Sr. Helen Prejean to Speak at Rosemont College, near Philly, PA

Sr Helen Prejean, the rock star of the death penalty abolition
movement, will be speaking at Rosemont College next Monday, February
18, 2013. If you have never heard her speak before, I promise you, you
will never forget seeing her. The event is free and open to the public
but you are asked to register before hand. I hope to see some of you
there.

Warmly,


Kathleen

Here's the link to register:

https://www.rosemont.edu/forms/dynamic.aspx?action=ShowForm&FormId=179

Here's the college's press release:

<<Sister Helen Prejean, author of the bestselling Dead Man Walking: An
Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States, will
speak at 7 p.m. Monday, February 18 in McShain Performing Arts Center
at Rosemont College. The lecture is free and open to all. The event is
sponsored by the Institute for Ethical Leadership and Social
Responsibility at Rosemont College.

Sister Prejean will present “Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues.”
She has become a leading American advocate for the abolition of the
death penalty and will speak about how she educates citizens about
capital punishment. Sister Prejean’s books will be available for
purchase and she will participate in a book signing after the event.

Prejean is a nationally recognized human rights activist and has been
the subject of many interviews on national broadcasts, including 60
Minutes, NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s World News Tonight, Larry King Live
(radio), and National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition and Fresh Air.
She has been featured in the New York Times, Vogue, and Good
Housekeeping magazines and several other print media. Dead Man Walking
was number one on the New York Times Best Seller List for thirty-one
weeks. It also was an international best-seller and has been
translated into ten different languages.

Born in 1939 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Prejean joined the Sisters of
St. Joseph of Medaille in 1957 (now known as the Congregation of St.
Joseph) and received a bachelor’s degree in English and education from
St. Mary’s Dominican College, New Orleans in 1962. In 1973, she earned
a master’s degree in religious education from St. Paul’s University in
Ottawa, Canada. She has been the religious education director at St.
Frances Cabrini Parish in New Orleans, the formation director for her
religious community, and has taught junior and senior high school
students. In 2006, she received an honorary doctorate from the
University of Portland.

She began her prison ministry in 1981 when she dedicated her life to
the poor of New Orleans. While living in the St. Thomas housing
project, she became a pen pal with Patrick Sonnier, the convicted
killer of two teenagers, sentenced to die in the electric chair of
Louisiana’s Angola State Prison.

Upon Sonnier’s request, Prejean repeatedly visited him as his
spiritual advisor. In doing so, she became familiar with the Louisiana
execution process. Prejean turned her experiences into Dead Man
Walking, an autobiographical account of her relationship with Sonnier
and other inmates on death row. The book not only made the 1994
American Library Associates Notable Book List, it was also nominated
for a 1993 Pulitzer Prize.

In January 1996, the book was developed into a major motion picture
starring Susan Sarandon as Prejean and Sean Penn as a death row
inmate. The movie received four Oscar nominations including Tim
Robbins for best director, Sean Penn for best actor, Susan Sarandon
for best actress, and Bruce Springsteen’s “Dead Man Walking” for best
song. Susan Sarandon won the award for best actress.

Fifteen years after beginning her crusade, the Roman Catholic sister
has witnessed five executions in Louisiana and today educates the
public about the death penalty by lecturing, organizing, and writing.
As the founder of Survive, a victim's advocacy group in New Orleans,
she continues to counsel not only inmates on death row, but the
families of murder victims as well.

Sister Prejean’s second book, The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness
Account of Wrongful Executions, was published in December 2004. In it,
she tells the story of two men, Dobie Gillis Williams and Joseph
O’Dell, whom she accompanied to their executions. In The Death of
Innocents she takes the reader through all the evidence, including
evidence the juries never heard either due to the incompetence of the
defense lawyers or the rigid formalities of court procedure. She
believes both of them were innocent.>>

Maryland Gov. Pushes for Death Penalty Repeal

On January 15th, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley announced that he will once again push for repeal of capital punishment in the state. O'Malley, who has long been opposed to the death penalty, attempted repeal in 2009 but fell short. Now, with renewed momentum and stronger support within the legislature, many think that Maryland may be the next state to abolish capital punishment.

And it seems about time. While the entire nation scrambles to cut spending in the wake of recession, anti-death penalty advocates argue that we simply cannot afford to maintain a system marked by such high costs and seemingly little returns.  Governor O'Malley said,

“It is not a deterrent. It cannot be administered without racial bias. It costs three times as much as locking someone up for life without parole. And it cannot be reversed if an innocent person is executed.” 

A 2008 study by the Urban Institute estimated that Maryland taxpayers are paying about $186 million for the capital punishment system in the state - a system which has carried out only five executions since 1978 when Maryland reenacted the death penalty. The study estimated that, in comparison to an equivalent non-death penalty case, Marylanders paid an extra $1.9 million more per death sentence - a total of about $3 million per death penalty case. According to the Death Penalty Information Center,

"The study examined 162 capital cases that were prosecuted between 1978 and 1999 and found that seeking the death penalty in those cases cost $186 million more than what those cases would have cost had the death penalty not been sought. At every phase of a case, according to the study, capital murder cases cost more than non-capital murder cases."

What's more, the study looked at 106 cases where the death penalty was sought but not handed down in Maryland and found that those cases cost the state an additional $71 million simply to seek a death sentence, yet the final outcome was ultimately life or a long-term sentence.

If Maryland successfully repeals the death penalty, it will be the sixth state in the past decade to repeal, including Connecticut which voted for repeal last year. 17 states plus the District of Columbia have abolished the death penalty. Along with Maryland, Senator Hank Sanders of Alabama plans to introduce a bill to abolish the death penalty this year, as do Kentucky Representative Carl Rollins, Senator Claire Levy of Colorado, New Hampshire Governor Margaret Hassan, and Governor John Kitzhaber of Oregon.

O'Malley has been a true champion for progressive causes since he was elected Governor of Maryland in 2006. In 2011, he signed a law to make certain undocumented immigrants eligible for in-state college tuition, also known as the Dream Act, and in 2012 he signed a law to legalize same-sex marriage in the state which was upheld by majority vote during the general elections. This year, O'Malley has stated that he plans to pursue stricter gun safety regulations, including a ban of assault weapons and gun safety courses and background checks for potential gun owners. He also announced plans to increase the use of renewable wind-energy off of the Atlantic coast through use of incentives.

Vigil Nov 8, 2012 in Protest of Execution of Hubert Michael

Unless there is a last-minute stay, Hubert Michael will be executed by the state of Pennsylvania. His execution will be the first of a non-volunteer (someone who has chosen to abandon the appeals to which he is entitled) in 50 years, and the first execution in 13 years. We invite you to join us for a vigil tomorrow evening.

We will be gathering outside of SCI Rockview at 5PM for a candle light vigil in protest of Hubert Michael's execution. Please come and stand in solidarity with us. We are organizing car pools from the York/Harrisburg and Philadelphia areas. Please contact Kathleen at KLucas@padp.org if you are able to offer a ride or if you need one. We would like to have a group from Pittsburgh join us as well. Please contact Kathleen if you are willing to help organize a car pool.

More detailed information about the vigil:

• The state of Pennsylvania is back in the killing business. The first execution in 50 years of a non-volunteer is scheduled for November 8, 2012 to begin at 5 PM. Please stand with us outside the death house on the evening of Michael Hubert's execution. The vigil will take place regardless of weather. Here is a list of items you may want to bring along: Layers of clothing and, if rain is predicted, umbrellas. Candles as symbols of shining a light of hope for ending the death penalty in PA and throughout the world. Folding chairs Some snacks to share Musical instruments Flashlight Signs (we will also have some made in advance) Camera/Video camera There is no parking on the road outside the prison so we will be relying on shuttle service by the generous Penn State students using their personal vehicles. Please park in the Nittany Mall in State College outside of Sears and look for a group of vehicles which will be clearly marked with signs calling for abolition of the death penalty and white fabric strips hanging out their windows.  Speakers will include Reverend Walter Everett, whose son was murdered, Ashlee Shelton, former head of Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, and a spokesperson for Hubert's spiritual advisor, Sister Barbara. Please spread the word far and wide about this vigil and encourage everyone to join us. Pennsylvania must be shown that we do not want the state to kill in our names. Invited speakers will include leaders of Amnesty International, Pennsylvania Prison Society, murder victims' family members, faith leaders, and representatives from other organizations. If your organization is interested in this speaking opportunity, please contact me at info@padp.org . Yours in Solidarity and Hope, Kathleen

Invitation to Our Vigil Outside of SCI Rockview 11/8/12

The state of Pennsylvania is back in the killing business. The first execution in 50 years of a non-volunteer is scheduled for November 8, 2012 at 7 PM. Please stand with us outside the death house on the evening of Michael Hubert's execution. The vigil will take place regardless of weather. Be sure to bring layers of clothing and, if rain is predicted, umbrellas. 

If you can, bring several candles as symbols of shining a light of hope for ending the death penalty in Pennsylvania and throughout the world. You may also want to bring a folding chair and some snacks to share. There is no parking on the road outside the prison so we will be relying on shuttle service by the generous Penn State students using their personal vehicles. Please park in the mall and look for a group of vehicles which will be clearly marked with signs calling for abolition of the death penalty. More details and a map of the exact location in the parking lot will be posted here at least one week before the execution.

Please spread the word far and wide about this vigil and encourage everyone to join us. Pennsylvania must be shown that we do not want the state to kill in our names. Invited speakers will include leaders of Amnesty International, Pennsylvania Prison Society, murder victims' family members, faith leaders, and representatives from other organizations. If your organization is interested in this speaking opportunity, please let me know so that we can work out the details/logistics.

Yours in Solidarity and Hope,

Kathleen

World Day Against the Death Penalty Vigil in Love Park

Aja Beech, board member and the heart and head of our Philly PADP chapter organized this vigil at Love Park. October 10th is the annual World Day Against the Death Penalty. Vigils, rallies, educational events and more are held throughout the world to remind us why we must abolish capital punishment.

I hope that next year we will have events throughout Pennsylvania, organized by abolitionists like you. Enjoy the pictures, taken by our friend, Maureen Roche. Maureen, thank you for your generosity!

Kathleen

TX Judge: No Hearing For Delusional Death Row Prisoner

When a judge blocks a hearing for a man who has been consistently found to be mentally incompetent, what are we to do? See what Brian Evans from Amnesty International USA has to say http://bit.ly/PnAbVn

PADP Philadelphia Sponsors "Execute Art Not People"

An annual event sponsored by Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty called “Execute Art Not People” will be held on June 1 at the Ethical Society of Philadelphia from 6 – 9 p.m.

This year, the event will focus on ways the Pennsylvania government can redirect funds to arts and education from programs like the death penalty.

At the event, there will be an interactive art project in front of the building as well as a free screening of the film “Concrete Steel and Paint,” which will be followed by a panel discussion with the film’s directors.

Featured artists who participated in Execute Art Not People include: King Britt, Kate Watson-Wallace, Tatyana Fazalizadeh, Paul Santoleri, Gianni Lee, Yis Goodwin and Lafayette Sanders.

The event will hopefully raise awareness about the tribulations of the death penalty, especially in Philadelphia where the system often finds itself under scrutiny.

For more information, call 267-639-6169 or email PhillyPADP@gmail.com.

Singapore President Must Grant Clemency to Yong Vui Kong

In the United States, crimes related to drugs are not usually met with a harsh death sentence, but in countries such as Singapore, those convicted could receive a death sentence without a trial.

Such is the case of Yong Vui Kong, who was sentenced to death in 2007 for carrying 47 grams of heroin (anyone carrying over 15 grams when arrested automatically receives the death penalty). Kong, who was 19 years old at the time and illiterate, was not even considered an adult at the time of his arrest, and because he was illiterate did not know of the penalties of the crime.

Now, nearly five years later, Kong’s appeals have run out and he faces execution unless the President of Singapore grants him clemency. The President can grant clemency after a recommendation from the cabinet.

There is absolutely no reason for this young man to be executed. He deserves a second chance at life, and it is up to the cabinet to realize that before it is too late.

Currently, the Twittersphere is buzzing with support for Kong. Numerous tweets directed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore (Twitter handle @MFAsg) call for clemency and compassion from the cabinet and the President.

Amnesty International is asking that everyone show support for Yong Vui Kong by sending the following tweet periodically over the next 24 hours:

Mr K Shanmugam, give Yong Vui Kong a second chance to live! #deathpenalty #singapore #yongvuikong @MFAsg

KDKA Talk Show Host Says PA Should Get Rid of Death Penalty

Wow! Conservative Pittsburgh talk radio host, KDKA's Robert Pratte just said live on air that if a legislator is brave enough to introduce a bill to abolish the death penalty in Pennsylvania, that he would support him. He said it several times. I think he means it and I couldn't agree more.

Rob's reasoning goes something like this: it's a waste of money and we shouldn't be wasting money on it at a time when important things, like education, are being cut from PA's budget. He says we can't shorten the appeals process and that he doesn't want to see an innocent person executed.



With the abolition of the death penalty in Connecticut, there are five states in five years that have abolished it. We're now at a total of 17 states without capital punishment. And there's more coming. I want to make sure that PA is one of the next to end this barbaric practice.


We can do this. We must.

Ray Krone: Charges Dismissed

On April 24, 2002, nearly 10 years after he was first convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, Ray Krone was cleared of all charges.

Ray, who was once a supporter the death penalty, now speaks against it. He now speaks publicly about his experiences on death row and in prison and hopes to educate audiences on the flaws in the justice system and why the death penalty should be abolished. Ultimately, he doesn’t want another person to endure the same experiences he did.

I hope this series of posts serves as a commemoration of Ray Krone and all the work he’s done against the death penalty since his release. On the day of his release, when Ray told the reporter that his life was about the “next 10 years” rather than the 10 years he spent in prison, I feel he really meant what he said. 

Ray Krone: The Real Killer Was Still on the Loose

While police and prosecutors focused on finding ways to convict Ray Krone of murdering Kim Anacona, there was something else going on: The real killer was still walking around freely. Luckily, the man suspected of killing Kim was arrested several days later on a molestation charge. But what if he hadn’t been?

Most of the attention of the police was set on Ray. The true killer, had he not been caught, could have committed numerous crimes while he roamed free of suspicion. The point here reflects back to the post on the police. Law enforcement officials and prosecutors need to do their best to keep an open mind until they are 100 percent certain they have the right person. When they don’t, it clouds their judgment and they become so caught up in the person they’re trying to convict that they disregard evidence that not only refutes their beliefs but also potentially points to another person.

Ray Krone: Convicted Twice

When Ray Krone was first convicted of the rape and murder of Kim Anacona the evidence was weak. The prosecution relied mostly on bite marks found on the victim’s neck and breast, and because an “expert” claimed the bite marks matched those found on the victim.

After spending two years and eight months on death row, Ray was granted another trial, but was once again convicted of the same crime despite the fact that other experts disputed and disproved the original experts claims. However, the judge, who knew the bite mark evidence was weak, reduced Ray’s sentence to 46 years in prison (which was essentially life considering Ray was 35 years old at the time).

After spending 10 years in prison (2 years and 8 months on death row), Ray now walks free with his charges dismissed. There is, however, something to be said about Ray being falsely convicted two times.

If the United States justice system screwed up Ray’s case twice because of junk science, prosecutorial misconduct and other things, how many of the other 3,000 plus other death row inmates have also been falsely convicted? Ray’s story should serve as an example and should also raise the question, “Is it worth it?” Is it worth it to risk executing an innocent person? What purpose will lowering ourselves to murder serve in the end? The death penalty serves no purpose in our justice system other than a “justified” form of murder. It is a money eating, broken and immoral system that must be abolished.

Ray Krone: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

One of the most widely discusses issues regarding the death penalty, especially in Philadelphia, is an ineffective assistance of counsel.

When a defendant is at risk of being sentenced to death, he or she should be defended by the best lawyer(s) possible to ensure they have the best chance of not receiving the death penalty. However, this isn’t always the case. In fact, most of the time the defense is unprepared, unsuitable to working on a capital case and ultimately ineffective at creating a strong defense for the accused.

Ineffective assistance of counsel can occur many ways. For instance, in Philadelphia many of the defendants cannot afford a lawyer so they are appointed one by the city. Studies have shown that these lawyers are severely underpaid, overburdened and unfit to defend someone in a capital case. This puts the accused at a huge disadvantage, and can often lead to a false conviction.

In other instances, defense lawyers may not follow proper protocol for a capital case. Some lawyers may not investigate an alibi or submit evidence to a forensics expert to be evaluated.

In the end, the outcome is always the same. The defense is weak and the defendant is easily convicted. In capital cases, this means the defendant is at risk of being executed without having gone through a truly fair trial.

The risk of wrongfully convicting someone runs much higher when his or her defense is poor. When ineffective assistance of counsel occurs, the fairness of a trial is no longer present.

Ray Krone: Police

When an individual is convinced of an idea, such as a homicide suspect, it may be hard to persuade the individual of anything other than what they already believe. This can be a dangerous for the wrongfully accused because the person investigating the crime may refuse to investigate other leads and may even ignore evidence that contradicts what they already believe.

This was prevalent during the investigation of Ray Krone. Despite evidence such as the bite marks not matching Ray’s or the shoe size found at the crime scene being a different size than Ray’s, those investigating the murder continued pursuit on Ray until he was convicted of the crime he didn’t commit.

This is a frightening concept. We as humans possess the ability to think freely, but once we set our minds on an idea it can become difficult to convince us otherwise. This is especially dangerous with law enforcement. The police investigating Ray Krone’s case were presented with numerous facts that disputed their claims that Ray raped and murdered Kim Anacona. Those investigating an incident and even the prosecutors working on a case must be as open minded as possible and not zero in on someone until they are 100 percent sure they are correct. 

Ray Krone: Junk Science

The prosecution’s primary evidence against Ray Krone was a bite mark found on the victim’s breast and throat. Ray has a very distinctive bite mark (which caused him to be labeled as the Snaggletooth Killer) because of an injury suffered while he was growing up. The bite marks, according to an article on ForeJustice.org, were what primarily convinced the jury to convict Ray in both trials, despite there also being evidence that the bite marks and the blood found on the victim were not Ray’s.

According to The Los Angeles Times, 63.5 percent of bite mark investigations resulted in false positives while 22 percent resulted in false negatives. Still, this was the primary piece of evidence used to falsely convict Ray Krone of murder in one trial and then another years later after the evidence had already been disproven.

Science is a wonderful thing. It has allowed us to surpass any expectations our predecessors had for society as well as better our own living conditions. However, we know through years of trial and error processes that science isn’t always right. While DNA evidence and other methods used during trials has become a great way to prove someone’s innocence or guilt, using methods that we know are not reliable is dangerous and creates an unfair trial.

Ray Krone: Prosecutorial Misconduct

There are numerous admirable and honest police and prosecutors in the United States who dedicate their lives to ensuring the general public is safe form harm. In an ideal world, all of those working in these respective fields would perform their jobs with 100 percent honesty. However, we know this is not true. Prosecutorial misconduct occurs when a law-enforcement official or prosecutor commits an act or acts that can be viewed as unfair or inappropriate.

In Ray Krone’s case, prosecutorial misconduct was committed when the prosecutors failed to over a forensics tape that they were going to use as a primary piece of evidence until the night before the trial. Additionally, the prosecution withheld an odontologist’s report that casted doubt in the allegations of Ray. Because of these circumstances, Ray’s lawyers were put at a disadvantage during the trial.

While prosecutorial misconduct can be any action that is unfair or appropriate, some common forms include: law enforcement officials misleading jurors about their findings, failing to turn over exculpatory evidence to prosecutors (or the defense), tampering with evidence, allowing bad witnesses to testify and pressuring defense witnesses not to testify.

While there are many honest and hardworking law-enforcement officials and prosecutors in the world, just one dishonest one can lead to a false conviction. It’s important for the safety of the public that dangerous criminals are off the street, but everyone still reserves their right to a fair trial. Because we cannot guarantee a trial will be fair and free of misconduct, we cannot continue to utilize the death penalty solely because in cases such as Ray Krone’s, there can be misconduct that leads to a false conviction and ultimately could lead to the execution of an innocent person.

"Maybe It's About the Next Ten Years"

Ray Krone

The man pictured to the left is Ray Krone. Ray was convicted of raping and murdering Kim Ancona in Phoenix, Arizona in 1992. Now, nearly 20 years later and after a second false conviction, Ray again walks free in York County, PA, where he grew up.  With all charges against him dismissed,  Ray’s case exemplifies many of the reasons why I am opposed to the death penalty in all cases.  

Ray’s story is a textbook example of some of the problems with our capital punishment system. From  prosecutorial misconduct  through ineffective assistance of counsel, and beyond, the end result was that Ray Krone was  forced to spend 10 years of his life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Prison time is never easy, but life on death row is a special form of hell and Ray spend XX years there.

April 24, 2012  is the 10-year anniversary of the day all of Ray’s charges were dismissed. In honor of Ray, I will be posting a series of blog entries  that  highlight the issues relating to  both Ray’s  case and many other death penalty cases. They  will also illustrate  a flawed  death penalty ; a system which must be dismantled.  

 

Execute Art Not People

On April 15th Philadelphia Artists gathered to take a public stand against the death penalty in Pennsylvania. These are four of the artists. Clockwise from left: King Britt, Paul Santoleri, Kate Watson Wallace, and Tatyana Fazlalizadeh.

Reaching Abolition Through County Strategy

Want to do more to abolish the death penalty in PA? Take this opportunity to

Spring into Action through our new County Level strategy!

County strategy – Most of the cost of the death penalty is borne by Pennsylvania's counties, not the state, yet most county commissioners and almost all county residents have no idea how much more expensive a capital trial is compared to a trial where the maximum possible sentence is life without parole or a sentence of years. I’m asking that each of you contact your county commissioners and ask some tough questions about the cost of capital trials. If there is a current case where the District Attorney is considering seeking the death penalty or has already announced that he or she will seek the death penalty, please ask for the cost estimate for that case.

Last summer, I contacted one of the commissioners for York County. He had no idea of how much more a death penalty trial costs as opposed to one where death is not being sought. He also had no idea of how I might find out. He suggested that I look at the county’s budget. I did. Of course, those costs are not captured separately. The way the process works here is that when the court needs funding, a request is sent to the commissioners who then approve it without questioning it.

I went to the District Attorney’s Office and asked about the cost differences. I got the typical answer that since all of the staff are paid a salary and not by the hour or day, it doesn’t cost any more to put on a death penalty prosecution than it would to put on a prosecution where the maximum sentence is not death. This is patently untrue. Even if we are unable to capture the dollar amount, there is still an opportunity cost. What other cases might be prosecuted without the long delays that are delaying justice?

It will help us to abolish the death penalty if residents of many counties asked the same question of the district attorneys. While you may not receive a straight forward answer, your inquiry sends a clear message that residents are watching and are concerned about how their tax dollars are being spent.

Your experiences, whether they include attending a capital trial or a portion of it, meeting with county commissioners, District Attorneys, and the Chief Public Defender, would all make for powerful letters to the editor, blogs, facebook posts, tweets and more. If you’d like help with composing your letters or blogs, or social media messages, please let me know at KLucas@padp.org.

Last, but certainly not least, if you are able, please attend court proceedings of capital cases. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania often conducts these cases as quickly and cheaply as possible. For example, I attended one trial where jury selection began on Monday and the defendant was sentenced to death on Friday afternoon.

Check back here soon for observation tips and a form that will make sharing your insights with the PADP office even easier. give you tips on observing and writing what you see and hear.

Thanks again for all that you do.

Kathleen

With the Death Penalty, There are no Winners

“Justice was served, and nobody wins.”

This is a quote by a mother whose son was murdered in Philadelphia. A woman who did not want the murderer put to death because “there’s too much death in Philadelphia.”

Derrick White became the first person sentenced to death by a Philadelphia jury since April 21, 2010. White does not deny committing the crime, but as the victim’s mother said, nobody wins.

It’s clear that she won’t feel closure when Derrick White is put to death. It’s true that a convicted criminal is off the street, but wouldn’t the same thing be accomplished by sentencing him to life without parole? In addition, because of Pennsylvania’s law that automatically sends White’s case to Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court for appeal, how many more times will a grieving mother be forced to relive a tragedy?

When it comes to the death penalty, there are no winners. There are only losers.