In a recent article in the American Conservative, the former leader of CCATDP and now Director of State Government Affairs for the R Street Institute (RSI), Marc Hyden, partnered with RSI’s Arthur Rizer in a piece titled, “A Dying Shame: The State is Not God, and the Death Penalty is Not Infallible.” The article examines the multiple issues within the death penalty system in the United States and lays out the reasons that conservatives should not only oppose capital punishment, but also champion its demise. The R Street Institute is a growing powerhouse in Washington D.C., championing reforms in criminal justice reform, occupational licensing, and other regulatory policies. They’re voice on the problems with the death penalty is a welcomed addition that is sure to grab the attention of many. You can read the full article here.

The Christmas season is a time of reflection for many Christians. As millions across the world mark the birth of Jesus’ death, it is also a time for those of faith to examine their beliefs and the reason for the season. In her latest article for Newsmax, the leader of CCATDP examines how some of these questions and observations caused her to reevaluate her stance on the death penalty. From the article: “There were other inconsistencies as well. In James 2:10 the Bible says that all sins are equal. In Romans 3:23 the Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And in Romans 6:23 the Bible says that the wages of sin is death. So if we have all sinned, all sin is equal in God’s eyes, and the wages of that sin is death, all of humanity would receive a death sentence were it not for Jesus’ sacrifice. I am no better than a murderer and neither is anyone else.” “I am covered by grace, and since I am called to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, I too am to extend grace. I’ve worked around the criminal justice system long enough now to see the power of God move in countless lives. I know that no person is too far gone for Him to reach and recover,

The Death Penalty Information Center has released their annual report on the death penalty and for the fourth consecutive year the United States saw fewer than 30 executions and less than 50 new death sentences. This marks an ongoing, long-term decline in capital punishment in the country. Not only did 2018 see a decrease in sentences and executions, it also saw repeal legislation passed through two Republican controlled chambers in New Hampshire (falling only two votes shy of veto override majority) and the death penalty struck down in the state of Washington after undeniable evidence of racial bias in the system reached the state supreme court. In addition to this, seven counties with prosecutors who frequently used the death penalty saw these officials voted out in favor of reform-minded District Attorneys, and two GOP U.S. Senate candidates announced opposition to the death penalty during the primaries and won their parties nomination. As a whole, 2018 has been a smashing success — one that saw only eight states carry out an execution at all (with Texas) accounting for more than half of the 25) and with strong support for repeal swelling in battleground areas. We look for

In a recent article at Newsmax, the leader of CCATDP questioned the secrecy surrounding the death penalty system in the United States and pointed to the questionable tactics some states are using to limit the information available to the public about their systems. From the article: “States are now blocking information about the drugs they are using in lethal injections, and not just from the public, but frequently from the very manufacturers producing the drugs who do not want their product used in this manner.” “Since 2011, thirteen state legislatures have passed new laws that have enacted secrecy statutes to prevent the public from obtaining important information about executions. Eight additional states have invoked existing laws or protocols to refuse disclosing this type of information. In four of these states, it is either a civil or criminal offense to disclose such information.” “These laws are a mechanism for the government to thwart the constitutional rights of individuals, the ability of courts to ensure the protection of those rights, and the capability for the public to hold their government accountable. It seems in many, many areas of ou

This month, our National Manager Hannah Cox wrote a piece for her Newsmax column that discusses the reasons the death penalty actually makes Americans less safe. This article offers a rarely examined perspective that walks readers through the ways the death penalty not only fails to act as a deterrent, but actually straps police departments and other portions of the justice system and limits resources that could be used to solve crime and prevent future tragedies. From the article: It is in no way just to waste millions of dollars a year pursuing death for a few cases while most victims receive no justice whatsoever, nor is it just to waste millions of hard-working Americans’ tax dollars on a system that provides them nothing in return. If the primary purpose of the system is to make society safer and actually advance justice, then the death penalty not only fails to contribute to that goal, it acts as a huge barrier. You can read the full piece here.

Last week, the Washington State Supreme Court unanimously struck down the state’s death penalty statute and commuted the sentences of all 8 men who were on death row. The court ruled that the law was unconstitutional “because it is imposed in an arbitrary and racially biased manner.” Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst, writing for the court’s majority, cited a recent crime analysis produced by University of Washington sociologists that found significant variations across counties in the application of the death penalty, and that also found black offenders were four times more likely to receive a death sentence in the state than their white peers. Due to these findings, the court held that the death penalty lacked fundamental fairness and thereby violated the state’s constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. With Thursday’s ruling, Washington becomes the 20th state to overturn or abolish death as a legal punishment. Washington Governor Jay Inslee, who previously supported the death penalty before issuing a moratorium on executions in the state in 2014, said he expects this ruling to end the debate over capital punishment in the state once and for all. “

Our National Manager, Hannah Cox, published an article at Newsmax this week in observance of Wrongful Conviction Day. In her latest piece, Cox points out the frequency of wrongful convictions and examines the problems in the criminal justice system that lead to them. Some of the reasons include eyewitness misidentification, misapplication of forensic evidence, and false confessions. Read her article here.

Today, October 2nd, is the fifth annual observance of Wrongful Conviction Day. This is a time that the international community has set aside to raise awareness of the causes and remedies of wrongful conviction and to recognize the tremendous personal, social, and emotional costs of wrongful conviction for innocent people and their families. At Conservatives Concerned, we know that of the thousands of wrongful convictions in the United States 163 individuals have served time on death row for a crime they did not commit. We also know that the likelihood more innocent people are still trapped on death row and may be executed is exceedingly high. This is one of the many reasons we continue to fight for an end to the death penalty. It should surprise no conservative that a government that is incapable of balancing a budget or preventing fraud is also incapable of ensuring justice for all. Because of this, the government should never be given the power over life and death. Wasted years due to wrongful convictions is a horrible fate and reality for far too many Americans, but the possibility of an innocent life taken by the government should be unacceptable and unequivocally condemned by

American political commentator and Pulitzer Prize winner, George F. Will, is out with a fantastic new article in the Washington Post calling for the abolition of the death penalty. In the piece, Will details the case of an Alabama man, Vernon Madison, who the state has repeatedly tried to execute through unconstitutional means. Madison’s first case was thrown out due to the state’s exclusion of African Americans from the jury, and his second trial was thrown out due to inadmissible evidence being inserted into the record. Finally, during his third trial, a judge disregarded the juries’ recommendation of a life imprisonment sentence and again imposed the death penalty on Madison. All along the way, evidence of Madison’s mental illness has been ignored, and now, he no longer remembers the crime that put him on death row due to a series of strokes, dementia, and degenerative disease. Will expertly details the numerous constitutional problems with Madison’s case and the US Supreme Court’s dance around what constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment.” He closes the article with this statement: Conservatives have their own standards, includi

Welcome to October! International Wrongful Convictions Day This Tuesday, October 2nd is the Fifth Annual International Wrongful Conviction Day. According to the organizers, this is a day set aside to raise awareness of the causes and remedies of wrongful convictions and to recognize the tremendous personal, social, and emotional costs of wrongful conviction for innocent people and their families. Help raise awareness for this day on your social media accounts with the hashtag #WrongfulConvictionDay and be sure to tag us @CCATDP! Here us a good resource to share along with posts. CCATDP National Manager Tapped as Newsmax Insider The leader of Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty is now a Newsmax Insider. Twice a month, Hannah Cox will be writing about the failures of the criminal justice system and especially the death penalty. Newsmax is a leading conservative news outlet that receives nearly 70,000 unique daily visitors. The company is ranked as the 3rd most trafficked political website. You can follow her blog Life and Liberty here and read her first article, “Do You Support the Death Penalty,” here. Execution Scheduled for October 11th in Tennessee In August, Tennesse