Resources and Research

A robust body of research has examined the death penalty from every angle—legal, moral, sociological, and economic. Scholars, policy analysts, and human rights organizations have produced countless studies revealing deep flaws in the system. These works document wrongful convictions, racial disparities, cost inefficiencies, and the psychological toll on all those involved.

Our resources library will include peer-reviewed academic papers from criminology, sociology, and law journals. Researchers have rigorously analyzed whether the death penalty deters crime, with the overwhelming consensus showing no conclusive evidence that it reduces homicide rates more effectively than life imprisonment. This data is crucial for legislators and advocates challenging the deterrence myth.

We will also provide reports from state commissions and government task forces. These documents often detail the costs of maintaining capital punishment, highlighting how taxpayer funds are drained by lengthy appeals, specialized prison housing, and protracted litigation. They serve as powerful tools in budget debates and policy discussions.

For those studying racial injustice, our resources will include landmark studies on bias in jury selection, sentencing patterns, and prosecutorial discretion. Decades of data show that race—particularly the race of the victim—remains one of the most significant factors in capital sentencing outcomes. These disparities underscore the need for systemic reform or abolition.

Legal practitioners will find briefs, appellate opinions, and Supreme Court decisions in our archive. We include historical cases like Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238 (1972) and Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153 (1976), which shaped modern death penalty jurisprudence, as well as recent rulings on execution methods and intellectual disability claims. This legal library aids attorneys defending capital cases and journalists covering them.

We also will feature psychological studies on the mental health impact of the death penalty. These works explore how executions traumatize corrections officers, judges, jurors, and victims’ families. They reveal the hidden costs of maintaining a system built on vengeance and violence.

Our library will includes faith-based resources: theological reflections, denominational statements, and interfaith declarations calling for abolition. These documents offer moral and ethical frameworks rooted in diverse religious traditions, broadening the coalition against capital punishment.

For those concerned with innocence and wrongful convictions, we will offer links to innocence projects, DNA testing initiatives, and comprehensive data on exonerations. These cases show the inherent fallibility of the justice system, reminding us that execution is irreversible even in the face of human error.

We will include guides for activists and organizers seeking to engage communities and lawmakers. These resources cover grassroots lobbying, public education campaigns, and strategic messaging. They empower ordinary citizens to challenge the death penalty in their own states.

Our collection will also offer international perspectives. Reports from the United Nations and human rights organizations highlight global abolition trends and document abuses where capital punishment persists. This global context situates the U.S. among a shrinking minority of nations still carrying out executions.

Finally, we will provide media toolkits for journalists covering death penalty issues. These kits include fact sheets, expert contact lists, and recommended reading, helping reporters navigate the complexities of capital punishment with accuracy and depth.

We continually will update our resources section to ensure advocates, researchers, and the public have the best information available. Knowledge is power, and with these tools, we can build a movement grounded in truth, compassion, and a commitment to justice.