In the spring issue of Voices of Charity magazine, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth have featured KCADP member Carolyn Zimmerman and her work against the death penalty.  Zimmerman, whose father was murdered in January 1969, uses her experience as the daughter of a murder victim to advocate for repeal of the death penalty in Kansas.

To read the article about Zimmerman, click here.

To view the full Spring 2012 issue of Voices of Charity, please click here.

Kansans are observing Kansas Law Enforcement Memorial Day with a ceremony in Topeka on the Statehouse grounds, Friday, May 4th.

Kansas Law Enforcement Memorial Day recognizes those law enforcement officials who have been lost in the line of duty defending our public safety.

Kansas’ Law Enforcement Memorial Day also coincides with National Police Week and National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day.  This year, National Police Week is being celebrated May 13-19th and National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day will be observed on May 15th.

We hope you will join us in honoring all of our Kansas law enforcement officials for their service and remembering those officers who have given their lives while working to make Kansas safe.

KCADP believes there is momentum in Kansas for abolishing the death penalty, and we are increasing our work to sustain and increase that momentum.  We are looking for organizer who will help us achieve our goal!

For more information please click on the Job Announcement and Job Description images below to open the PDF files.

Here in Kansas we have our own development to celebrate as well.  Today the Leavenworth Times printed a powerful editorial that formally calls for an end to the death penalty.  “Considering there has not been a single execution in Kansas during that time, perhaps it’s time for state lawmakers to join 17 other states and repeal death by execution…  It’s becoming clear the penalty was better suited for another era, if at all.”

The article, which lists multiple reasons the death penalty is simply a bad policy, can be read here.  Hats off to the editorial staff in Leavenworth for taking this bold, public stance.

Eighteen years ago today, on April 23, 1994, elected officials in Kansas reinstated the death penalty.  Before 1994, Kansas had been death penalty free for 18 years.  Since reinstatement in 1994, Kansas has not executed anyone, though the death penalty has been handed down inconsistently across the state and at a cost 70% greater than if those criminals had been sentenced to life without parole.

Every year we get closer to repealing this wasteful and dangerous policy.  Momentum for abolition is building around the country, with Connecticut set to become the 17^th state to repeal capital punishment any day now.

After 18 years with a broken death penalty system, it’s time for Kansas to become the 18^th state to abolish the death penalty.  But we need your help!

Many policymakers in Kansas mistakenly believe that all Kansans support the death penalty, but we know that’s simply not true.  Stan Bohn, from Newton, KS, is one of the thousands of Kansans who oppose the death penalty.  Click on the video below to watch Stan tell his story and find out why he opposes the Kansas death penalty.

We need more stories like Stan’s to show legislators that people from all walks of life and all backgrounds want to live in a Kansas that doesn’t have the death penalty.

Share your story and tell us why you oppose the death penalty!

You can add your voice to the growing number of Kansans who want to eliminate the death penalty.  Tell us why you oppose the death penalty by submitting this online form.

On April 23rd, 1994, the Kansas Death Penalty was re-instated without the signature of then-Governor Joan Finney.  A group of abolitionists, many of whom are still involved with the struggle to repeal the death penalty had been fasting for 10 days before the 23rd, hoping their presence would encourage Gov. Finney to veto the legislation.

The day after the death penalty became law, members of the group gathered at a home in Topeka to plant a cottonwood tree as a symbol of non-violent opposition to state-sponsored executions.  Every year since, on April 23rd, people gather around the “Tree of Healing” to commemorate the day and re-dedicate themselves to the campaign against the death penalty.  This year 11 abolitionists came for the event.  Click here and here for a some brief media coverage of the event.

Attendees at the 2012 Tree of Healing Gathering

The Spring 2012 Newsletter is available online!  Here are just a few the stories you’ll find in the Spring 2012 issue:

• In March, the Kansas House held an informational hearing on the death penalty.  While the committee room was packed with abolition supporters, not everyone was able to attend.  Catch up on the hearing with photos and details about who spoke to the committee!

• Spotlight on an Abolitionist:  The newsletter features an interview with Brian Pack, who is a KCADP member and a law enforcement officer in the Kansas City area.  Learn about why Brian supports abolishing the death penalty.

• A new report shows what Kansas already knows, the death penalty is inconsistently applied to similar cases.  In Kansas, a study found that a defendant in Sedgwick County is much more likely to get a death sentence than a defendant in Wyandotte County.  Find out more about how the Kansas death penalty is inconsistently used across the state.

You can read all this and more in the Spring 2012 newsletter by clicking on the image below.

In the last few weeks there has been a lot of momentum toward abolishing the death penalty in Kansas.

At the March 15th hearing on the death penalty, several murder victim family members spoke to the committee about the need to abolish the death penalty in Kansas.

Kristi Smith, a KCADP board member, spoke to the committee about losing her father to violent crime.  This Topeka Capital Journal story follows Kristi’s story and the impact that her father’s murder has had on her life.

More recently, Pittsburg State University hosted two speakers on March 30th who called for an end to the death penalty.

Rob Warden, the executive director of the Center on Wrongful Conviction, and Sr. Helen Prejean, of “Dead Man Walking” fame visited Pittsburg and spoke at separate events at Pittsburg State University on March 30th.

This Pittsburg Morning Sun article covered both speakers and their calls for Kansas to abolish the death penalty.

On Thursday, March 15th the House Standing Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice held a special informational hearing on the Kansas death penalty.  Perhaps the most exciting part was the crowd of people that packed the committee room to show their support for abolition!  Abolitionists wore name tags featuring a sunflower and the number 17, reflecting our desire to make Kansas the 17th state to repeal the death penalty.

Standing Room Only

Nine people provided testimony against capital punishment, while three argued for it’s continued use.  Their testimony will be available below shortly, listed in the order in which they appeared before the committee.

Those testifying in support of abolition were:

1. Ron Wurtz.  Vice-Chair of KCADP and a Federal Public Defender.  Mr. Wurtz highlighted the written testimony of Eddie Lowery, a man who spent 10 years in Kansas prison for a crime he didn’t commit, to show that the Kansas criminal justice system doesn’t always get it right.  For Mr. Wurtz, there is too much uncertainty, and human error to execute someone in Kansas.
2. Kristi Smith.  Member of Murder Victim Families for Reconciliation of Kansas and KCADP  board member.  Kristi told of her father’s murder and how she ultimately found healing through reconciliation and forgiveness of the killers.  Had the death penalty been in place, she would not have been able to reach this peace by speaking with the murderers.
3. Michael Schuttloffel.  Executive Director of the Kansas Catholic Conference.  Michael spoke of the Catholic Church’s opposition to the death penalty which has evolved over the past 30 years to a more firm and active opposition.  The Catholic Church sees no need for the death penalty, which degrades our society, when life without parole is a cost-effective, and safe alternative.
4. R. Shawn Streepy.  Former federal prosecutor and Episcopal Priest.  After more than 2 decades experience as a federal prosecutor, Mr. Streepy has come to the same startling conclusion.  The death penalty is applied too arbitrarily and includes too much human error to be pursued with any assurance of justice.
5. Celeste Dixon.  Member of Murder Victim Families for Reconciliation of Kansas.  Celeste believes that holding on to anger at the man who murdered her mother in Texas did not allow her to heal.  She witnessed that man’s execution in Texas and told the committee that it did not bring her closure.  Rather, the death penalty simply robbed another family of their son.
6. Steve Becker.  Former District Court Judge for Reno County.  In 26 years serving as a judge, mostly in criminal cases, Becker was never 100% certain of a decision he made.  Misleading information, false confessions and bad eyewitness testimony are commonplace in our judicial system, making it too uncertain to be trusted with life and death decisions.
7. Rev. John D. Kreidler.  Bishops Associate, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – Central States Synod.  Rev. Kreidler introduced a letter opposing the death penalty signed by 324 faith leaders from Kansas.  He spoke on behalf of the ELCA which, in it’s social statement, opposes the death penalty because it diverts society’s attention from the root cause of violence towards retribution.
8. John Todd.  Involved with American’s for Prosperity and Vice President of the Wichita Pachyderm Club, though he did not speak at the hearing on behalf of those organizations.  Mr. Todd argued that Capital Punishment is pre-meditated murder by the State, and it is carried out by a judicial system that is at best uncertain and at worst corrupt.  In the end, for Mr. Todd, the death penalty is morally wrong.
9. Carolyn Zimmerman.  Member of Murder Victim Families for Reconciliation and Volunteer for KCADP.  Carolyn confirmed what many had said already, the death penalty does not bring closure or healing to the families of murder victims.  Her father was killed in 1969 and no one was ever charged with the crime.  MVFR of Kansas opposes the death penalty because a desire for revenge does not foster healing.

From left to right: Rev. John Kreidler, R. Shawn Streepy, Celeste Dixon, Steve Becker, Kristi Smith, Ron Wurtz, Carolyn Zimmerman. Not pictured: Michael Schuttloffel and John Todd.

After the hearing supporters gathered outside of the room to chat with each other and exchange congratulations on a job well done.  Everyone played a part, whether they testified, took photos, volunteered to make calls before the hearing, or proudly sported their name tag in support of abolition.  Some people even took the opportunity to find their legislators and talk with them personally about the overwhelming need to repeal the death penalty.

Rev. Thea Nietfeld and Bill Lucero

Sam Snyder and Elaine Jones

Ben Jefferies, Tim O'Brien and Jason Hering

This hearing was a great step forward.  It has been over a decade since any House committee heard testimony on repeal of the death penalty and as we continue to talk with our legislators, momentum towards abolition continues to build.

Please consider submitting a letter to the editor to your local paper about the hearing by clicking here.  This is a great way to get word about the failings of death penalty to more people in your community.

Thanks to everyone who came and for all of you who continue the struggle for abolition in Kansas.

The House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice has announced that it will hold a hearing on the death penalty next week!

The informational hearing will be held on Thursday, March 15th at 1:00pm in the Room 144-S in the State Capitol.  This hearing is a great opportunity to educate legislators about the ways the death penalty fails Kansas.  And, we need you to come to the hearing and show your support for abolition!

Can you make it to Topeka on Thursday to show your support for abolition?  RSVP by emailing Ben Jefferies at benksabolitionorg or calling 785-235-0214.

If you will be attending the hearing, it is important to arrive early to make sure you get a good seat.  Please arrive in the Capitol before 12:30pm, and leave yourself extra time for parking.  The Capitol is located at 300 SW 10th Street in Topeka, and you can enter from the Visitor’s Entrance on the east side (SW Jackson St and SW 9th St).

Parking:

There are a few parking options around the Capitol grounds.

1. There is four hour free parking in the Visitor’s Lot at the Judicial Center on the other side of 10th St from the Capitol.  The Visitor’s Lot is located in the SW corner of the Judicial Center parking lot, and you can get there by turning left onto Harrison St from 10th St.  Look for the signs that say visitor parking.
2. There is metered street parking on the street.  We recommend trying to find a spot on Jackson St. since it is closest to the visitor’s entrance into the Capitol.  The hearing will likely last almost 2 hours, so be sure to put enough change in the meter.  You don’t want to lose your seat if you have to leave the hearing to feed the meter!

For more information on parking or directions to the Capitol, please click here.

When you get to the Capitol:

The public entrance is on the east side of the building on Jackson St.  It is on the ground level, behind the stairs.  Do not go up the stairs, there is no entrance through those doors.  Once inside you will have to go through a metal detector.  A KCADP volunteer will be stationed at the visitor’s entrance to help direct you to the committee room.

We look forward to seeing you at the Capitol Thursday to show your support for abolition!

If you have any questions, please contact KCADP at infoksabolitionorg  (infoksabolitionorg)   or 785-235-0214.