What
is a Moratorium?
·
An authorization
to suspend executions temporarily in order to examine the criminal
justice
system.
Why
support a Moratorium?
·
All
human life is sacred, even the life of a criminal.
·
Society
can be protected by the long term incarceration of dangerous criminals.
·
The
death penalty promotes a culture of violence and revenge.
·
The
death penalty is not a deterrent to crime!
·
The
criminal justice system is flawed with inadequate counsel for the poor and
racial
disparities.
·
Innocent
people have been sentenced to death.
·
The
mentally ill and mentally disabled are not excluded from execution.
·
Juvenile
offenders are not excluded from execution.
·
The death penalty is more
costly than life in prison.
(A
1992 study showed approximately $2.3 million versus $750,000.)
Did
you know that…
·
Of all
western industrialized nations, only the United States permits execution
of its
citizens?
·
Texas
leads all states in the number of executions?
·
Texas
executed 33 through October 1, 2000?
·
Many
Texans, if given a choice, prefer a life sentence with no possibility
of parole, to
the
death penalty?
·
There
are over 450 people on death row in Texas. Only California has more
but rarely
executes anyone?
·
Approximately
40% of death row prisoners are African-American versus 12% in the
general
population?
·
Most death row prisoners were
poor when arrested and lacked the resources for an
adequate
defense?
·
Most
death row prisoners were abused and neglected as children?
Who
is calling for a Moratorium?
·
The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops
· The
Texas Conference of Churches
· Pax
Christi
· The
American Bar Association
· The
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
· ….
and many others.
TOP OF PAGE
|
