Death Penalty Focus

03/19/2026

All of us at Death Penalty Focus are thinking of Dolores Huerta today, and know that, despite the devastating revelations of the last two days, she will continue her work with the grace, dignity, and courage with which she has met so many challenges over so many years.

In 2016, DPF honored Dolores Huerta with our Norman Felton and Denise Abuchon Humanitarian Award, named for two longtime supporters of the ACLU Southern California, who dedicated their efforts over the years to abolishing the death penalty. Norman's opposition to state killing remained steadfast even in the wake of the murders of his daughter, grandchild, and son-in-law in 1982. It was a fitting award for Dolores, who has never lost sight of the mission of the United Farmworkers, and, at 96, has continued to fight for the rights, respect, and dignity of farmworkers. Her commitment, strength, character, and courage are an inspiration to all of us working to make our society more equitable, more just, and more compassionate.

11/03/2025

There have 41 ex*****ons so far this year, the highest number since 2014.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has contributed greatly to that number. He has signed 17 death warrants this year, the highest number in the state since 2014. 15 men have already been killed, and two more are scheduled for this month. DeSantis said today that he has no doubt that every person executed was guilty, ignoring the fact that Florida has had more people exonerated from death row - 30 - than any other state since 1976. DeSantis terms out at the end of 2026, and it's hard not to suspect that this record pace is based on cold political calculation. When he ran for president in 2023, six people were executed in Florida, the most since 2014. That record, of course, was broken this year. There are 273 people currently on Florida's death row. Check out Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty's website for an in-depth look at what's going on in Florida right now. They're doing all they can in what has been a brutal year.

(Photo below is from the state website and was posted after DeSantis expanded the state's death penalty to include making the sexual assault of a child a capital offense, which is unconstitutional.)

10/20/2024

It's not too late to register for our webinar on “The Case for Universal Clemency in California” this Thursday, October 24, 2024, at noon Pacific, 3 p.m. Eastern.

DPF President Mike Farrell will moderate the discussion with panelists Robert D. Bacon, Natasha Minsker, and Molly C. Sheahan. The conversation will focus on why Gov. Gavin Newsom must act now to grant clemency to the 620 people sentenced to death in California. Eight governors from all over the country have granted universal clemency, recognizing that it's an act of mercy. It's time for California to step up and do the same.

We hope to see you there. You can register here:
https://tinyurl.com/3nf9yxcx

09/18/2024

Ask Missouri Gov. Parson to stop this ex*****on now!

In less than one week, Missouri plans to execute Marcellus Williams, a man who is very likely innocent, as evidenced by the fact the St. Louis County prosecuting attorney reviewed the DNA results and filed a motion to vacate his conviction because he believed the DNA results proved by clear and convincing evidence that Mr. Williams did not commit this crime.

Please sign the petition asking the governor to commute Marcellus's sentence, and stop this ex*****on. Sign the change.org petition here:
https://www.change.org/p/mike-parson-do-not-execute-marcellus-williams?source_location=search

And, call Gov. Parsons' office: https://tinyurl.com/3snxc2kp

Help us stop Missouri from the irreparable mistake of executing an innocent person, Marcellus Williams on Sept. 24.

09/17/2024

California artist Amy Elkins incorporated the last words spoken by people about to be executed in her visual archive, https://www.amyelkins.com/partingwords1 "Parting Words." Elkins combed through some 560 mug shots and records of the last statements of the people executed in Texas since 1976, converting "each mug shot into looping excerpts ... ranging from confessions to hymns, protest to sorrows and fears." It's a compelling -- and haunting -- work of art.

Partings WordsParting Words is a visual archive created out of mug shots and testimony readily available through public record of the 560+ people executed in Texas prisons since 1976, the year the ban on capital punishment was overturned. Using an algorithm, I converted each mug shot into looping ex...

07/30/2024

This is a must-see video. It's a powerful and beautifully written story by Brian Wharton, videotaped by Kirk Semple and Adam Westbrook for the New York Times. It's another searing example of how flawed our criminal justice system is. Robert Roberson, III, who has autism, was sentenced to death in Texas 20 years ago for the death of his two-year-old daughter, Nikki, who prosecutors said died of shaken baby syndrome, evidence of which has been debunked time and time again, and yet is still used to imprison and kill innocent people. The video accompanies the cop who arrested him as he visits Robert on death row and who now says, "There is unassailable doubt that Robert did it." As for Robert, he says, "I just hope and pray that we can make things right together." Robert is scheduled to be killed on October 17.

07/12/2024

Making child r**e a death penalty crime "may actually encourage abusers to kill their child victims"

A powerful essay in the Tennessean by Sarah McGee ((https://tinyurl.com/2s3ttkju), a victim-witness coordinator in the Davidson County DA's office, who has also served as an assistant public defender for youth and adults, explains how the push by Republican legislators to pass bills allowing a death sentence for any individual convicted of the r**e of a minor, "may actually encourage abusers to kill their child victims to eliminate any witnesses, because the punishment is now the same whether or not they kill their victims."

McGee also notes that another consequence of the legislation is it could also lead to "dramatic under-reporting" of the crime because experts have estimated that 90% of r**es of minors "are committed by members of the child's own family or those in their circle of trust."

This month, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill that requires adults convicted of the r**e of a child "or especially aggravated r**e of a child" to be sentenced to death or life in prison, or life without the possibility of parole.��Florida also has a bill authorizing the death penalty for the r**e of a child, and six other states are considering similar bills.

When will legislators learn that draconian laws almost always have unintended consequences?

06/06/2024

We hope you can join us on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at noon Pacific, 3 p.m. Eastern, for a DPF webinar on "Alameda County, CA Prosecutors and the Exclusion of Jewish and Black Jurors." Moderated by DPF President Mike Farrell, in conversation with Brian Pomerantz and Ann-Kathryn Tria, co-counsels for the man whose appeal set the investigation into jury bias in motion, the discussion will examine how the Alameda County District Attorney's office systematically excluded people of certain faiths, races, or genders from serving on juries.

To register or for more information, go to www.deathpenalty.org Hope to see you there!

04/28/2024

San Quentin's closure of death row is nearing completion

CDCR says it has moved approximately 222 of the individuals on San Quentin's death row to 20 prisons throughout the state since February 26, when mandatory transfers began. The process of emptying death row started with a pilot volunteer transfer program in January 2020, during which 104 death-sentenced people were moved. CDCR says it plans to have all 640 individuals who were on death row dispersed to the mainline by the end of May. Once the transfers have been completed, the 528 single-person cells in East Block, which housed all the people on death row except for the women (housed at CWF) will be either retrofitted or demolished.