New report on costs by Death Penalty Information Center

The Death Penalty Information Center has released its latest report, "Smart on Crime: Reconsidering the Death Penalty in a Time of Economic Crisis." The report combines an analysis of the costs of the death penalty with a newly released national poll of police chiefs who put capital punishment at the bottom of their law enforcement priorities.

To read the report's executive summary, click here.

To read the full report, click here.

To read DPIC's press release, click here.

Governor grants reprieves

Today Governor Strickland granted reprieves to Lawrence Reynolds and Daryl Durr. Strickland's decision came hours after the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals granted Lawrence Reynolds a stay of execution until November 30, 2009. Reynolds was scheduled to be executed on Thursday, October 8.

To read the Governor's statement regarding this reprieves, follow this link:
GOVERNOR'S STATEMENT

Shout from the rooftops

In 2006, United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia asserted that there has never been a single case in which an individual was wrongfully convicted and executed. If there was, he said, "the innocent's name would be shouted from the rooftops."

Thanks to the September 7 New Yorker article "Trial by Fire," we can shout with authority the name of Cameron Todd Willingham.

To learn more about the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty's new campaign, click here.

Brunner calls for moratorium

Jennifer Brunner, Ohio's current Secretary of State and candidate for the US Senate seat to be vacated when Senator George Voinovich retires, has called for a moratorium on executions.

Brunner cited the botched execution attempt of Romell Broom and indicates many other reasons for her position on a moratorium.

The Huffington Post has the story.

Helen Prejean talks in Cincinnati

Sr. Helen Prejean spoke at Case Western University's law school and the City Club of Cleveland last week. To watch to her talk, click here.

She is the author of Dead Man Walking and advocate for abolition of the death penalty.
She will be speaking at the Cintas Center on Xavier Universitiy's campus tonight, September 21, 2009 at 7:30 PM. Free and open to the public.

Copies of Sr. Helen's books will be available to purchase. Also, the new book about Ohio's death penalty, No Winners Here Tonight, will also be available to purchase.

Contact Renee Berlon at otse.org@gmail.com or 513.543.1585 for more details.

Ohio governor overlooks glaring sentencing disparity

Earlier today, Ohio governor Ted Stickland made the decision to deny clemency to Jason Getsy. The governor's decision directly contradicts that which was made by the Ohio Parole Board on July 19, 2009.

Jason Getsy participated in a murder-for-hire scheme that killed Ann Serafino and left Charles Serafino, her son, critically injured. The mastermind of the plot received a life sentence but Getsy received a death sentence.

Governor Strickland stated that "the fact Mr. Santine was not sentenced to death is not, by itself, justification to commute Mr. Getsy's sentence." The Ohio Parole Board noted in its report recommending clemency that Getsy would not have been involved with the plot had it not been for Mr. Santine.

According to the blog page for sentencing law and policy expert Professor Douglas Berman of the Moritz College of Law at the Ohio State University, a report has been published noting the Ohio attorney general Richard Corday pushed for denial because the sentencing disparity was not a legally sound reason for mercy.

Kevin Werner, executive director of Ohioans to Stop Executions said, "today our thoughts are with the Serafino and Getsy families. We are disheartened by the obvious unfairness and disparity that the governor up-held." He also noted, "OTSE appreciates the hard work of the Ohio Parole Board and the seriousness they gave to Jason Getsy's clemency application. We particularly appreciate that the Parole Board examined all aspects of this case and didn't just look for a technicality to hang their hats on. The exact purpose of clemency is to correct mistakes and to show mercy. I think the Parole Board should be commended for recognizing the need for mercy. We are gravely disappointed with Governor Strickland's decision."

To read related articles, follow these links:

AP reports clemency denied for Getsy
Ohio AG pushed for execution of Getsy

A conservative argument against the death penalty

Richard Viguerie, considered to be one of the founders of modern conservativism, supports an end to the death penalty. His article, published in last week's Sojourners magazine, covers all of the reasons why capital punishment conflicts with his conservative philosophy and religious beliefs.

When Governments Kill

A conservative argues for abolishing the death penalty.
by Richard A. Viguerie

On most public policy matters, Jim Wallis and I disagree. Both of us, however, do believe that the death penalty should be abolished—although we may not agree on how that should be done.

I’m a Catholic. Because of my Christian faith, and because I am a follower of Jesus Christ, I oppose the death penalty. I’m a conservative as well, and because my political philosophy recognizes that government is too often used by humans for the wrong ends, I find it quite logical to oppose capital punishment.

I have been criticized by some conservatives for my opposition to the death penalty. On the other hand, some conservatives have told me they question capital punishment or even oppose it, but believe that the conservative “position” is to support it. Fortunately for me, even if someone were to question my conservative bona fides (I’ve never been called not conservative enough, trust me), I wouldn’t care.

The fact is, I don’t understand why more conservatives don’t oppose the death penalty. It is, after all, a system set up under laws established by politicians (too many of whom lack principles); enforced by prosecutors (many of whom want to become politicians—perhaps a character flaw?—and who prefer wins over justice); and adjudicated by judges (too many of whom administer personal preference rather than the law).

To read the complete article follow this link

Opinion Editorial by Mark Godsey in Columbus Dispatch

Death Row case warrants another look to ensure that justice is done
Saturday, July 11, 2009


If Ohio does not take action in the case of Death Row inmate Kevin Keith, it risks doing the intolerable: putting a person to death for a crime he did not commit. Compelling new evidence in Keith's case raises grave doubts about the validity of his conviction.

There is overwhelming evidence suggesting that Keith was convicted and sentenced to death on the basis of faulty eyewitness identification -- one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions in this country. Indeed, eyewitness misidentification has played a role in more than 75 percent of the DNA exonerations nationwide.

However, DNA is unavailable in the vast majority of cases, and it is therefore essential that protections are put in place to ensure that eyewitness identifications are reliable. Unfortunately, in Keith's case, that did not happen.

Read entire editorial

Outreach in communities

Ohioans to Stop Executions has been out in communities around Ohio talking to people about Ohio's death penalty.

Pictured is Renee Berlon, Southwest Ohio organizer, at the Northside 4th of July Parade on Saturday, 7/4.



"People came out for the parade despite the rainy weather," said Kevin Werner, executive director for OTSE. "This is a Cincinnati tradition that never disappoints," he said. "We're glad to have the opportunity to engage with people at such a great parade and festival."

Last year OTSE marched in the Northside parade with the 'no death penalty pig' which was a crowd favorite and Cincinnati novelty.

In addition to the Northside 4th of July Parade, OTSE has had a presence at the Cincinnati and Columbus Juneteenth Ohio Festivals, the Hessler Street Fair in Cleveland, the Pride Festival in Cleveland and the Yellow Springs Street Fair.

National attention on Ohio innocence claims

The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), a national leader in research and information about the death penalty in the United States, is focusing attention on the innocence claims of Kevin Keith who has been on Ohio's death row since 1994.

For more, follow the link to KEVIN KEITH on DPIC.

Innocent on death row?

This afternoon the Associated Press reported a story about Kevin Keith, Ohio death row inmate, who may be an innocent man awaiting execution.



Keith has been on Ohio's death row since 1994. His innocence claims and newly discovered evidence are overwhelming, enough so that the Ohio Innocence Project has become involved. The Innocence Project usually works on cases when DNA evidence is available for testing. However, despite the fact that no forensic evidence is available for testing, the Innocence Project is involved with efforts to win a new trial for Kevin Keith. Keith has a motion for a new trial pending before the Ohio Supreme Court.

To read Andrew Welsh-Huggins' AP article, follow this link.

2009-2010 Internships

The internship program offers high school, undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to gain real world experience working in politics, human rights and grassroots organizing. Build your resume while working to end capital punishment in Ohio!

This program is flexible, giving interns the ability to choose which areas of OTSE’s work they are most interested in, while providing a solid background in all aspects of statewide efforts to end the death penalty. Focus areas include:

• Researching and drafting the 2009 and 2010 annual reports, which is a comprehensive view of Ohio’s system including geographical disparity, racial bias, innocence and cost.
• Assist with design and distribution of OTSE’s quarterly report to members and coalition partners.
• Providing outreach and educations to civic, religious and community groups.
• Tabling and petition drives at community events.
• Lobbying representatives on capital punishment.
• Supporting OTSE’s statewide campaigns including those for moratorium resolutions and key constituent groups.

Positions are available in Northeast and Southwest Ohio (Cleveland and Cincinnati areas). Scheduling is flexible and part time. This is an unpaid internship for 10-15 hours a week.

Application instructions:
To submit an application for the program, send a cover letter and resume to Renee Berlon by e-mail to otse.org@gmail.com

For more information, call Kevin Werner at 614-560-0654

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The program runs through 2010.