TN DEATH PENALTY BLOG
We are traveling through Tennessee's heartland and highways, meeting folks and starting conversations about our death penalty.
Previous Posts
- Check out TADP's New Website
- More Evangelical Pastors Speaking Out on the Death...
- Moving Story about Sisters' Reponse to Murder
- Amnesty International Releases Global Death Penalt...
- Bob Clement Reflects on His Father, Governor Frank...
- Fox News Reports Crippling Costs of the Death Penalty
- U.S. Supreme Court Stops Texas Execution of Hank S...
- Justice Day on the Hill 2010
- Fast for Life and Raise Money for TADP
- Tennessee Death Row Inmate, Timothy McKinney, Gets...
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Links
- Abolish the Death Penalty Blog
- Amnesty International Death Penalty Blog
- Asia Death Penalty Blog
- For Victims, Against the Death Penalty
- The Real Cost of Prisons Blog
- Uncommon Sense on the Death Penalty
- National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
- Death Penalty Information Center
- Citizens United Against the Death Penalty
- Murder Victims Families for Human Rights
- Google News: TN death penalty
Contributors
Monday, January 14, 2008
Buyer's Remorse
Kudos to James Staub for his piece in Sunday's Tennessean. As a murder victim's family member, James' voice is of vital importance as the state of Tennessee examines the death penalty, particularly concerning the question of whether or not it serves victims' families.
James points out that the current lethal injection debate is just one detail as we consider the larger questions involved with the death penalty. He raises issues of wrongful convictions, cost, and the increasing numbers of victims' families, law enforcement, and district attorneys who believe that the death penalty is a diversion of tax dollars and an ineffective deterrent.
As I read the article and continue to reflect on the death penalty as a public policy, I wonder again and again why we hang on to it? If it is not a deterrent, costs too much, does not serve victims' families, and is not necessary to protect us, then why? Why?
James points out that the current lethal injection debate is just one detail as we consider the larger questions involved with the death penalty. He raises issues of wrongful convictions, cost, and the increasing numbers of victims' families, law enforcement, and district attorneys who believe that the death penalty is a diversion of tax dollars and an ineffective deterrent.
As I read the article and continue to reflect on the death penalty as a public policy, I wonder again and again why we hang on to it? If it is not a deterrent, costs too much, does not serve victims' families, and is not necessary to protect us, then why? Why?
Labels: cost, death penalty, innocence, James Staub, lethal injection, Supreme Court, Tennessean, Tennessee, wrongful convictions
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Another Great Paul House Article
On December 27th the Tennessean published another great article on the case of Paul House written by Dwight Lewis. It can be found HERE. I did not get the article up sooner because I was visiting my family in Seattle over break. I actually just received a phone call from Paul's mother, Joyce House, asking if I had read it. I then proceeded to complain to her about how sick I was and that I had a nagging cough. I made an appointment today to see a doctor this afternoon. Paul House has advanced multiple sclerosis and is receiving meager prison health care, what a world we live in. Below is a small sample of the article:
"How long of a road must a person travel to freedom when he's innocent of the crime for which he has been condemned to die? Is it 10 years? Is it 20 years? Until he dies in a prison cell under the watchful eyes of the state?"
Labels: death penalty, DNA, murder, Paul House, Tennessean, Tennessee
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tennessee Op-Eds on New Jersey
A significant amount of media attention has been focused on the death penalty as of late especially with New Jersey's recent abolition. Much of that attention has been in the great state of Tennessee including this recent op-ed column in The Tennessean that can be found HERE. The op-ed column has also appeared in the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Tennessee's interest in capital punishment shouldn't come as a surprise. The state recently exonerated Michael McCormick of Chattanooga who served 15 years on Tennessee's death row. Tennessee is also currently studying the administration of the death penalty in a special committee created by the state legislature. Also, Governor Bredesen commuted the sentence of an individual on Tennessee's death row to life in prison.
Tennessee's interest in capital punishment shouldn't come as a surprise. The state recently exonerated Michael McCormick of Chattanooga who served 15 years on Tennessee's death row. Tennessee is also currently studying the administration of the death penalty in a special committee created by the state legislature. Also, Governor Bredesen commuted the sentence of an individual on Tennessee's death row to life in prison.
Labels: abolish, abolition, death penalty, New Jersey, Stacy Rector, Tennessean, Tennessee
