The Death Penalty Is a Mess—Here’s Why

It’s Unreliable

Innocent people have been sentenced to die. Some have been executed. Since 1973, more than 190 people in the U.S. have been exonerated after being sentenced to death.¹

No system that gets it wrong should be allowed to take a life.

It’s Racially Biased

Who gets the death penalty has more to do with race and geography than justice. Studies consistently show that people of color—and particularly Black defendants—are sentenced to death at higher rates, especially when the victim is white.²

It’s Politicized and Arbitrary

Whether someone receives a death sentence can depend on the county they’re in, the prosecutor they get, or the resources available to the defense—not the facts of the case.³

It Doesn’t Deter Crime

The idea that the death penalty prevents crime is not backed by evidence. Study after study has shown that states with the death penalty do not have lower murder rates than those without it. In fact, FBI data consistently shows that regions without the death penalty have lower homicide rates.⁴

What actually deters crime? Investment in education, mental health care, and community stability. Research also shows that early interventions, especially those that address childhood trauma, can reduce the likelihood of future justice involvement. Building supportive environments for children helps break cycles of violence and incarceration before they begin.

It Costs More Than Every Alternative

The death penalty is financially wasteful. Capital trials, appeals, and incarceration on death row cost taxpayers significantly more than life without parole. States routinely spend millions to pursue death sentences while essential public services go underfunded.⁵

It’s Fading—But Not Fast Enough

Most countries have abandoned the death penalty. Most U.S. states rarely use it, if at all. But it persists—often where resources are stretched and systems are already broken.⁶

We're working toward a future where the death penalty no longer exists. Until then, we’re here to fight for fairness, one case at a time.