| |
Death Row USA – Fall 2010
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund publishes a quarterly report called Death Row USA. The latest edition, dated Fall 2010, contains national statistics as of October 1, 2010. The number of people on death row in the United States is continuing to slowly decline, falling to 3,242. (In 2000, there were 3,682 inmates on death row.) The report contains concise summaries of Constitutional, habeas corpus, and other federal questions raised by cases facing the US Supreme Court.
Catholic Mobilizing Network Launches Monthly E-Newsletter
The Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty has launched an E-Newsletter. The very first issue – Volume 1, Issue 1 – is dated Sept. 15, 2010, and includes an article about abolition activities in Texas (one of the states targeted by the Issue Team) as their “Highlighted State of the Month.” One of the articles, written by Maria Huemmer of the Texas Catholic Conference, is about the Pilgrimage for Life, “an opportunity for Catholic Faithful to gather and pray for those affected by assaults on the dignity of life at all stages.” Another article provides links to three educational videos and related discussion questions from Sister Helen Prejean. “Catholic Youth and the Death Penalty” is an excerpt from a homily given on August 8, 2010 by Galveston-Houston Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza at the Mass given at the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities' annual Diocesan Pro-Life Leadership Conference. Click here to sign up for what promises to be a valuable resource.
The Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty
Under “Death Penalty Links” we have added one to the Web site of the Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty (CMN). The CMN supports state bishops' conferences, diocesan offices, and Catholic institutions and organizations in their efforts to end the use of the death penalty in the United States, and in their restorative-justice initiatives. Working in close collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, CMN seeks to prepare Catholics for informed involvement in campaigns to repeal state death-penalty laws and expand or inaugurate state restorative-justice programs; to proclaim the Church's unconditionally pro-life teaching and its application to capital punishment; and to infuse the public debate with that teaching.
Death Penalty Resources for Communities of Faith
On Feb. 2, 2010, the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) announced that it “has recently updated its information packet entitled Death Penalty Resources for Communities of Faith." This packet was initially developed to help a wide spectrum of religious groups address the death penalty by providing information, discussion questions, and multi-media resources. These materials offer a framework useful for any discussion of capital punishment and do not directly involve religious or moral instructions. Each packet contains a CD with statements on the death penalty from various religious denominations, death penalty fact sheets in English and Spanish, and answers to questions about the death penalty. It also includes video clips, bulletin inserts, and discussion guides on four key death penalty issues: Innocence, Race, Victims and Costs.”
DPIC went on to say that the “packet has been praised by such religious leaders as Bill Mefford of the United Methodist Church, Rabbi Leonard Beerman, and Sister Helen Prejean, who said, ‘The death penalty is one of the most critical issues of our time, and people of all faiths should contribute to the dialogue. The Death Penalty Information Center has rendered a wonderful service by offering religious leaders the key tools they need for raising this issue with their congregations.’”
For information on obtaining copies of this important resource, please contact religious@deathpenaltyinfo.org.
New Educational Resource for Death Penalty Issues
The Death Penalty Information Center has begun issuing podcasts discussing key death penalty issues. The most recent episode explores the costs of capital punishment; previous topics include arbitrariness and clemency. To learn more, including how to download and/or subscribe to the series, click here.
Documentary: “Lethal Solution”
From the Death Penalty Information Center’s Web site comes a recommendation of a new resource from the BBC: The documentary "Lethal Solution" chronicles reporter Vivian White’s exploration of the death penalty in the US through the prism of the lethal injection issue. White traveled across the US to execution chambers where lethal injection executions are carried out and interviewed participants from a wide variety of perspectives.
The documentary features judges, doctors, and men on death row. White interviewed the family of a man whose execution lasted 34 minutes and a lawyer who witnessed that event, vividly recalling the details. He spoke with the doctor who first proposed the lethal injection system, and to the judge in California who recommended that medically-qualified people should be present at executions to ensure a humane death. In the California case, two doctors walked out of the execution chamber when they realized they might have to assist in the killing. The execution was called off.
The full 48-minute documentary may be viewed on the BBC Web site here.
College-level Curriculum Resource on the Death Penalty
Capital Punishment in Context is designed to supplement a variety of college courses. It contains cases of individuals who were sentenced to death in the United States. Each case presents a narrative account of the individual's crime, trial and punishment, along with guidelines for analysis, discussion and further research on issues raised by the case. The narratives are supplemented by resources such as original police reports from the homicide investigation and transcripts of witness' testimony. After reading the case, you can further explore issues by following a series of links to additional information. Each case, with its related materials, opens a path through the criminal justice system. Visit http://www.capitalpunishmentincontext.org/ for additional information and for free registration for supplementary resources.
High School Curriculum Materials Available
Looking for curriculum materials for high school students? The Death Penalty Information Center, working with Michigan State University, has prepared separate teacher and student Web sites. Visitors will find flexible lesson plans, teacher overviews, and objectives meeting national educational standards. More information can be found at
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=549&scid=58
Death Penalty Blogs are sprouting up!!
A good one to start with -- and that contains links to other DP blogs -- is the official blog of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Click the link under Death Penalty links or click here . Oh ... what's a blog? (you ask) ... It's short for Web Log and is a kind of journal or diary. Good for transmitting frequent updates. Check it out. There are at least 8 DP blogs, and probably more.
"Backgrounder" on the Death Penalty
Stateline.org, an independent element of the Pew Research Center, is a Web site that helps people "keep track of what's going on in their state capitol and in other states throughout the country." They recently posted an excellent "Backgrounder" on the Death Penalty, complete with statistics, a timeline, and links to other useful sites. Note that this site does NOT take a stand on the issue but can nevertheless be useful for getting facts and information. Click on "Backgrounder" under the Death Penalty Links or click here .
Death Penalty Team Home |
|
|
|
|