Does the death penalty serve as a deterrent for crime? The research says no. Leading criminologists overwhelmingly agree that there is no evidence capital punishment deters violent crimes. Not only is the death penalty unjust and inconsistent with the fallibility of our criminal legal system, but application of the death penalty is racially biased.

NACDL President Lisa Wayne's comments to the Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy regarding a proposed rule that would allow states to limit federal review of capital post-conviction cases.

NACDL President Jim Lavine's comments to the Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy regarding a proposed rule that would allow states to limit federal review of capital post-conviction cases.

Comments to the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs regarding proposed regulations in capital cases to address competent and well-funded counsel, post-conviction review, wrongful conviction, and racial disparity issues.

(And Why That Day Is Not Yet Here)

Now that millions of Americans have been fully vaccinated, can capital defense teams restart their investigations? What are the benchmarks for when capital trial teams can and should resume in-person visitation with clients, in-person expert visits, and field investigation with in-person witness interviews?

This month Dana L. Cook reviews Social Work, Criminal Justice and the Death Penalty by Lauren A. Ricciardelli (ed.).

NACDL supports abolition of the death penalty in Nevada and all other states that continue to utilize it.

NACDL letter of opposition to Virginia Governor Terence R. McAuliffe regarding HB 815, which would make the electric chair the default method of execution if lethal injection drugs are not available in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

NACDL letter to Maryland Senate and House of Delegate members in support of SB 276/HB 295, legislation to repeal the death penalty.

NACDL President Lawrence Goldman's letter to House Judiciary Committee chair Representative Jim Sensenbrenner regarding the Innocence Protection Act of 2001 (H.R. 912).

Letter to the Nevada state Assembly Judiciary Committee regarding a proposal to abolish the death penalty statewide, as addressed in AB 395 (2021).

With a new administration taking office and congressional calls for abolition, society will again ask itself whether there is a place for the death penalty consistent with our values. There is not.

Reports and other resources related to the death penalty.

Public sentiment continues to turn in favor of abolishing the death penalty. The death penalty remains a national embarrassment. It is racist, classist, and anachronistic.