In 2008, the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice, a bipartisan blue ribbon panel created by the California Senate in 2004, unanimously concluded that California’s death penalty is broken. The commissioners reported that the current failed system costs $125 million more each year than permanent imprisonment. It is time, the commission concluded, for the voters to think seriously about replacing the death penalty with permanent imprisonment.

--Judy Kerr, Murder Victim Family Member

Highlights

Welcome! We are happy you found us and hope you will sign up for our action alerts. We currently have high-level campaigns in Texas, North Carolina, and California; additionally we are actively working for abolition in all states that continue to execute.

Over the next year we expect to expand our presence in additional, targeted states by recruiting, training and mobilizing family members. MVFR will roll out more resources for our members, speak at more events and raise awareness through the media by telling our stories.

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Breaking News: ACT NOW for MORATORIUM in Pennsylvania!

Senate Bill 1110 was introduced by Senator Ferlo on September 28, 2009. The bill calls for a two-year suspension of executions while a thorough study of the capital punishment system is conducted. We are calling on you to act today - Please contact your local senator and ask for her/his support! Some suggested talking points are below. Your action around this important legislation is a key piece of the big picture as we work to eradicate executions in Pennsylvania.

SUPPORT A MORATORIUM!

Senate Bill 1110 is co-sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow and Senators Wayne Fontana, Shirley Kitchen, Vincent Hughes, Larry Farnese, and Leanna Washington. If your legislator is already a co-sponsor, please call and thank him/her. Encourage them to gather more support! If not, please contact your senator and ask them to support Senate Bill 1110

Get active in 3 easy steps:

1) Click here to find your state senator.

2) Call your senator and urge them to support Senate Bill 1110.

3) Hand-write a letter to your Senator urging them to think about the death penalty from the perspective of victims' family members. If you are a victims' family member yourself, feel free to include some of your experience with the criminal justice system. If you wish, you may use the talking points below to assist you.

w a s t e f u l & e x p e n s i v e

Capital punishment is monetarily and emotionally expensive. Putting someone to death has been found to be extremely costly in comparison to a life sentence in prison. Victims' families often suffer through the long and drawn out process of appeal after appeal. Families can become torn apart over whether to seek the death penalty, and many families find that the death penalty is a disservice to themselves and their loved ones.