds about this issue.
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia do not have the death penalty, and California has not had
an execution in over six years. Last year, 2011, was the first year since 1976 that the country produced
fewer than 100 new death sentences, marking a steady decline in the number of new death sentences
and executions.
Support for the death penalty continues to wane as more and more people question the merits and
effectiveness of capital punishment. The nationwide trend of ending the use of the death penalty will
continue as state elected officials across the country must address the concerns of their constituents
about the very real risks and exorbitant costs associated with sentencing people to death.
HHH
The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP) is the nation's oldest organization
dedicated to the abolition of the death penalty. We are comprised of an extensive network representing
more than 100 state and national Affiliate organizations and thousands of advocates and volunteers.
Our members span the political spectrum and include civil and racial justice organizations, families of
murder victims, family members of people on death row, exonerees, people of faith, and law
enforcement officials all working to end the death penalty forever.
