Project Hope

Inmates and concerned citizens, working with supporters, family members, and advocates, in Alabama and nationally, to abolish the death penalty.



Total on Death Row 196:

African American (93) White (103)

Latino (2)

Women (2) Juveniles (14)

Executions in Alabama Since 1976: 37

36 Male 1 Female (2002)

Executions in the USA Since 1976 (through January 15, 2005): 945

Executions by Region Since 1976:

South (779 )

West (61)

Midwest (102)

Northeast (3)

Alabama does NOT forbid the execution of juvenile offenders.

Sentencing is decided by a Judge who can override the jury’s recommendation.

COSTS OF THE DEATH PENALTY

IS IT WORTH IT?

The most comprehensive study in the country found that the death penalty costs North Carolina $2.16 million per execution over the cost of a non-death penalty murder case with a life sentence. (Duke University, May 1993)

Florida spent an estimated $57 million on the death penalty from 1973 to 1988 to achieve 18 executions – that is an average of $3.2 million per execution.

While we have been unable to find numbers for Alabama specifically, it is fair to assume that we are spending a great deal of money over what it would cost to keep someone in prison for life. Alabama’s justice system is bankrupt and yet, they are pushing ahead to spend $250,000 on the lethal injection chamber and untold amounts to fight the new ruling from the United States Supreme Court against executing the mentally retarded and the role of Judges in the sentencing process. How might this money be better spent?

ALABAMA is 44th in the nation on per pupil expenditures. The states that spent less are Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, South Dakota and Tennessee. (National Center for Education Statistics) Spending in 2002: Alabama $5,937 Georgia $7,633 Louisiana $6,270

From 1992 – 2000, ALABAMA was below the national average in every tested area in grades 4 and 8. The areas tested are Math, Reading, Science and Writing. In 2001 the ACT-tested graduates in Alabama scored below the national average.



PROJECT HOPE TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY

WWW.PHADP.ORG

P. O. BOX 1362

Lanett, Al 36863