Cherish Life Circle
Convent of Mary
273 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11205-1487
(718) 622-5750 Fax (718) 398-7866


DECLARATION OF LIFE

I, the undersigned, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby in the presence of witnesses make this Declaration of Life.

Background

1. I believe that the killing of one human being by another is morally wrong.

2. I am opposed to capital punishment on any grounds whatsoever.

3. I believe it is morally wrong for any state or other governmental entity to take the life of a human being by way of capital punishment for any reason.

4. I believe that capital punishment is not a deterrent to crime and serves only the purpose of revenge.

THEREFORE, I hereby declare that should I die as a result of a violent crime, I request that the person or persons found guilty of homicide for my killing not be subject to or put in jeopardy of the death penalty under any circumstances, no matter how heinous their crime or how much I may have suffered.

I believe it is morally wrong for my death to be the reason for the killing of another human being.

I request that the Prosecutor or District Attorney having the jurisdiction of the person or persons alleged to have committed my homicide not file or prosecute an action for capital punishment as a result of my homicide.

I request that this Declaration be made admissible in any trial or any person charged with my homicide and read and delivered to the jury.

I request the Court to allow this Declaration to be admissible as a statement of the victim at the sentencing of the person or persons charged and convicted of my homicide; and, to pass sentence in accordance with my wishes.

I request that the Governor or other executive officer grant pardon, clemency or take whatever action is necessary to stay and prohibit the carrying out of the execution of any person or persons found guilty of my homicide.

This Declaration is not meant to be, and should not be taken as, a statement that the person or persons who have committed my homicide should go unpunished.

I request that my family and friends take whatever actions are necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this Declaration; and, I further request them to take no action contrary to this Declaration.

During my life, I want to feel confident that under no circumstances whatsoever will my death result in the capital punishment of another human being.

I request that, should I die under the circumstances as set forth in this Declaration and the death penalty is requested, my family, friends and personal representative deliver copies of this Declaration as follows: to the Prosecutor or District Attorney having jurisdiction over the person or persons charged with my homicide; to the attorney representing the person or persons charged with my homicide; to the judge presiding over the case involving my homicide; for recording, to the Recorder of the County in which my homicide took place and to the Recorder of the County in which the person or persons charged with my homicide are to be tried; to all newspapers, radio and television stations of general circulation in the County in which my homicide took place and the County in which the person or persons charged with my homicide are to be tried, and, to any other person, persons or entities my family, friends or personal representative deem appropriate in order to carry out my wishes as set forth herein.

I affirm under the pain and penalties for perjury that the above Declaration of Life is true.

WITNESS

_______________________________

_______________________________
Printed Name

_______________________________

_______________________________
Printed Name

DECLARANT

__________________________

__________________________
Printed Name

 

STATE OF____________________________)
COUNTY OF__________________________)   SS:

Before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and state, personally appeared the Declarant and acknowledged the execution of the foregoing instrument this ____________day of___________ 20_____.

WITNESS my hand and notarial seal.

Mv Commission expires:_______________

County of Residence_______________

____________________________
NOTARY PUBLIC

__________________________
Printed Name

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Please fill out this TEAR SHEET and send it to: Cherish Life Circle. Convent of Mary, 273 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Because I am opposed to capital punishment as a solution to violence, I have signed the Declaration of Life. Please number me among its supporters

Name (please print)______________________________________________________
Signature______________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Comments_____________________________________________________________

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Dear Friend,

As the cries for the death penalty mount around the nation and as executions increase in those states which currently allow them, we invite you to make your personal statement as detailed in the above Declaration for Life. In signing this document, you declare that, should you become a homicide victim,.you do not want your murderer executed.

Should you decide to sign this, we ask you to return to us the tear sheet on the other side. Keep the above signed, witnessed and notarized (if possible) document with your personal papers.

Many of our elected state and Congressional leaders include a commitment to capital punishment in their campaign promises. Our task, consequently, has become much more difficult. Please duplicate this tear sheet and the Declaration and try to get at least two other people to sign them. Thank you.

Sincerely yours,
Sister Camille D'Arienzo RSM


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