"A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil."
~ Pope John Paul II 1/27/99, St. Louis, Missouri
Indeed signs of hope, countering the growing number of executions, can be found. Over a dozen states have considered legislation regarding either moratoriums or abolition. Since the US Supreme Court decision in 1976, thirty eight states have reinstated the death penalty. This year, Michigan, Maine, Massachusetts, and Iowa considered bills that would have adopted the death penalty; but all failed. During the discussion in Massachusetts, State Senator Creem spoke out against proexecution Governor Paul Cellucci, " I believe that when a government of the people engages itself in murder, whatever the rationale, we do not deter crime but in fact desensitize our people to its horror and contribute to its permissibility." (Boston Globe 3/23/99)
A frequently quoted Gallop Poll found 71% of American's supporting the death penalty. Yet others studies suggest that given the choice of an alternative to the death penalty (life imprisonment without parole) the public support falls to 44%. These percentages are not divided down religious lines, but rather seem to be related to education and awareness of the issue. Most perceptions and myths used to foster support of the death penalty can be easily argued with proper information.
Is it fair? The death penalty is applied rather arbitrarily throughout the United States. It seems that the most important variables which send 1% of convicted murderers to death row each year include: race, economics, education and community pressure. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall found "[it] is evident that the burden of capital punishment falls on the poor, the ignorant, and the underprivileged members of society."
Does it save taxpayers dollars? No. A recent study from Duke University concluded, " the extra cost of adjudicating murder cases capitally outweighs the savings in imprisonment costs. As it is currently implemented, the death penalty cannot be justified solely on grounds of economy." In fact, incarcerating a person for life costs a fraction of the expense of capital cases .
It is legal? Cruel and unusual punishment violates the 8th Amendment of the US Constitution. Additionally, the death penalty is in opposition to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Does it save future lives? No. A 1988 United Nations report stated, "[research on deterrence] failed to provide scientific proof that execution have a greater deterrent effect than life imprisonment." In 1997 the average murder rate per 100,000 population was 6.6 in death penalty states; 3.5 in nondeath penalty states. (Amnesty International)
Will we execute the innocent? In 1999 the College of Social and Behavior Science Center for Survey Research at Ohio State University found 68% of Ohioans think wrongful executions are likely to occur compared to 32% who found it unlikely. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in Illinois eleven people have been executed; interestingly the same number have been exonerated. Across the country for every seven executions one prisoner on death row has been found innocent. (US News & World Report 11/9/98)
Do we execute juveniles? Yes. Since 1976 juvenile offenders (at the time of the crime) have been executed in seven different states. Of the 13 juveniles executed, 7 were executed in Texas. (source: V. Streib, "The Juvenile Death Penalty Today")
How do the mentally ill fare? Poorly. In violation with international standards (and UN recommendation), the US executes mentally ill and mentally retarded persons. Justice Thurgood Marshall said, "It is no less abhorrent today than it has been for centuries to exact in penance the life of one whose mental illness prevents him from comprehending the reasons for the penalty or its implications." (1986)
Is race a factor? It is a fact blacks convicted of killing whites are more likely to receive the death penalty than any other group. In a 1990 report, the US General Accounting Office found, "a pattern of evidence indicating racial disparities in the charging, sentencing, and imposition of the death penalty." The 1993 Keil & Vito study (KY) found, "the data indicating that blacks who kill whites are singled out by the capital sentencing process ... were likely to be charged with a capital offense and receive a death penalty."
So how ought we to encourage signs of hope in the midst of prosecutors scurry to execute. How can we voice a no against state legitimated homicide? Before we can do any of this we must learn to heal and forgive as individuals and as a community. We can learn much from Mary Nell Verret, the sister of James Byrd, "Our family has no use for destructive hate.... Will we ever forgive the men who did this? Forgiveness is when you let go of resentment. We resent now. But when you carry resentment inside, it tears away at you. You become sick. You become a victim all over again. It can keep you from sleeping, eating, and thinking straight. It can keep you from going forward. One day we won't resent anymore." (USA Weekend, July '98) This is a true faith response.
Commited to the hope promised by the gospel we all must foster the conviction of the goodness of humankind, the ability of each of us to forgive, and the respect for the value of all life.
IJPC has many educational resources on the death penalty. (See 'Video Library')
Resource Manuals include:
- Choose Life" Reflections on the Death Penalty A Resourse Document on Capital Punishment. Catholic Conference of Kentucky: Louisville, KY.
- Teaching and Resouces on Capital Punishment, Catholic Bishops of Ohio, 1996
- Books include:
- Prejean, Sister Helen. Dead Man Walking. New York: Vintage Books, 1993.
- McGivern, James J. The Death Penalty: An Historical and Theological Survey. New York: Mahwah, NJ, 1997.
Videos include:
- Dead Man Walking 122 minutes
- Judgement at Midnight (ABC News, Primetime Live)
- Capital Punishment: The Death of Morality (Catholic Conference of Kentucky, 1994) 11 minutes
- It Could Happen to You (Catholic Conference of Kentucky, 1997) 19 minutes
- Brit on Death Row
- Date with the Executioner
- Restoring Justice ( Presbyterian Church) 59 minutes
- Sam Sheppard
Educate yourself and others visit the following sites:
"An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation." ~ Coretta Scott King
