Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP)
recognizes and upholds the responsibility of society to protect
everyone from people who are dangerous, in particular, those who are
convicted murderers.
CUADP also understands the legitimate response of human
nature to seek vengeance in the form of harsh punishment for persons
who have committed violent crimes. CUADP believes that as a
society we are obligated to do better than to respond with a gut
primal response, regardless of how natural that response may feel.
CUADP is concerned that our justice system is currently a
retributive justice system which only heightens the pain and deepens
the wounds of the families of victims of murder, the families of
perpetrators, and the perpetrators themselves. CUADP also
recognizes the strong ability of human nature to change and heal.
CUADP is concerned about well-documented and indisputably
persistent problems in the application of the death penalty and in
the criminal justice system as a whole in the United States of
America.
CUADP calls attention to politicians who perpetuate a myth
through their advocacy of the death penalty to demonstrate a "tough
on crime" position on matters of public policy. To suggest
that the death penalty is a deterrent to violent criminals and is a
vehicle to somehow grant relief to the suffering of victims families
is to deceive the constituents they serve.
CUADP calls on all citizens to urge their elected
representatives to work towards violence prevention programs which
identify and help "at-risk" youth and adults.
CUADP calls on all citizens to look beyond emotions and to
learn the facts about how our system actually functions before
deciding for themselves where they stand on the question of
empowering the government to kill in their name.
Morally, socially and economically, the death penalty is
a bad public policy. There is a better way.
Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
advocates the following as a viable alternative to the death
penalty:
- Persons convicted of capital murder
should serve a minimum of 25 years in prison
before the possibility of consideration for parole. Please
note: consideration for parole in no way suggests an inmate
will receive parole. Parole boards must abide by strict but
fair standards in deciding who should receive parole. The
abolition of parole endangers prison workers.
- In certain cases, imprisonment should be for life,
With no possibility of parole - ever.
- While in prison, prisoners who are physically and mentally able
should work in jobs which are
not slave-like and allow for some dignity and purpose of
life for the inmate. Such work situations create
safer conditions for guards and others who work in
prisons.
- A portion of the prisoners' earnings should go to pay
for their incarceration, and a portion should go into a
fund for the victims of violent crime and their
survivors. This would allow for a restitution fund for
social, psychological and religious help for victims and
survivor families. Such funds could also provide
financial help for families which have lost a wage
earner to murder.
CUADP supports the concept of restorative justice,
including the bringing together of perpetrators and victims family
members by qualified professionals working with both, to help
facilitate the process of reconciliation.
The following is a list of states which have the death penalty
and which also offer life without parole as a sentencing option.
Currently there are NO states with an integrated restorative
justice program which would allow convicted murderers to pay for
their own incarceration or even to make restitutions directly to the
survivors of their victims.
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Delaware, Federal Government, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois,
Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota,
Tennessee,US Military, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming.
Total: 34 states
States with the death penalty but no provision for life without
parole are Kansas, New Jersey, New Mexico & Texas.
Total: 4 states
The people want alternatives. "Tough on crime"
prosecutors do not.
To Wit:
"You're not going to find 12 people back-to-back on the same
jury that are going to kill somebody when the alternative is
throwing away the key."
Harris County District Attorney Johnny Holmes |
