"The Case for Universal Clemency in California"
Why Gov. Gavin Newsom must act now to grant clemency to the 620 people sentenced to death in California.
Moderated by DPF President Mike Farrell, in conversation with Robert D. Bacon, Natasha Minsker, and Molly C. Sheahan.
"The Death Penalty Protects No One"
Moderated by DPF Board Member Philip Hansten, this webinar addresses the myth that the death penalty serves as a deterrent and enhances community safety. Featuring attorney Shelan Y. Joseph, attorney Miriam Aroni Krinsky, and Stephen Oliphant, postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan, the discussion explores the flawed logic behind capital punishment as a crime deterrent. The panelists offer insights from legal, research, and policy perspectives, challenging long-held beliefs about the death penalty’s effectiveness in promoting safety and justice.
"California's Racist, Unconstitutional Death Penalty Statute"
This webinar features moderator and DPF board member Stephen F. Rohde and panelists Morgan Zamora, Avi Frey, and Jess Oats, discussing their CA Supreme Court lawsuit against the state’s death penalty statute, alleging racial discrimination. Rohde, a retired constitutional lawyer and ACLU chair emeritus, joins Morgan Zamora, the Prison Advocacy Coordinator for the Ella Baker Center, Avi Frey, Deputy Director of the ACLU Criminal Justice Program, and Jess Oats, Director of Systemic Litigation at the Office of the State Public Defender. Register now to learn more about this critical legal challenge.
"Alameda County, CA Prosecutors and the Exclusion of Jewish and Black Jurors"
Moderated by DPF President Mike Farrell, in conversation with attorneys Brian Pomerantz and Ann-Kathryn Tria, this webinar examines how the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office systematically excludes people of certain faiths, races, and genders from serving on juries. Pomerantz and Tria, each co-counsel for Ernest Dykes, discuss how his death sentence appeal becomes the catalyst for the discovery of the practice, leading to a federal judge ordering the DA’s office to review 35 death sentences from the past 30 years for evidence of jury exclusion.
"Inside the Killing Machine"
In the realm of criminal justice, few stories are as impactful as those from individuals who support the condemned. This webinar, hosted by DPF President Mike Farrell, spotlights Rev. Joe Ingle’s 45-year journey offering hope in the criminal justice system. Rev. Ingle’s ministry, documented in his book “Too Close to the Flame,” explores his compassionate presence during the darkest moments before executions. The webinar, moderated by Farrell, delves into Ingle’s life, highlighting the human connections and psychological toll of capital punishment. For more, purchase “Too Close to the Flame” and explore additional resources on this page.
"Making a Murderer – False Confessions, Wrongful Convictions"
Moderated by DPF President Mike Farrell, this webinar explores how false confessions lead to wrongful convictions. Farrell, also a spokesperson for Concern America and a Human Rights Watch Co-Chair Emeritus, engages with Dr. Richard A. Leo, Professor of Law and Social Psychology at the University of San Francisco. Dr. Leo, an expert on police interrogation practices and false confessions, discusses the psychological coercion that contributes to these injustices. Drawing from high-profile cases, including the West Memphis 3, Dr. Leo highlights the devastating impact of wrongful convictions.
"The Torture of Solitary Confinement"
Join DPF President Mike Farrell for a thought-provoking discussion on “The Torture of Solitary Confinement” with Rachel Meeropol and Juan Méndez. Rachel Meeropol, a Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU’s Racial Justice Program, brings her extensive experience representing California prisoners and advocating against solitary confinement. Juan Méndez, Faculty Director of the Anti-Torture Initiative, shares his personal and professional insights from his time as a human rights lawyer in Argentina. Together, they explore the cruelty and injustice of solitary confinement and capital punishment, highlighting their violation of human rights and the Nelson Mandela Rules.
“Lethal Injection Lies – The Myth of Humane, Painless Executions"
On Thursday, February 23, 2023, at noon Pacific/3 p.m. Eastern, join us for a discussion on “Lethal Injection Lies,” moderated by Death Penalty Chair Mike Farrell. Dale Baich, with 26 years in the Capital Habeas Unit, has led litigation on execution protocols and witnessed 15 client executions. Dr. Philip Hansten, Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington, consults on lethal injection drugs and critically assesses the death penalty. Corinna Lain, a law professor at the University of Richmond, has published extensively on lethal injection. Join us for an eye-opening discussion.
"Torture & the Death Penalty" – In Recognition of World Day Against the Death Penalty
This conversation features Death Penalty Focus President Mike Farrell and Professor Juan E. Méndez, former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, and Faculty Director of the Anti-Torture Initiative at American University. Moderated by DPF Executive Director David Brazil, the discussion delves into the intersection of torture and the death penalty, highlighting Professor Méndez’s extensive human rights work and personal experiences. As a native of Argentina, Méndez has dedicated his career to defending human rights, having been imprisoned and tortured for representing political prisoners. Join us to explore this crucial issue.
"District Attorneys & The Death Penalty"
This one-hour webinar examines the significant role district attorneys play in capital cases. This discussion features Los Angeles DA George Gascón, Nueces County DA Mark Gonzalez, and Miriam Krinsky, Executive Director of Fair & Just Prosecution. We’ll explore how DAs can undo death sentences, promote fairness, and reduce racism in the justice system. The panel will also discuss a pledge by 57 prosecutors to eliminate the death penalty, led by Fair & Just Prosecution. Don’t miss this insightful conversation.
"The Death Penalty Brutalizes Us All"
Join us for an in-depth conversation with three individuals who know firsthand how the death penalty’s brutality extends beyond those sentenced to their families, spiritual advisors, and legal teams. Joe Ingle, a spiritual advisor to men on Tennessee’s death row for 50 years; Donna Larsen, who has spent 26 years proving her son’s wrongful conviction on San Quentin’s death row; and Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt, former Chief Investigator in Santa Barbara County and a Death Penalty Focus board member. This discussion reveals the far-reaching impacts of capital punishment.
"Why Victims' Family Members Oppose the Death Penalty"
Join us for a profound discussion featuring Aba Gayle, Mattie Scott, and Robert “Renny” Cushing, three victims’ family members who oppose the death penalty despite their loss and pain. Moderated by Bethany Webb, whose sister was killed in Orange County’s worst mass shooting, the panel explores their journey from anger to forgiveness and anti-death penalty advocacy. They discuss the misleading notion that the death penalty serves victims’ families and share why forgiveness is more powerful than revenge. Mattie Scott emphasizes, “It’s time to stop the killing and start the healing.”
"How We Decrease Death Row & Abolish the Death Penalty" – A Conversation with the CA Committee on Revision of the Penal Code
California has the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere, with close to 700 men and women in two separate prisons. Now, a California state commission, appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, recommends reducing that number and abolishing the death penalty. What does this mean for death penalty abolition activism and policy work in California? Join us on Monday, October 25, 2021, to learn more about the report’s recommendations and actions we can take to reduce death row. DPF Interim Executive Director Maddy deLone moderates a panel with Mike Romano, Rick Owen, and Natasha Minsker.
"Women on Death Row"
We’re kicking off our fall webinar series with “Women on Death Row,” moderated by Diann Rust-Tierney, Executive Director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, featuring two women who were wrongfully sentenced to death:
Sabrina Butler-Smith, the first woman exonerated from death row in the US, was wrongfully convicted in 1990 in Mississippi for her son’s death. She spent two years on death row before being exonerated in 1995.
Sunny Jacobs was sentenced to death in 1976 for a murder she didn’t commit. She spent five years in solitary confinement and 12 more in prison before her release in 1992.
